Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-05
GEN. GRANTS VIEWS.

lext, to learn his views on ques-
ions of public policy. Mr.. Boyn-
on, the Washington correspondent
IF the Cincinnati Gazette, says in a
recent letter:
"In spite of Gen. Grants reticence,
enough has leaked ont concerning his
views Of the political situation and the
relations of parties to effectuaily check
the prediction that Grant would disap- |
point the Republicans, which slipped so |
glibly from Conservative lips fortnight
ago. He talked freely regarding political
matters with several prominent Republl.
cans, and while, Of course, no portion OF
this conversation can be published, it is
not too much to say that these persons
have been struck, both with the clear
and comprehensive view which the new
President takes of public affairs and
policy, and also thoroughly satisfied with
the earnestness with which he supports
the general features of Republican policy.
The gentlemen thus satisfied are hadi-
GALS" @
There is nothing positive here as
to the views of Gen. Grant. Some
unnamed persons have heard Gen
Grant talk, and Notwithstanding
his proverbial reticence, he said
enough to satisfy these nameless in
diyiduals that he will do to trust,
and this passes from one to another
until it reaches the ear of the Ga
eette's correspondent, who makes
it public in the hope that 1t
will satisfy those Radicals who
have been looking rather sus-
piciously upon the man they
have taken without a knowledge OF
his principles or pledge as to the
policy of his administration, for in
accepting their nomination he ex-
pressly reserved to himself the
right TO change his policy as often
as he pleased. The New York
Herald, which processes to speak
whereof it knows, gives the follow
ing in its issue of the LIST inst,
touching the position and views OF
Gen. Grant:
"While the politicians are sorely per-
picked as to what will be the dom este
policy of Gen. Grants administration in
reference to the radicals, copperheads,
niggers and rebels, there are two impor-
tant questions upon which we feel author
lied 10 say he has defined his position.
These are the one term principle for the
President Of the United States and
universal suffrage. We learn from the
best attainable authority that Gen. Grant
is emphstically in favor Of so amending
the national constitutioa as to limit
therein the President to one term, and to
make universal suffrage. or suffrage to
male citizens Of all races and colors above
the age of twenty-one years, the su-
preme law Of the land. X
Next with regard to universal suf-
frage. We suspect that the constitutional
amendment, article fourteen, which pro-
vides that the several States may regu
late the suffrage each for itself, but thai
in proportion as the suffrage is restricted
representation shall be restricted, Is moi
considered q settlement by Gen. Grant
but a rule apt to result in endless troubles
and agitations from the conf; citing plans
likely to be adopted among the States
Hence, no doubt, Gen. Grant has con-
cluded that a constitutional amendment
| making universal manhood suffrage the
supreme law of the land in all the States
and Territories is the only decisive solu'
ton of this otherwise embarrassing
question
The Herald here states upOr
" the best attainable authority,
that Gen. Grant is in favor of thC
one term principle and of universal
suffrage, and the Cincinnati ChrOni
Gle admits that 1T is not improh
able that Gen. Grant has privately
expressed both the wish-whicl
nearly all Republicans have-that
a uniformity in regard to suffrage
might prevail throughout all the
States Of the Union, and that the
one term principle, as to the PreSi'
dency, were also incorporated in
the constitution" The drift OF
events seems to point to universal
suffrage as measure in much favor
with Gen. Grant. 1t has been
| prominently brought forward and
urged by the men to whom Grant
owes his nomination, and this would
likely have considerable influence
in shaping his course. The Herald
argues in favor of this course from
the fact that the elections have
shown that there can be no such
thing as Radical or negro supre-
macy in the South. The Herald
thinks that the negro vote
is subject to the controlling
Southern white element, and
hence, even under universal ne
gro suffrage, we may expect that
by the year 1870 the whole
South will be, in the hands of the
Democracy, reconstructed, and that
thus we shall have a new Southern
balance of power which will con-
troll and decide the presidential
election Of 1872" There is a good
deal of force in this view, and it
may have its weight with those who
are urging universal suffrage.
Whatever may be the views Of
Gen. Grant upon the question, some
Of his most ardent supporters are
Jealous in their efforts to create Il
public sentiment in favor of Con
gress so amending the constitution
as to make suffrage universal and to
apply to all elections, State as well
as national. The Washington Re
publican, which is as decidedly
Radical sheet as there is in the