The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-09-11
"What do you think of negro suf-

w lljlJ wv NOu tliAlN VI hNSoiO Sui-
frage?"
II am opposed to it under any and
all circumstances; and in our convcn-
ton urged our party not to commit
themselves at all upon the subject. lfj
the negroes vote to enfranChise US, | do
not think would favor their distran-
chisemcnt We will stand by those
who help us. And here / want you to
understand distinctly, | am not an enc
my to the negro. We want him here
among us he is the only laboring class
we have, and more than that would
sooner trust him than the white scala
wag and carpet-baggcr. When enter
ed the army ! took forty-sevcn ne
groes into the army with me, and forty
five of them were surrendered with
me. / said to them at the start: This
| fight is against slavery if we lose it,
you will be made free if we whip the
fight, and you stay with me and be good
boys, | will set you free. In either
case YOU will be free. Those boys
stayed with me, drove my teams, and
better Confederatcs did not live"
"Do you think the KukluX will try to
intimidate the negroes at the cleo
tion?"
Il do not think they will. Why, ]
made q speech at Brownsville the other
day, and while there Lieutenant, who
served with me, came to me and in
formed me that band of Radicals had
been going through the country Claim
ing to be KukluX, and disarming the
negroes, and then selling their arms. /
told him to have the matter investiga-
ted. and, if true, TO have the parties ar
rested"
"Wha do you think is the effect of
the amnesty granted to yourpeoplc? y
II believe that the amnesty restored
all the rights to the people, full and
complete. [ do not think the Federal
Government has the right to disfran-
chise any man, but | believe that the
Legislatures of the States have. The
objection that | have to disfranchise-
mcnt in Tennessee is, that the Lcgisla-
turc which enacted the law had no Con-
stitutional existence, and the law, in it.
it until changed by law but there is q
limit beyond which men cannot be driv-
en-, and | am ready to die sooner than
sacrifice my honor. This thing must
have an end, and it is now about time
for that end to come"
"NVhat do you think Of General
Grant?" l asked.
II regard him as great military COM
mander, good man, honest and liberal,
and if elected will, l hope and believe,
execute the law honestly and faithfully.
And, by the way, Il report has been pub
lishcd in some of the papers, stating
that while General Grant and lady were
at Corinth, in 1862, they took, and car
ried off, furniture and other property
| here brand the author as liar. | was
at Corinth only short time ago, and ]
personally investigated the whole mat
ter, talked with the people with whom
he and his lady lived while there, and
they say that their conduct was every
thing that could have been expected of
gentleman and lady, and deserving the
highest praise. am opposed TO Cen
eral Grant in everything, but would do
him justice"
The foregoing is the principal part OF
my conversation with the General. !
give the conversation, and leave the
reader to form his own opinion as to
what General Forrest means to do.
think that he has been so plain i'll his
talk that it cannot be misunderstood