Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-06-16
Interview with Mr.. Pendleton--A BAT
fed CORRESPONDENT.

with Mr. Pendleton. He sent the following
account of his reception and Of the informa-
ton elected =
erScrsxArr, June g, 1868
stMr Pendleton ~
"That's my name, sir. walk.in. Take a.
seat"
The INQUIRY was mine. The response was
that Of Mr. George 81. Pendleton, Democratic
candidate for the Vice Presidency in 1864
and an aspirant for the Democratic nomina-
ton for President at the New York Conven-
ton next month. He was seated at his desk
and had suspended writing a letter to answer
the inquiry which addressed him from the
threshold of his law Office, plainly, but sub
stantially furnished apartment, about twelve
by twelve in size, situated in a.Jauncey court
of law chambers on. Third street, in this city.
Waving me to the pr0fered seat with a ge-
NAL smile which made me feel at home with
him, on the instant he wished to know what
he could do for for me. The brief interval
which had elapsed to this moment was sufh-
cient to give me an opportunity ofperceiying
that he is man of about forty-two years of
age aud possessed of a manner which readily
accounts for his personal popularity. His
face seemed not at all strange it was even
familiar, though had never seen him before.
1ne- person Hto lnaheS MS acquaintance ner6-
after will recognize the truth of this observa-
ton his face is one of the kind that haunts
the mind with the impression that it has been
somewhere seen before, though for what rea-
son the spectator will be at loss.to conceive.
In height Mr.. Pendleton is little above the
medium, the excess being unnotioeable from
very slight tendency to em5enpofas Not
that be is stout or portly. The best descrip-
ton of him would be to say that he is very
hearty, with full, robust figure He is pro-
portionately well built, and by the ladies
w0uld be deemed handsome man dark
(though not black hair covers large, finely
formed head !; austachs and whiskers, worn
in the prevailing style (the latter slightly
sprinkled with gray, both inclined to be curly,
and with fneness and sickness indicative
of elegance of temperament,) surround a face
which seems to perpetually wear the winning
smile above referred to- A suit of black and
dark blue completes the picture of the can
didate whom the West is pressing so stren-
uously for the Democratic nomipatiou.
Despite the public Rotoriety which Mr.
Pendleton has achieved he is steadily and
earnestly devoted to the business. of his pro-
fesson, and it is wonder how he has con-
triyed to get time from his private duties to
transact the public business which has made
him so famous in the West. He resides IN
the country outside the city of Cincinnati,
coming in every morning to his Office and
desk, where. OF in court lie labors indus,
triously all day until the hour for his return
to his suburban home, No doubt great
deal of his success is duo to the efforts of his
friends, whose number is legion, and whom
he has united to himself by the peculiar mag
netism of his character. What he has been
quick to conceive in politics they have been
as quick to execute in his interest They
are bound to him by a tie which it would
seem impossible to sever. Their devotion to
him is of the warmest kind, and he has be-
come their leader without any apparent effort
on his part. The details of any policy Of his
origination tkey have delighted to. carry out
The understanding between man and party
is of the most harmonious kind. Fgive these
particulars concerning Mr.. rsndeton because
he is not known at the East, and especially
as he will doubtless prove one of the most
prominent candidates in the Convention of
July 4.
made known my business without any
circumlocutiou. The smile of Interest changed
to one of surprise. That person should
travel nearly nine hundred miles to hold
conversation with him was something a little
out Of the routine of matters coming within
the range of his daily observation. Had
been politician even from New York to
make u bargain regarding the nomination it
would have been surprising enough particular
ly as tho object might be attained Just as we'll
by letter. lie had no objection-none what
ever he said--to talk with me upon political top
les but ''did want to print the conversation"
l explained that such was my wish as the
natural sequence of the interview and as a
part of the business which had brought me
to see him.
Had Mr.. Pendlston been tortoise 1 have
no doubt that at this moment he would have
rendered himself totally Invisible to me ex-
ceptipg his shell. AS he is not tortoise
such piece of geological strategy was inn
possible. He did something approaching to
it 10 the human way, however. The smile of
welcome, which had changed to one of sur
prise as 1 told my mission, had now changed
to one of startled apprehension.
GAS a friend, sir, shall be happy to con-
verse freely with you on any and all political
subjects, but will not do so for the sake of
having it printed. These conversations be-
tween correspondents and public men are very
ridiculous-very ridiculous"
And move him from this determination
could not. 1t was in vain that piled every
argument was capable Of He was unaltera-
BILE in his decision.
'No, sir, could not think of it. Such
thing would do no good. Not that have
anything to conceal. Mysentiments are well
known. There is nothing have to conceal
will tell you everything il a private way, if
you promise not to print it"
OF course such promise was out of the
question. Not despairing yet, i exerted every
artifco within my capacity and employed
every weapon in my reportorial storehouse to
induce change of his decision. 1t was of
no avail.
81 have no objection to telling you all I
think" he concluded, ':but do not wish to
have conversation with three OF four huns
dred thousand readers of the Herald before