Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-08-24
TALK WITH MIR. PENDLETON.

at his residence, near Cincinnati. Mr.. PEN |
dleton's views on most questions of publicin=
terest are SO we'll known that it would be use
less to reproduce them again. The following
extracts from the report of the conversation,
however, are worthy of note at present.
M-. Pendleton on Bouta0eUs FRianciering.
Reporter-What is your opinion of Mr..
Boutwells financial policy
Mr.. Pendleton-As far as [ understand MIR.
Boutwell's policy, it consists in buying the
bonds at their market price and in contract
ing the currency. 1 think that the bonds
should be redeemediat par value. This would
save the Is or 20 per cent. premium which
Mr.. Boutwell, is paying, and would enable him
just SO much the more rapidly to pay the
debt L object also to the system ofcOntrac-
ton 1t is having now a most disastrous eff
feet upon all the industrial interests of the
country. Businessis almost paralysed. Just
lock down the streets of Cincinnati, and you
can see for yourself. Then, again, we, have
great diminution of agricultural labor. Corn
and wheat are now selling for much less than
they were year ago. With an enormous
debt created upon the hig h prices of an ex-
banded currency, and the enormous taxation
consequent upon it, the contraction of the
currency DeCeSSudIIJ UtluSS uloLSSo SfSiJ
where. saw in. the newspapers, week or
two ago that money commanded 100 per cent
in New York. a the commercial men of
Cincinnati and the manufacturers are cramp-
ed to day for. want of currency. The pres
sure upon the banks of Cincinnati by mer-
chants of the highest standing in the city is
without parallel, and, the brokers on the street
could tell story as. to the interest demanded
which would astonish you. Mr. Boutwell, has
power. In the management of the Treasury
he can expand or contract the currency. He
can make hard times or easy times. think
that he ought to use his power for the benefit
and interest of the laboring men of the coun>
try, whether they labor by their hands or in
The employment of their capital in CONNER
cial or manufacturing pursuits, and not for
the interest of bondholders and bankers.
The Southern Democracy.
Reporter-And what do you think of the
course pursued by the Democrats of Virginia
and Tennessee, in allying themselves to. the
Conservative Republicans2
Mr.. Pendleton-They certainly acted wise
| ly. That was the best thing they could do,
if they would shake off Radical misrule.
Grant has no Policy about Anythtn9-Ats
Infamous appointments.
Reporter-What of Gen. Grants recon-
struction policy, and his administration in
| general2
Mr.. Pendleton-I never understood that
| Gen. Grant had policy about reconstruction,
or, in fact, any policy concerning anything.
| The reconstruction policy of Congress, which
consists in compelling the States to amend
their State Constitutions and the Federal Con-
stitution, according to extreme radical ideas,
as the price at which they are to be relieved
hot l.
worse, the government of scalawags and car
pet. baggers, instituted and maintained by the
| Federal power, is, think, essentially wrong
! and unconstitutional On the subject Of Gen.
Grants appointments, fear l cannot express
myself as fully as l would desire; and my
reason for SO doing is that when cannot
speak of the Chief Magistrate of my country
in respectful terms, rather than do otherwise,
L would prefer to be silent. I will say this
much, however, that for any President to ap-
point men to Office whose only qualifications
consist in being relatives, or having given his
Excelency money and houses. is infamous.
A man holding SO exalted position ought to
be above conduct so detestable and shameful.
Reporter-Then Gen. Grant has not come
up to your expectations
Mr.. Pendleton-I knew that he was not
qualified for the position, but it did not enter
SO far. It is sad picture to contemplate.
Secretary FEsh's Policy.
eporter-And what opinions do you en-
terrain of Secretary Fishs foreign policy?
Mr.. Pendleton-NIr. Fish 1 regard as an
able, and above all, cautious man. lie
showed this shortly after Mr.. Summers speech
on the Alabama and other claims against Eng
land. His rcticency in this respect and with
regard to the Cuban question 1 deem very
proper. There is no necessity for rushing
headlong into an unnecessary war, or for en-
tangling our foreign relations because some
one happens to make popular speech, or
because the public camor, in moment when
their enthusiasm is aroused, and without
having attached due importance to the subject,
demand that this and that shall be the policy
Of the Government. Placed in similar cir
cumstances, | would hardly have acted diff.
ferently. Due protection however, has not
been extended to American citizens in Eng
land and Cuba The rights of the American
citizen abroad should be enforced at all hazards.
sincerely desire the success of any people
that is struggling for its independence In
this connection shall rejoice to see the pa
triots of Cuba achieve the victory they deserve.
The Presidency.
Reporter-Are you personally acquainted
with John T. Hoffman
Mr.. Pendleton-I have never had the
pleasure of meeting him. He is a rising man,
and has had very successful and brilliant
public career.
Reporter-Do you regard him as strong
candidate for the Presidency?
Mr.. PendIeton with good natured smile)
You can't expect me to talk about the next
Presidency. That is rather too far off yet.
Reporter-Do you think that Mr.. Hen
bricks has lost all aspiration to the Chief
Magistracy of the nation
Mr.. Pendleton-When man has been am
bitious to obtain nlaae and distinction he will