The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-03
STEWART AND GRANT.
II "reminiscences of n Former Secretary
of the Treasury

STEWART AND GRANT. {,
IL emf in iscences of n Former Secretary
of the Treasury.
CIion. George $. Boutwell, in February McClure's)
Alexander T. Stewart, of New York, was
nominated and confirmed as Secretary Of
the Treasury. Ii was soon discovered that
Mr.. Stewart. being an importer, was in
eligible to the Office. Mr.. Conkling said
there were nine statutes in his way.
more effectual bar was in the reason on
which the statutes rested, namely that no
man should be put in a situation 10 be
Judge in his own case. The President
made vain effort to secure legislation
for the removal of the bar Next, Judge
Hilton. then Mr. Stewards attorney, sub
nitted deed Of trust by which Mr.. Stew
art relinquished his interest in the bust
ness during his term of office. The Presi-
dent submitted that paper to Chief Justice
Cartier. of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia. The chief justice gave a
brief adverse oral opinion, and in ian
guage notsquotable upon a printed page.
We have a5 means OF forming an opinion
Of Mr.. Stewards capacity for administra-
tive work. and l do not injulge in any
conjectures. His nomination wsS accepta-
BILE to the leading business interests of the
country, and in the city of New York t
was supported generally. He was a sue
cessful man of business and an accumula-
tor of wealth. and at that time General
Grant placed a high estimate upon the
presence of talents by which men acquire
wealth.
Following these events there were early
indications that Mr.. Stewards interest in
the President had been diminished, and
gradually he took on a dislike to me. When
/ knew of his nomination, or when l knew
that it was to be made, / met him in
,,
ton to give my support 10 his administra-
ton. On two occasions when l was in New
York made calls Of civility upon him. bun.
as he made no recognition in return. my
efforts in that direction came to an end.
At dinner given by Merchants and
bankers in the early part o. September,
1863, at which | vas guest, Mr.. Stewart
made a speech in which he criticised my
administration of the Treasury. In the
canvass of 1872 the rumor went abroad that
Mt. Stewart had given SIS, 600 to the Gree
ley campaign fund. In the month of Octo-
Der of that year, the 2Sth day. perhaps. I
spoke at the Cooper Union. Upon my ar
rival in New York | received a call from a
friend who came with message from Mr..
Stewart. Mr.. Stewart would not be at the
meeting although except for the false
rumor in regard to his subscription to the
Greeley fund.- he should have taken pleas
ure in being present. AS General Grant
was to be elected, his attendance al the
meeting might be treated by the public as
an attempt to curry favor with General
Grant and the incoming administration.
AS l was passing to the hall, paper was
placed in my hands by a person who gave
no other means of recognizing his presence.
When l reached the hall and opened the
paper. l found that it was summons TO
appear as defendant in an action brought
by a man named Calvin, who claimed dam
ages in the sum OF SO, 000, 900. At the close
of the meeting and when the fact became
known. one gentleman said to me: Il do
not see how you could have spoken after
such a summons.
| said in reply: If the suit had been
for s3,000 only, it might have given me
some uneasiness, as a recovery would
have involved payment. judgment Of
50, 600, 900 implies impossibility of pay
ment.'
1 had no knowledge of Calvin, but his
letters of advice were found on the files
of the Treasury. Even after the suit. ! did
not examine them for the purpose of form
ing an opinion of their value or want of
value. Calvin alleged in his declaration
that he had furnished the financial policy
that / had adopted, that IL had benefited
the country to the amount of $500. 900
and more, and that claim of 50, 600, 900
The Department of Justice assumed the de-
fence. The case fingered. Calvin died, and
the case followed.
At the election of 1872 voted at Groton
in the morning. and in the afternoon 1
went to New York, to find that General
Grant had been reelected by a sufficient
On the morning of the next day
| left the hotel with time for call upon
General Dix, who had been elected Gov
ernor. and for a call upon Thurlow Weed.
General Dix was not at home. Notwith-
standing the criticisms Of Thurlow Weed
as a manager OF political affairs in the
State of New York and in the country, /
had reasons for regarding him with favor,
1 had never favored the aspIra-
tons of Mr. Seward his chief. When 1
was organizing the internal revenue office
In 1926 Mr.. Weed gave me information
in regard to candidates for office in the
State of New York, including their rela-
lions 10 the factions that existed-usually
Seward and anti Seward-and with as
much fairness as he could have commanded
( he had had no relation TO either faction.
As / had time remaining at the end OF
ny call upoa Mr.. Weed, and as / bad in
mind Mr. Stewirt's message at the Cooper
Union meeting / drove to his downtown
tore, where l found him. He received me
With cordially, but in respect to his
health he seemed to be already doomed
nan. He was anxious chiefly to give me
n opportunity to comprehend the nature
nd magnitude of his business. AS l was
bout to leave. he took hold of my coat
'utton and said When you see the Presi-
lent. you give my love to him, and say
o him that ! am for him. and that I
lways have been for him." Stili holding
ny be the button, he said: Who buys the
aTpets for the Treasury"
| said: Mr.. Saville is the chief clerk,
nd he buys the carpets"
Mr. Stewart said: Tell him to come to
ne; | will sell him carpets as cheap as
nybody."
When l repeated Mr.. Stewards message
o the President he made no reply. and he
ave no indication that he was hearing
THAT was saying.
Rfdiculing Art.