The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-01-08
GRANT SOUND.
A half hour with Gen. Grant.
From the Missouri Democrats

haH hour Win GeHs Grdnts
From the Missouri Democrat
1t was my good fortune, this morn.
ing, TO. spend a short time with the man
to whom more than to any other the
eyes of the nation are at present turned.
The headquarters of the armies of the
United States is in an unassnming two
story building, formerly private resi-.
dence, directly opposite the Navy De-
partment. In company with a friend
your correspondent presented himself
inquiring of ain orderly in the hall if the
General was in. Receiving an affirma.
tive reply, our cards were sent up. In
few moments we were requested to
walk up stairs to the Generals office.
His Office is front room on the Sec
ond floor, about sixteen feet by eight
cen. 1t is carpeted with an ingram car
pet of bright cheerful colors, giving the
room the air of a parlor rather than
that of business Office. There are two
windows in front and one at the side.
BY the side window is low desk for a
member Of his staff. Near it is a table
about six feet long, covered with piles
and bundles of official documents, all
tied with the inevitable red tape.
Grants desk-a common office desks
between the front windows. A frame
covered with suspended maps, and a
half dozen chair complete the furniture.
When we entered, the General was
out. In a moment he entered by a side
door. No one could fail to recognize
him instantly. The likenesses one sees
everywhere are very like indeed. They
do not flatter, as is usually the case,
neither do they make him younger than
lie really appears. The pictures we see
Ar I'll L, =.
much older, more wrinkled and
careworn than they represent him. Not
so, however, with Grant. The pictures
of the shops, the parlors and cabins are
strikingly true representations of the
man.
Grants countenance is pale, and has
an expression of sadness. He has a
noticeable stoop of the shoulders, and
walks with a shuffling gait. He looks
like man burdened with care and anx-
iety, and as if it was by strong effort
of the will that he was bearing up
against it, determined that he would
not yield to it or be effected by it.
He was dressed in plain suit of
black, with nothing whatever about his
person or Office TO indicate his rank.
After a cordial greeting, he offered US
seats, and in very easy, familiar way,
moments Senator-was announced,
with Judge-of Louisiana.
General" said the Senator, EEJudge
wished to see you few moments
and consult you in regard to the i'm
provement of the leVees of the lower
Mississippi. We wish the United States
Government to endorse, and thus guar
antee the bonds Of the State of Louisi-
ana for the restoration and improve
ment of the levees."
81 hope the government will not do
it, the General replied with quick,
positive utterance that was not only de-
cisive and final on that subject, but al
most stunning,
"But, General" urged the Senator,
we only wish the United States to en-
dorse the bonds, so that we can sell
them without a ruinous discount, Civ
ing the United States-ample security for
the entire amount. so that it would be
impossible for the government to lose a
cent in any emergency"
Again Grant quickly interrupted: 81
never knew a government to become
responsible for any amount that it did
not ultimately have to pay. You now
want the endorsement of the bonds. If
that is given, you will soon want to leg
islate for the payment of the bonds"
General" said the Senior, ''you are
too hard on u.s."
"While we are discussing on all
sides" said Grant, show the national
debt is to be paid, 1 shall oppose any
increase of the national obligations"
''It is impossible to cultivate our
lands," interposed the Senator. ''The
levees are absolutely necessary"
81 know all about the levees," he an
swered. 81 served in that country when
a young man, and l had something to
do myself with the breaking of those
levees."
But" said the Judge, "miilions 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 their
owners are willing that Northern men
and Northern capital should come in
and protect and improve them. North
ern men with ample capital are ready to
make a 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 have
ever been; and if that government
should rebuild their levees, it would not
change them particle. l knowno way
the government could have adopted for
rebuilding 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
to work, and invite in and welcome
Northern men,"
General said the Judge, ''the ne
groes won't work"
Wont work" Grant quietly replied +;
''they'll work if you'll pay them for it"
cam 1 not right 2" he added. rs
there not such hostility to Northern
men that it amounts in most sections of
the State to practical exclusion of them
from the agricultural interests of the
country? Is there not an unwillingness
to divide up the lands, and sell them in
small parcels to those who might immi-
CRATE, and is there not general tenden-
CIV to secure the services of the negroes
without prompt and adequate compen-
sation ?"
81 must say" said the judge, shat
there is more OF less OF truth in all these
points"
Then" said Grant, ~ think you will
have to build your own levees, or wait
under water until you are willing men
should come in who wilr build them"
The above, though not all that was
said, gives the substance and spirit OF
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 w hatev.
err he MAJ hereafter do he now stand;
by his past record. He means that {
citizen of the United States shall be rec
ogniZed as such, and secured and pro
teeted in his rights and privileges il
every State; that the freedom of thu
freedman shall be recognized, and hi
labor fairly compensated that the ma
tional obligations shall not be increased
and that the promoters of the late wa
at the South shall not be aided by tn,
government in repairing the damage.
Occasioned by the war.
| The result of the interview was