Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-31

GEN. GRANT ON NEGRO SUFFRAGE
Judge Pierrepont, who has given $780,
600 to aid in securing the election Of Gen.
Grant, made a speech in New York few
days ago, in which he made this state
ment ip regard to Grants position on the
negro suffrage question:
"OGe day at his house in Washington,
while he was Secretary of War, told
him that though he would make good
Democratic candidate if he was right on
the question of negro suffrage. He re-
piled that he had no wish for the Presi-
dency that he had now much higher
Office than he had ever expected; that
G eneral Sherman would make good
President, and that he would gladly give
the half that he was worth to make Sher-
man or any other fit man President; that
his feelings and sentiments were entirely
opposed to negro suffrage; but that he
did not wish to be restrained by any
pledges from the right to change his
opinion in future if new exlgencles con-
WINGED him that he was wrong for, said
he, you will remember that early in the
war, when was in command OF the West,
publicly stated that if the negroes had
an instruction would hold my army in
check until it was put down. But long
before the war was over l should have
been glad of negro insurrection, and
would have moved my army all the
faster. What l want is the Union-the
whole country returned to peace and sub
missive to the laws. l do not like uni
versal negro suffrage now, but the freed
men ought to be protected, and If the
only way to protect them in their helpless
condition is to give them the suffrage,
then | shall be in favor of letting them
vote. 1 want the Union restored, and to
have the South come back, obey the laws,
and submit as good citizens, and if the
future proves that they will not do it
without negro suffrage, then | would
give them negro suffrage"
This statement Of Gen. Grants position
by one of his supporters, was applauded
by a New York Republican audience.
We are, therefore, bound to accept it as
rejecting the wishes of Gen. Grants sup
porters in New York. If Judge Pierre
pont has correctly represented General
Grant, and there is no aeason to doubt
that he has not, the Radical candidate fol
President is not very much in favor Of
negro suffrage; indeed he only favors
making voters Of negroes to prevent the
Southern people getting control Of THEN
own State governments, just as the Rad
icals did in Tennessee. 1t will be fur.
Their observed that Gen. Grant gave Judge
Pierrepont distinctly to understand that
if a negro instruction had broken out in
the South in the early stages Of the war
he would have held back his army until
the "Rebels" could have put it down, and
that later in the war he would have used
his own army to have crushed out such
an Instruction. 1t will be remembered
that in a speech at Milwaukee, Wiscon.
sin, several months ago. Senator DoolittlC
stated that Gen. Grant had authorized
him to say to his people that he was op.
posed to negro suffrage, and although
this statement has been repeated at Other
points by Mr.. DOolittle, it has never
been denied and now Judge Pierrepont
one of Grants supporters, states that the
General is opposed to negro suffrage