Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-08

In the Herald that cast might be givei
TO it. | am unwell, however, to-day
and II you call again L may talk witt
you" A = .1-s - --
This was 8 few evenings since, and IL
! accordance with his expressed permis
sion 1 again presented myself to-day
finding him looking better, decided 5
more Communicative, and exceedingly
interesting.
THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY. .
"How do you regard the present con,
dition of the country, Mr.. Stephens ~
commenced. -.s ....srras "a
"As exceedingly deplorable. The lasi
yestiQes OF constitutional freedom are
rapidly disappearing, aud we are fasl
verging into Capitalization and despot-
ism. Unless some wonderful change
takes place, unless the people of the
North exercise that wisdom for which
Americans have been. SO remarkable in
the past, the world shall ere long witness
the establishment of an empire on the
ruins OF this once great republic, The
measures inaugurated by the dominant
party are the surest indications of com
ing despOtisnn. They have trampled the
Constitution under foot, and have legis-
lated solely to keep themselves in pswer
and to effect the same object. Without
a political revolution occurs meantime
the Government will be merged into q
despOtism-an empire. If Grant is
elected next November l never expect
to see another Presidential election"
GRANT. -
What is your opinion Of Grant per-
sonalIy ?'
"That he is entirely underrated by the
country and the press. i know him very
well. He is q remarkable man, and one
that few appreciate ;Of decided military
genius, indomitable energy and deter.
mined will-just the man for q coup
Louis Napoleon performed when he
placed himself on the throne of France"
THE CANDIDATES.
4" Do you know the other candidates
and what would result from the election
OF Seymour and Blair ?n
Blair l know; Colfsx know; Ssy-
mour l don't know. They are all very
clever, good fellows. Blair and Colfax
served in Congress with, and personally,
l have no objection to any Of them.
Blair is a man Of ability, integrity and
character; so is Seymour as far as
know; and Colfax may be placed in the
same category. But it Is not the men
1t is not Graut and Colfax; it is not Ssy-
mour and Blair that sre to be regarded
in the neZt election. Ii Is the principles
they represent that are at issue. The
fight isnot against Grant and ColfRX, but
against the iDiquity of the dominsnt
party that has brought the country to the
verge of ruin, and threatens finally to
ho 1T
ernments at the South, the disfranehise-
ments Of whites, and the expenditure
and corruption OF the present govern
ment are the issues to be fought. Look
at the whisky bill. Why, sir, never
saw nOr heard of more odious or 3 bOmi-
nable document, and it is but a sample
Of the legislation OF the party. The cleo
tiOn OF Seymour and Blair would,
think, restore harmony, abolish corrup
ton, give the States the right to regulate
their own domestic affairs, and by an
economical administration OF the gov
eminent reduce taxation and lessen the
national ebt to the extent that in gen.
Grafton il would scarcely be felt. Imag-
inc yearly expenditure of $500, ,000, 900
and the country groaniDg under exces-
siVe LaXatiOn to pay the interest on a
debt OF 3 500, coo, 900 that was contracted
to keep the Southern States in the Union,
which, after the loss of q million of men
and lapse of three years since the close
of the war, is vet undone. What the
South left the Union for the North is
now doing. The former wanted sddi-
tional constitutional guarantees to re-
main in the Union the latter enacts and
adopts unconstitutional guarantees in
the shape OF amendments to the Consti-
tuition before they will sdunit the South
again. All this is wrong, and Is but, as
said before, an advance towards despo.
tism and an empire"
ACTION OF THE SOUTH IF SEYMOUR IS /
ELECTED.
"How would the Southern people act |
with regard to universal suffrage in the /.
event Of the success of Seymour and .
Blair ?"
"They would abide by judicial deci.
sions, and there is little doubt that all |
this party legislation to secure power /
would be overthrown. Conventions .
would be called and the people would |
regulate suffrage as best they thought |
proper. ! believe system of qualified /
Suffrage on an educational basis would .
Os generally adopted In the South In !
such an event"
NO TRoU BILE WITH THE NEGROES DUR
ING THE ELECTION.
"Do you anticipate any trouble during
he Presidential election between the /
faces In the newly reconstructed /
states ?'l 80
"No, except when it is provoked by |
he unprincipled whites who have Rsso,
dated themselves with the negroes TO 1
yet Office. the whites viii remain, as !
hey have been, peaceable and quiet, re. 7
ying mainly on the North for deliver
snce from the fFightfnl condition in /
which they are placed. The cry of the .
Let Us have pesce,' means let |
is have war. They desire 1t, and to
make political capital will inaugurste /
hot and blOodshed II not thwarted by the !
Of the whites, They raise l
Lhe cry that the South wants war. They /
lie when they say it. The Southern peo- |
pie have no means 10 make war, no dis |
position to fight, no enemy 70 meet. |
Peace is all they wish for, and the civil |
liberty which as citizens of this Republic |
hey are entitled to-"
WILL THE CoLoRED TROOPS FIGHT
NoBLY.
Would the negroes resort to arms in |
sase they were deprived of suffrage 20
"If they would and did and fought for |
t they should certainly be entitled to 1t,
Dut as body or q people they would not I
10 1t. An occasional Instance there \
might be among them of men who |
would, under the inspiration and gui- |
lance Of whites, clamor for the right of |