Litchfield enquirer., 1869-02-25
OUR NEXT PREsIDENT.
GEN. neNasTREEr ON THE SITUATION AND
 PRESIDENT GRANT. H seli lf .t

The Washington correspondent of the Troy Times. in giving an account of re- cent interview with General LongstreetI says: # <s, h
 He was exceedingly cordial and com. municative, full of hope for the future, and glowing sanguine that the south, purified from the blight of human slavery and recss ognizing the equal rights of all men, would grow, and flourish, and blossom all over, like unto second land of promise"
 "'General,' said I, what more peril have these obstructionists at the South under gone. what more suffering have they en- dured, what more bravery have they shown that they should revile you for the frank renewal of your loyalty to the Govern ment?' g1.ss.s.'y fro ae- sa s.
 .None,' he exclaimed. ,.:, '" Then why not follow your example, T inquired, and give us the fruits for which we fought?'" -aEa.l erl
 1" Simply said he, because you of the North-l rather mean your administration made wrong start when the war ended. If vigorous means of reconstruction had been put in force when the Confederate armies surrendered. there would be no ob- structions now. It was the dallying poli- cy of Andrew Johnson, tolerated too long by your people, that fed the spirit of the South with false hopes of recovering the supremacy that they had lost, and while these false hopes prevailed, it required no small amount of moral courage to take the stand that I did. Up to the 3d of last No vember this same delusion existed. and had Seymour and Blair been elected, good bye to peace and reconstruction at the South. .H atE3 aj s-4as.>ga ..s
 " But Grant will set all things right, down there,' observed. ...'.-
 Yes, he responded, the entire sensi- ble mass of the Southern people secretly rejoice at Grants election. I myself am growing in favor with them every day, which is an excellent sign, and but for the internal tyranny of politicians, who will hold on as long as breath of popularity remains to the most fossilized or exploded political theories, my ranks would be more largely rscruited.' .....-
 "'General, I presume you have seen Grant since you arrived in Washington asked. ~.i-..8 .,t. l. .ases.:a
 'Oh, yes, he answered, with smile of pleasant recollection. we dined togeth. CT. We talked over our battles and had very agreeable evening"
 What opinion did you form of Grant?' Imodestly inquired.
 Very favorable, indeed, he returned. Grant, to my mind, is the beau ideal of a soldiers companion. To explain this to you, might lay it down as rule that a soldier detests long sentences of rhetoric he prefers short, nimble mode of expres- sion. and likes 6 man of general informa ton who is not bore. Grant has not read very extensively, but it is amazing how clear and precise he is on every sub- ject. His mind would appear to flash across question like lightning over the wire and then after brief paus, he gives you his opinion in the simplest words, but in the tersest form. It is all mistake about his reticence. In public he is taciturn, but meet him as did, in social conversation, an under the covivial cloud of cigar, and no man living can be more entertaining than Grant; at least to my mind he appeared 50, and had no faYors to ask. Grant thinks deeply but talks lit- tie on what he meditates most. You will find him develop his policy-and be assur- ed it will be grand one-in detail as a general develops his plan of battle. Under his administration this country will take bound forward and achieve degree of prosperity beyond our. most sanguine ex- pectations 15f