The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-06-03
Andrew Johnson Interv7e we'd - He
Tells what EFc Thtnks of Vnllandfe-
hasn's Platform, jeff. Dayis's Speech
cs. and Of G rant. Sherman, and Han.

parturc.
~ haven't read the entire PLATFORM re-
pliod he, "but from what hear of it,, there
are some sensible points in 1t. But we must
not depart too much. So to speak, there
Is as much danger In getting too far away as
staying too near. There are middlc-grounds
which it is the best policy to occupy. The
trouble is that sonic of our party want
to accept too much, and others don't
want to accept anything. 1t should
not be the policy of the Democracy to
threaten to use force against the recon
struction acts, or against the recent amend
mcnts. There is lawful and cnnsttu-
tional remedy for every i'll. Our party is y
party of peace, OF law, Of order. We want
no violent measures. In my opinion the
letter of Frank Blair to Broadhead at the
eve of the last presidential campaign did 4
great deal of harm. Why? Because it was
so written us to be construed into threat
that in case the Democracy came to power
they would use force against the recon-
Struction acts. Now, we should not
threaten force, nor anything like it. There
is 4 pcaccablc remedy, and that remedy
is i'll convincing tho people that the
last two amendments to the Constt,l-
| ton and the reconstruction acts are
wrong: 1t is within the province of
the people to alter these things if they
will. The true policy is to accept all these
things rs accomplished facts, but at the
| same time leave ourselves free to hereafter
urge their abrogation at the bar of reason
and Justice. l have always had great faith
in the good sense and intelligence of the
American people. We must appeal to them
| to remedy these evils, but to do it in 4 law
fuland constitutional way. Another amend
mcnt can be adopted that will do away with
last L Go l.
| i'll remedy through the courts. 1t
must be done ut the bar Of the people.
Therefore l l)ok for remedy in the
future, and | am not going to say, and
no other Democrat should say, that
he accepts the reconstruction measures and
amendments rs tinalitics. and that no at
tempt will be made in the future to get rid
of them in a lawful and pcaccable manner.
We should not commit ourselves to any
such absurd doctrine. We should boldly
proclaim that we accept these amendments
and acts as the law Of the land now. but
that we will hereafter Use every honorable
means TO convince the people that they
should be abrogated and repealed. 1t the
people will not do it, then OF. course it can
not be done. But for us to say that we will
forever close our lips against these iniqui-
ties is id nonsense"
| asked Mr.. johnson what he thought of
Gen. Sherman as Democratic nominee for
the Presidency.
SheIman.'' said he, "is smart nan
and shrewd man. There is 10 doubt but
what he is locking forward to the Prc>i
dency, and if he can't get it from one party
he intends to from another. He is not very
particular about parties. In course Of time
he expects to be President, but he is in no
particular hurry about 1t. lis chief aim
NON, not fo lpSo his nopuluIiv and IN no
ready when the golden moment comes. lie
is a military man, and don't care much
about parties. He is good deal as Grant
was after the close of the war. That little
fellow had quite notion Of going with the
Democracy for WHILE"
'sIIe was formerly Il Democrat, was he
not?"
"No, he wasn't anything. He didn't
have sense enough. He has got no head Of
his own. Sherman is as much smarter
man than he as you can imagine. FIRE.
qucntly they have both come in TO see me on
business. Grant always stood back and let
Sherman do the talking. The little fellow
felt his inferiority, took back scat, and
let Sherman transact the business. Sher-
mau is man, while Grant is nothing. Yes,
sir, he is just nothing"
but the Republicans will be apt to re-
nominate him, don't you Think"
"Appearances indicate that they will"
"They have got him and seem inclined
to hold on to him."
"No," replied Mr.. Johnson "hc has
got them. II hey can't get rid Of him. He
Is in, and intends TO remain in. lie has got
the patronage and that infamous kukluN
bill TO aid him. That kukluX law isa damn
able inumy. Twenty years ago it would
have shocked the American people like
clcctriclty."
HANCOCK FOR PRESIDENT.
"You think, Mr.. johnson, that there is
no prospect that the Democracy will take
Shcrman:"
"No, they will rot be apt to take him.
Generally speaking, am opposed to mill
itary man on the ticket, but if it is ncceS-
sary that we have one, why not take Gen
cral Hancockl lie is Il soldier, q states
man, Il scholar, and Il gentleman. He is Il
noble specimen of Il man every way you
no comparison between Grant and him
Grant is no man he is nothing"
"It seems TO me, Mr.. Johnson, that the
Democracy have golden opportunity to
win next year if they will act scnsibly."
Yes, so they have, as you say, if they
act scn,ibly. But will they? There an
men III the South, especially, who are con-
tlnually committing blunders. Now, look
at the speech of jeff. Davis, recently made
at Augusta, in which he talks about the lost
cause aud all such tuolishuc-s. That Will
be trumptcd all over the North, to irlghtcn
men away from the Democratic party. |
have no doubt but what his Selma speech
contributed much towards our defeat in
Connecticut"
THE MURDER COMMITTED BY THos. GooD.
R1cK.-In Baltimore, on Thursday, Tom
Goodrich drew pistol and fired, the ball