The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-01
FIRST EDITION
10 HIN - O IN.
He Speaks He Has no Further
Ambitions to Realize-What He
Thinks Of Grants Ad'
ministrative Ability.

to the pro liabilities OF his being the next Gov
ernor, or perhaps Senator from Tennessee, the
correspondent was answered as follows. Said
Mr.. Johnson:-
81 have no disposition, indeed my tempera-
meEt, physical strength, and nablts, almost
forbid me, to sink INTO idleDess at the close of
my term, and there is much to be done in the
country, and muc0 in Tennessee especially, to
enlist my sollcitude and my efforts. have no
plan personal to myself in The future. 1 can
truly say that / have no further ambitious to
realize, and certainly have no desire to Teta-
late on any the sights or the burdens which
have been imposed on me. l will uudoubte iy
exert myself to restore the sway of the Con-
stitution over the country, and particularly
over my State, but as to any special line
on which | may work, that Will be wholly
controlled by circumstances. As to going to
EuroI tco, that is entirely in doubt After
retire from this place, private business will de-
tain ne iu Washington Tor few days, then my
family and self Will go to Tennessee, aud 1T
depends just on them whether we visit Europe
or not. Nothing is determined, and we
will be governed by circumstances. As
to returning to the Senate, am free TO say
that think there is great need there and large
opportunity there for any man governed solely
by principle. A Senator should have profound
convictions of his own, and unbend ng moral
and ply ysical courage, too, to maintain them.
For such men there is crying necessity in the
Senate, and such men could not only in time
bring back the sway of the Constitution, but
would make their mark as benefactors OF the
many respects think that Senator of the
United States has the highest opportunities
of any officer in our Government, for while
In sense he represents a State, in a larger
and better sense he represents the country as o
whole. By his longer tenure OF office he sur
wives the petty, stormy issues which biennially
change the House, to degree, and by his more
extended representation he can and should
rise 10 the plane of statesmanship and tole-
rance. When / remember my first entrance
into Congress, ! recall as contemporaries Clay
Webster, Wright, Calhoun, Benton, Douglas,
Clayton, and HaSne; and such men as being
yet above even the average of their times, yet
raised by attraction that average to near level
with themselves. think that it is more than9
country have dated from and have continued
along with the deterioration OF the character of
Congress individually and collectively con.
sidered. Small men brought on great evils and
great evils have continued small men. The
dawn OF better times Will be signaliZed by the
advent of better men,"
What he thinks of Wilson aud the
Tenure.of.Omce BilI.
Correspondent--"H (senator Wison) said
that he thought IT. unwise TO consider the
Tenure.of Office bill this session, because,
>th ough persuaded that it would be repealed If
brought to vote, and though convinced that
you would sign the repeal, he yet thought that
along with your approval you would send in
mess age which would rasp Congress more than
it would be able TO bear at the present time.n
TIE President replied, That's just like VIII
IA,
in words which do not give his party opponents
a handle. The other day he blurted out that
he was against submitting the suffrage amend.
ment to State conventions instead of existing
legislatures, because conventions would have
10 be voted for; and If folks had chance
to vote on the amendment, 1t would be
lost. This confession ought to be sufficient
10 kill The amendment. though 1t 1t kill even
Wilson it will be wonder. However, neither
he nor any one else need fear would send In
anything but my name at the bottom OF bill
repeating the Tenure-of Office law. l vetoed
that bill, and of course would approve it's re-
peal 10 be consistent, as have been consistent
ALI throueh. Nevertheless. II, instead of q
repeal, Congress should send me bill
modifying The civil tenure law, or even mti-
ga lug It, would not approve of it, as am
against the whole principle of the act, believing
IL 10 be unconstitutional. No man who comes
after me can get along with IT. General Grants
stands this, and the exertions which his
friends make for its repeal show that they
understand it. They vindicate my, veto of the
10 and my protest against 1t, and they aekno y
ledge their mistake in passing 1t. For my part,
/ would be glad to see that mistake rectded.
To be sure the repeal OF the law would do me
no good now, but as patrlotlc man, desirous
of having an honest civil service, would be
glad to see the law wiped out OF the statute
General Grants Ability.
Ccrrespondent-"Mr. President, don't you
think If General Grant inherits all the burdens
nut upon you, that from your knowledge OF. his
character there will be trouble?"
The President--"Netther General Grant mol
any other man can administer this Government
sytth such law. No man can administer II
properly either who has not plan, or policy
II YOU will. OF his own, founded upon clear
conviction OF what the Constitution teaches and
means. General Grant will be peculiarly liable
10 feel restlve under this law. IL Is one thing tc
ali m HEADQUARTERS to write orders and have them
obeye6, and II is quite another to wish tc
institute measures and action. and find yourself
hampered as no other President ever wa;
before; aud to have your executive tunctioni
eholn from you. and yourself blamed Tor the
huuelYng and corruption of Others whom yoJ
rannot reach. Presidential recommendation
,S;ll not amount TO general orders by any
means. II General Grant developes an lntelli
rent understanding Of our system ant
demands firm respect OF his rights, ne may II
f,me. get back the powers to the EXECUTIVE
/. Office which have been taken from lt' 10 M ot
tbis he must surround himself IN MS eoulcu
,gith oolitIcians or statesmen who are famiia
with administration and with the laws, ana u
whom can be safely committed tue trusts an'
noWers of government. III PRESIDENT wan
sCabinet OF clerks he San get them, out ~
wiiI find the whole load OF government
,nn mnch for his time ana his mind. line secure
80 e,ienced statesmen to assist him, he Will ant
thst n mac If and themselves are deprived OF al
sd.an,ape which comes FROM accord OF actloi
hs the existence of law forbiddlng cnanees Q
swrioves at will. Congress eerceives tnst IN
n nyie really disapproye OF the c0ecks put upoi
pme The efforts the ablest men o. tne pas " n az
making for the repeal OF the Ienui or uhlI h'i
at proye that they keenly mierpret now puo'i
sentIment calls for It,"