Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-11-19
Howell Cobb.

| = "a correspondence VI Tue. NtN
York Herald, writing from Mo
bile, Alabama, gives the result Of
a conversation be had with How
ell Cobb a short time before the
decease of the latter. The fol
lowing part OF the conversation
will be found interesting:
"And what do you think of
the prospect?' oa
"Bad,' he replied. "I am u
fraid that we can not elect Sey-
mour. He is a good and able
man, but he can not stem the
current of the revolution. 1t
must reach its climax. Grant
himself will endeavor to stay it,
but he, too, will be swept away.
We have seen war, bloodshed, par
tial despotism. We are now see
ing license in the name of liberty.
The next step is anarchy and a
renewal of bostiiities, which will
break out at the North" W
"Ah, General, The same thing
was said in 1860"
$50 it was, Captain, but the lion
was not aroused. Suppose Grant
President-and my private opin-
ion is that he will be elected-and
what will be the result. Congress
will be compelled to adopt meas
ures for the Southern States simi-
lar to those adopted in Tennessee;
for unless the whites of the South
are distranchised it will be impos-I
sible to make Radical States of
them, and just as sure as we are
permitted to vote just SO certain
we are to destroy the Radical par
ty. Give us anything like free
dom of speech and of action and
we will not only kill the party
here, but aided by the Northern
Democracy, we will kill it at the
North. The Radical leaders
know this, and selfpreservation
will compel them to adopt harsh
for the South. Despot-l
ism here will eventually react
upon the North. One-half of
this country can not long remain
free while the other half is in a
state of vassalage. When the
Northern people are made to feel
he same tyranny which we are
Tow feeling there will be a revolu-
ion at. the North, and it is mere ,,
y q matter of time for its occur
ence. Revolution at the North :
makes us the arbiters, and then
he Radical party will not only be
but the South" -
lere the General paused.
''But the South?" | queried. :
"Will be an independent re- !
'ublic.' And after a short pause :
e went on. 81 may not live to !,
ee the day, but ycu may. JEFF :
Davis truly said that although !
ur cause was lost the principles
Dr. which we fought can never
lie. If moderate counsels had r
after the war ended we :
Tould have had lasting Union, |,
ut our great idea of republican /
overnmant would have triumphed b
1 the end. Extremists have pre-
allied and will continue to pre-
all for some years to come k
aptain, we have a long and drea- P
Y prospect before us; but l be- y
eve things will come out right Ia
ter all. But when freedom ia
,mes again there will be two
,vernments instead of one. In
leir effort to prevent the posi- hl
e chance of Southern confed- M
acy the Northern Radicals are p'
acting as to make one inevita.
e."
General, do you not think that g
the Radicals attempt to 90 fur Is
er Grant will use bis influence "
,ainst them and call upon the
to aid him?' m
"No; | don't believe that Grant
IS any very great popularity q,
Ben Wade had been the W
ndidate for the Presidency, he
,uld not have received a vote ::
IS than Grant will. / repeat -. se
at the progress of this revolu- \. =.
IN can not be checked or hur- -
ID on by any particular man.
ID knows ] sincerely wish that bo
2 prospect was brighter, but to 10 10
at least it is very dark" sag. ba
The conversation then turned
various topics, until, reference
~