The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-08
A Talk with General Forrest.
CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN TENNEssEE-wHAT FOR
REST AND BIS FRIENDS WILL SUBMIT TO AND
WHAT THEy WILL NoT-THE EKU-KLUKEs-IHEIR
STRENGTH, OBJECTS AND ORGANIZATION.

We give the folio wing letter from the CORES
pondent of the Cincinnati Commercial for what
it is worth, not knowing, of course, whether
the reported interview is correctly reported OF
not. We confess our disbelief, especially as to
what ia said Of the "Ku-Kluxes"-an organiza.
ton that we have always believed to be in q
great measure myth: .-a -,....,-,
MEMPHIS, TENN, Friday, August %.
To-day have enjoyed 'big talks" enough to
have gratiied any ofIIthe famous fudlan chiefs
who have been treating with General Sherman
B. Forrest. then General Gideon J. Pillow and
Governor Isham'G G.. Harris. My first visit was
to General Forrest, whom found at his office
at o'clock this morning, hard ct work, al
though complaining OF an illness contracted at
the New York Convention. .....
i cannot better personally describe him than
by borrowing the language Of one of his
biographers. e. "1n. person, he Is six feet one
inch and half in height with broad shoul-
ders, o full chest and symmetrical, muscular
limbs erect in carriage, and weighs one hum
dred and eighty-fye, pounds; dark gray eyes,
dark hair. mousiache, and beard upon the
chm, set Of regular white teeth and clearly
cut features;" which, altogether, mako him q
rath haa dsome man foi one forty-seven
years OF age. go -'N
After being seated in his Office, I said
General Forrest, come especially .e.Icn
civil and political affairs in the ,o,S.e vi Tell
nessee, and the South gcncf IL. l desire
them for publication i... the Cincinnati Com
mercial. do not WISH 70 misrepresent you
in the slightest degree, and therefore only
ask for such views as you are willing should
publish" ..
81 have not now" he replied, sand never had
any opinion on any public or political subject
which I would object to having published. I
mean what I say, honestly and earnestly, and
only object to beng misrepresented."
I replied: ''Sir, I will publish only what you
say, and then you cannot possibly be misrepre
sented. Our people desire to know your feeling
Government of Tennessee, the Radical party,
both in and out OF the State, and upon the
question of negro suffrage"
"Well, sir" said he, "when surrendered my
seven thousand men In 1865, accepted o pa
role, honestly, and have observed 1t faithfully
up to today. have counseled peace in all the
speeches have. made. I have advised my peo-
pie TO submit to the laws OF the State, oppres-
sive as they are, and unconstitutional as be-
lieye them to be. I was paroled and not par
doned until the issuance Of the last proclama-
tion Of general amnesty, and therefore did not
think it prudent for me to take any active part
until the oppression Of my people became SO
great that theYcould not endureit, and then
would be with them."
"1hen, I suppose, General, that you think
the oppression has become 30 great that your
people should not longer bear it?"
'No," he answered; 'it is growing worse
hourly, yet I have said to the people, stand
fast, let US try to right the wrong by lsgisla-
tion. few weeks ago l WAS called to Nash
vile to counsel with Other gentlemen who had
been prominently identified with the cause Of
the Confederacy, aud We then offered pledges
which we thought would be satisfactory to Mr..
Brownlow and his Legislature, and we told
them that, if they would not call out the
militia, we would agree to preserve order and
see that the laws were enforced. The Legisla-
tive Committee certainly led me to believe that
militia organized. Believing this, came home,
full, and offer no resistance to any reasonable
law. 1t is true that I have never recognized
the present government IN Tennessee as hav-
ing any legal existence, yet I was willing to
submit to it for time, with the hope that the
wrongs might bo righted peaceably."
what are your feelings toward the Federal
Government, General ?"
81 loved the old government in 1861, I love
the old constitution yet. I think it is the best
government in the world, II administered as 1t
was before the war. I do not hate Il; am
opposing now only the Radical revnlutionists
who are trying to DESTROY it. I believe that
party to be composed, as know it is in Ten
nessee, Of tho worst men on Gods earth-men
who would hesitate at no crime, and who have
only one object in view-to enrich them
selves"
IN the event of Governor Brownow's calling