Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-19
Largest Circulation in City and State.
THAD. STEVEKS.
EIis Views On the Political tCOndItIOn
OF fhA Country.

FITS Views On the Political tCOndIGIOn
OF fhe Country.
Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Enquirer.
fWAsHIKaToE, Nov. Is, 1867.-Your
correspondent paid visit TO Thad. Stevens
to-day. He was sitting in an arm chair,
and Wilson, of Iowa, Chairman OF the
Judiciary Committee. was present. Time
has made fearful ravages on the "Old Com.
moher " who is bat a wreck Of his former
self He claimed, however, to be quite
we'll, and said he was fast recovering his
strength; but the luster Of his eyes was
gone, and il seemed to require an effort TO
Keep himself from absolutely sinking into
stupor. Occasionally his eye Would
brighten as some bitter reference to Cop
perhead escaped his lips; then the FIRE
would die ont, leaving him the appearance
Of dying man.
His memory seems to fail him, and he
would often press his bony fingers across
his face in the effort to recall his wander
ing thoughts Frequently after these
panses, he wonld repeat what he had Just
spoken, apparently unconscious of havs
ing uttered them before. In the
course Of his remarks Mr.. Stevens said the
country had never produced a political
party of such strength az the Radical
party, and that il was destined TO control
the government, with, perhaps, occasional
interruption. The next House of Repre-
sentatiVes, he thought, would be Locofoco,
but the Radicals would soon regain their
ascendency. Stretching his long arms and
clinehing his fingers he said There is the
mighty Northwest, which will never yield;
those men are ready to fight bears, wolves,
catamounts and the devil, or, what is next,
the LocofocOs
In speaking Of the effect of Congressional
action in the South, he said the Republi-
cans in those States have placed themselves
on a foundation that can't be shaken, and
they will stand with us shoulder toshoulder,
and the Republican party will be like
great breachy mule between two horses, if
they don't pull with him, he will pull the
quits out Of them.
Mr.. Stevens said, if he was about TO die
-an event he did not like TO contemplate,
and which he would like to put off two or
three years longer-he would wish to have
some hearty friends to come and counsel
with him, "for," said, Eve have deep in
terest in the affairs of this world and can
have none in the other, and we must do our
work here"
Continuing his discourse, he said the
only danger TO the Republican party was a
dissension among themselves; but this
ought not to be allowed to divide and
weaken the ranks but if they refused to
pull in the harness he hoped the Republi-
can wagon would pass overtheir bodies and
break their necks.
Referring to the Presidential nomination,
he said the movement was premature, and
the Republicans should see their way clear
before discussing the question.
He declined expressing his opinion Of
| Grant, but it seemed as if Forney were
looking TO availability in their candidate
He thought impeachment had died out
but his own opinions were unaltered on the
subject.
He said he would avail himself of tht
first opportunity to present his confsca
ton bill, for he was determined TO put the
nation 10 a vote on it and he declared EN-
phatically that There would be no modi
fcation of the reconstruction acts that thG
party would not take one step backward
He said there was no doubt that the Sen
ate would reiBstate Stanton, but though
likely that he would have to resort to lega
proceedings, which, he said, is the righ
way TO adjust wrongs if fellow didn't wan
TO use his fist.
Mr.. Stevens declared his intention to b
present at the opening of Congress, an
said that Congress wonld shape the oourF
| of legislation