The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-09
From the New York Herbal

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, AUGUST %. 1868.
Thirty years ago Mr. Stephen visited these
springs, just at the commencement. OF his remark
able political career. He was then twenty-six
years of age, making him now fstv-six, and al
ready in the feeble health that he's been the bane
of his entire existence. II here ne contracted
the habit Of smoking pipe, Which, has character
lied him for many years past. Again this season
has Mr.. Stephens honored the springs with his
presence and, of course, has attracted an I'M
usual share of attention from the Numerous visit.
who have recently thronged. this delightful
watering place in guest of health pleasure and
some of them political recreation.i These latter,
however, were few, though the sp6ngs have been
noted for its political meetings aid Presidential
campaigning prior to the late unhappy civil war.
The meeting Of the large numbe{ Of ex Confed-
crate generals and statesmen rdcenuy may De
said to have been the result OF adpldent; but the
coming of General Rosecrans has given 1t de-
cided political cast, of which ysu are already
fully informed. 4.
Mr. Stephens, I had learned, while evinciug
deep interest in the political AFFAIR." OF the country
determined to take no active paft in the great
campaign now In active progrsss, though the
most vital issues and principles with which he has
been identified during his whole I've are involved.
He has devoted himself to his work, the first volume
of which has been published, and ION the second
of which he Is now engaged-.hete litei airy puf-
suits occupying the greater portion Of his time
when bis health allows. But, Notwithstanding
that he has become politically rr,luse. called
upon him for the purpose Of learnslg his views on
the great impending issues In one5of the cottages
In the George Row here. Seased on rocking
chair. with the inevitable pipe in shs mouth, the
floor strewed over with newspaper, suggestive Of
an editors room, / found the orker vice presi-
dent of the Confederacy. Pale, tmsciated, and
almost shriveled, his thin lips twit ng nervously,
his felt hat on because Of neuralgia in the head,
one leg thrown over the other, the foot Of which
was constantly in q nervous motiia, but his dark
eyes sparkling brilliantly and his ientire features
remarkable for an intellectual Expression, Mr..
Stephens impresses the visitor wfh q feeling Of
Difference, mingled with pity that 1uch wonderful
mental power should be ACCOMPANIED by so
feeble physical organization. 5fter a few re-
marks as to his health, which hessaid was very
poor, and was the Of his pressnt visit TO the
Springs, asked for his opinions politically, and
received a reply which fully confiped what had
heard-that he did not intend tofmake any ex-
preston OF them, nor In any way II NEEDLE with
the contest.
ALLOWING such to be the cssesr remarked,
" mere conversation on potioalstopi can not
be construed into partcipstiof in the cam
True" be replied; "but II sublIshed in the
Herald that cast may be given 10 X am unwell.
however, to- day, and if you call sfain may talk
with you"
This was few evenings since. I'D in accord
ance with his expressed permission again pre-
sented myself to-day, finding him booking better,
decidedly more communicative, aid exceedingly
interesting.
81 How do you regard the preseyt condition Of
the country, Mr. Stephens ?" commenced.
"As exceedingly deplorable. TIE last vestiges
of constitutional freedom are RAPIDLY disappear
ing, and we are fast vergiDg i1to, Capitalization
and despotism. Unless some woISlerful change
takes place, unless the people ois the North ex-
ercise that wisdom for which Americans have
been so remarkable in the past thStlgh they seem
TO lave lost it latterly, the world ysha ere long
witness the establishment of an umpire on the
ruiIs of this once great republic. The measures
insugursted by the dominant party are the surest
indications of coming despotismi They have
trampled the Constitution under foot, aud have
legslated solely to keep themselveS in power, and
TO effect the same object. WIthousa political re-
volution occurs meantime the government will be
merged into despotism-an empi{e. II Grant is
elected next November l never exsect to see an
other presidential election"
What is your opinion of Graft personality
" That he is entirely undersated BY the country
and the press. | know him very well. Heisa
remarkable man and one that Re VI appreciate, of
decided military genius. indomitaeie energy and
determined will-just the man fcg coup d'stdt
such as the present Emperor Louis N spoleon per-
formed when he placed himself % the throne Of
France"
"Do you know the other candidates and what
would result from the election OF Seymour and
Blair ~
" Blair know Colfax 1 know Seymour
don't know. They are ali very clsysr good fell
lows. Blair and Cofsx / served in Congress
with, and personally / have no objection TO any
OF them. Blair is man OF ability. integrity, and
character SO is Seymour, as far Is know, and
Cofax may be placed in the same category. But
1t is not the men; it is not Grant, and Colfax; it
is not Seymour and Blair that arctic be regarded
IN the next election II is the principles they rep
resent that are at issue. The light ss not against
Grant and Colfsx. bnt against the nquity of the
dominant party that has brought the country TO
the verge Of ruin, and threatens finally to destroy
it, The erection of negro governments at the
South, the Acknowledgement Off whites, and
the expenditure and corruption of the
present government are the tissues TO be
fought. Look at the whisky bin. Why,
sir, never saw nor beard of kiore odious or
abominable document, and it is lsIt a sample of
the legislation Of the party. The eFection of Sey-
mour and Blair would, think res,ore harmony,
abolish corruption. give the States the right to
regulate their own domestic affairs, and by an
economical administration of the government re-
duce taxation and lessen the national debt TO an
extent that in q generation il wou1i scarcely be
felt. Imagine yearly expenditure tf s400, 10000
and the country grooming under Successive taxa
tion to pay the interest debt of 81 500 900 900
that was contracted TO keep the ssOuthern States
in the Union, which after the loss OF million men
and the lapse Of three years since le close OF the
war, is yet undone. What the Souta eftthe Union
for the North Is now doing. The former wanted
additional constitutional guarantees 10 remain in
the Union; the latter eDscts and adopts uncon.
guarantees In the shape Of amendments
to the Constitution before they viii admit the
South again. AL this is wrong and is but, as [
said before, an advance toward despotism and an
empire.
"How would the Southern people act with re-
FaId 10 UNIVERSAL Suffrage IN the event OF the
cess of Seymour and Blairr'
They would abide by judicial decisions, and
there is little doubt that all this party legislation
70 secure power would be overthrow. Conyen-
tons would be called, and the people would reg
ulate suffrage as best they thought proper. be-
lieve a system of qualified suffrage on an educa.
iional basis would be generally adopted in the
South in such an event" = 49,.
"Do you anticipate any trouble during the
presidential election between the traces In The
newly reconstructed States %
mo; except when 1t is provoked by the nm
principied whites who have associs ted themselve.
with the negroes to get Office. Ihe whites will
remain, as they have been, peaceable and quite
relying mainly on the North for deIiveranee from
be frightful condition in which they are placsd
The cry Of the Radicals, Let Us have peace
means let MS have war. They desire it. ana 10
make political capital inaugurste riot and hIooS
he'd, if not thwarted by the forbearsnce of IT,
whites. They raise the CRY that the sontb w,nte
e or. ihney nc wnen tney say It, The Southern
: fnI. ~, ~ means 70 make war, no disposition
S,sh ~, ~ ~ e ~ 20 meet Pesde Is all they
III ra,,, Jse sne Os nDerty Whichia citizens OF