Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-01
THE MAN ON HORSEBACK.
Interview with am Ex-GOvernment
0fsicer-SOsme New Points About
Grant = Interesting Revelations of
the Political Situation.

the Political Sftuati0n.
New York correspondence Charleston Courier
I.haye had few days since very i'm
portant interview with an old politician, I
man whose word, if were permitted L
mention his name, would add immens,
weight to the statements / am about to lay
before your readers in regard to the quie
but steady revolution upon which we have
already entered. This gentleman has beer
for several years employed by the United
States government as secret and confden.
tial agent, both before and during the war
His powers of observation surpass those oi
ordinary citizens, and his acquaintance
with leading men in Washington enables
him TO form judgments in regard to events
about to be developed, not to be eqnalled
by other lookers-on in Jerusalem. He
thoroughly understands the undercurrent
OF public feeling in Washington, and as
such ! asked him few leading questions,
to which | received replies, which prefer
to give in his own words. Not being per-
mitted to make use of his name, | viii
| designate him as "agent" The following
is the substance of the conversation had :
1 Correspondent: Who do you think win
| be President?
Agent: General Grant beyond perad-
venture. The Democratic party can do
nothing to prevent it. Even if the Gene
raj cannot receive full number of votes,
there are already plans on foot to make
him President
Correspondent: Do you think the peo-
pie are opposed to him
Agent: Yes / do. Bnt the misfortune
ls that the Democratic party has no great
man to oppose him. There is no Jackson
nor Douglas in its ranks; there is no man
who cansgiye wise counsel to the party in
these extraordinary times; none to keep
the party on the initiative. With a lack
of great men, nothing remains but organiza-
tion and old party traditions, with nothing
in the prospective to make it successful
The Republicans not only have one, but
many great names, and the greatest of them
all General Grant
Correspondent: What do you think of
Grant?
Agent ] have had several conversations
with him. | made him a present in the
name of self and other citizens, of house
in Thirty-sixth street, subject to a certain
mortgage, which was subsequently taken
off by the Union League Club. This
brought me in close contact with him, and
| must say that considering all outward ap-
pearance l never saw a more commonplace
man, aye, even his horse-talk was very
common. But, nevertheless, / tell You he
is vastly under-rated. There is more stuff
in him than in any other man living. Gen.
Francis Blair only the other day told me
that Grant proposes TO be President, and
when once in the White House, he proposes
to stay there. He thinks himself as great
as Cromwell, and has not the least doubt
but things will shape themselves in fashion
that will keep him in the Presidential
chair as Dictator.
Correspondent: What indications do you
see of this?
Agent A short time since while in the
cars from Washington TO Baltimore, Gen
eral Banks gave me his wife to take care
of while he was looking after some bag
gage. Now, you know all women will talk,
and Mrs. General Banks is no exception TO
the rule. In the course of conversation
she said: General Grant makes a mis-
take, when he has something TO do he
never consults the statesmen-he never
asks the opinion of leading civilians or
prominent Congressmen, he only talks 10
his staff, and has no relations whatever
with the leaders of the Republican party.
Now this does not relate TO General Banks,
for, after all he is an army officer. But,
do You know, continued Mrs. Banks, that
the reign of the lawyer statesmen will be
at an end when General Grant is in
power? The Wilson's, the Trumbulls, the
Summers, the COllaxes will have to make
room for the Shermans, the Canbys the
Sheridans and the Meades. His method
of reconciIing Southern States will not
only be the restoration Of States with all
their rights and privileges, but the eleva.
ton of the Lees, the Longstreets the
Beauregards, as true representatives of the
Southern people. With their aid, military
men North as well al South, he will form
government that will be government"
Well, sir, continued the agent, in pen
sive tone, with General Grant in the Presi-
Dental chair, goodbye to lawyers, good
bye to negrophilism. The man on horse
back will be there, and you will have
strong, powerful government, a govern
ment that, while robbing the people of its
inherent rights of liberty, will neverthe-
less be exceedingly popular, owing to its
audacious policy, which will embrace moth
ing less than making the United States the
greatest and most influential power on
earth. The annexation Of Canada, the ab-
sorption of Mexico, the seizure of the
Isthmus of Panama-all these questions
will be sprung upon the people, and atten.
ton will be detracted from domestic to
foreign affairs. A strong fleet will be sent
to the Chinese and japanese waters, ard
for the first time the United States will be
recognized as the arbiter ofthe vast interests
concentrated in Asia. Foreign affairs will
occupy a large portion Of the attention of
his administration, and the United States
will demand TO be heard on all questions
affecting commercial and political changes
in Europe and Asia which enter into the
discussions of European potentates. Now.
then, You may shake your head about
Grant not having designs so extraordinarily
ambitious. Why then has his man Fri
day, Washburne, of Illinois, made most
important move in the House a few
days ago, which has been entirely
overlooked even by the Argus-eved
press Of the country? Washburne pro-
posed to abolish the Washington Police
Department, and to let soldiers attend to
duties now performed by the police. For
tundteiy MS game WAS DlOcked Tor the time
being, but on being asked the object of such
a scheme he did really not know how TO
reply, and finally stammerred ont the
word economy" Economy forsooth
Why, just think of il, to put soldiers
around the White House, the Departments,
the Capitol, etc, etc. What next? Bat
all this shows what is in General Grants
mind. Prepare, sir, for a strong govern
ment, You will get more of il than you
or anybody has bargained for. Now, in
conclusion, permit me to call your atten-
tion to another very significant fact. You
must have noticed that, with the exception
of Hancock, all leading Generals, before
committing themselves in any manner on
any leading questions, always look to what
Grant is going to do. To him they look az
their present and future chief, and with
these convictions already settled in their
minds, 1t will be easy TO make use of the
army whenever exigencies may REQUIRE it.
Correspondent: How about government
credit?
Agent: don't know exactly, but with the
man on horseback IN the distance, prefer
not TO have too many bonds / have in
vested about $400,009 in New York city
real estate Daugral D Il