Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-01-07


THE New York Tribune nlodestly ask
country newspapers to publish pros
pectus occupying nearly two columns o
solid Nonpariel type, on condition o
which, they are to receive the Dali,
Tribune in exchange for one year. w,
would charge our merchants "r busines
men the snug sum of $40 for the worl
the Tribune proposes to pay $40 for, ant
yet we see number of our exchanges
accepting this unreasonable proposal
We don't hold our space quite that cheaI
and decline to accept.
!
General Grant-ttts Decision OF Charac-
ter and influence In congrsss.
A citizen of st. Louis communicate!
to the Democrat of that city some par
ticulars of an interview between Genera
Grant and a Louisianian, who sought
him, concerning the levees of the Lower
Mississippi After the introduction, the
following conversation took place:
General" said the Senator, "Judg.
- wished to see you Jew moments
and consult with you in regard to the
improvement of the levees of the Lowe.
Mississippi. We wish the United states
Government to indorse, and thus guar
ana for the restoration and improvement
of the levees."
II hope the Government will not d.,
it +" the General replied, with quick
positive utterance that was not only
decisive and final on the subject, but al
most stunning.
L "But, General" urged the Senator
1--WE only wish the Government to in
dOrse the bonds. SO that We can sell them
without ruinous discount, giving tn,
United States ample security for the Ell
tire amount, so that it would be impos
sible for the Government TO lose a cent
in any emergency
Again Grant quickly interrupted, 81
never knew government to become re
sponsible for any amount that 1t did not
ultimately have to pay. You now want
the Endorsement of the bonds. If that
is given, you will soon want to legislate
for the payment of the bonds"
General" said the Senator, lyon art
too hard on u.s."
while we are discussing on ali sides,
said Grant, show the national debt is to
be paid, l shall oppose any increase O.!
the national obligations"
lit is impossible to cultivate om
lands,n interposed the Senator. The
Ievees are absolutely necessary
"I know all about the levees.n he an
swered. ~ served in that country when
young man, and l had something t.
do myself with the breaking Of those
levees."
"But,n said the Judge, millions Of
acres of the best land in the world are
subject to overflow"
Let them overflow and let them stay
under water" said Grant, "until thei
owners are willing that Northern men
and Northern capital should come IL
and protect and improve them. North
ern men with ample capital are ready to
make garden of your State, and you
won't let them do it. Your large land
holders are as hostile to the United
States government to-day as they hav.
fever been, and if that government should
rebuild their levees it would not change
them q particle. | know no way the
government could have adopted for re-
building the levees but to have confis-
Gated the lands of those engaged in re-
bellion, and used the proceeds to restore
the, country. AS that was not done.
nothing remains but to set your negroes
lat work, and invite in apd welcome
| Northern men"
General, said the Judge, ''the me-
groes won't work"
Won't work?n Grant quickly replied;
l"they1l work if you will pay them fol
tit.p
..Am I not right?" he added. SIS
there not such hostility to Northern
men that it amounts in most sections
the State to practical exclusion ofthem
from the agricultural interests of th,
country? Is there not an unwillingness
to divide up the lands, and sell in small
parcels to those who might immigrate;
and is there mt general tendancy +"
secure the services of the negroes, with
out prompt and adequate compensation
AZ must say,n said the Judge, "that
there is more or less of truth in all thesr
points,"
"Then," said Grant, ~ think you will
have 10 build your own levees, or wait
under water until you are willing meu
should come in who will build them"
The above, though not ali that was
said, gives the substance and spirit
the conversation. 1t shows much more
plainly than any statement have seen.
precisely where the President elect now
stands, with reference to the South
This conversation shows that, whatever
he may Hereafter do, he now stands by
his past record. He means that a citi-
zen of the United States shall be recog
nized as such, and secured and protected
in his rights and privileges in every
State; that the freedom of the freedman
shall be recognized and his labor fairly
compensated; that the rational ohliea-
tions shall not be increased, aud that the
promoters of the late war at the South
snail not be aided by the Government
in repairing the damages occasioned by
the war.
The result of the interview was a
strong conviction that Grant is a radical
in the most radical sense of the political
term; that all parties North and South
and act accordingly. That he will fol-
the party that elected him, and-to any
extent--identify himself with the enc
mics or opponents in the war, is contra
ry to the character o. the man, and his
present positive and clearly expressed
convictions.
Grants manner ia that of quiet ease,
perfect self-reliance. and the most posi-
tive convictions. He expresses his ideas
in short sentences, and in a low tone OF
voice. Although there is remarkable
quietness in his manner, there is at the
same time marked positiveness of utter
ance to such degree indeed that Que
feels that there is very little use i'm re-
plying to an adverse opinion. Though
there was nothing approximating to
L l.