The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-14
Toombs on the New Departure
Of the Democracy.
lie Thinks that There are Worse Occupations
for Gentleman than Fighting.
"Et fs Time to Begin the
War Again
Red-hot Fire-eating, and Fe1ty
OF Il.
SPARTA, June Z, 1877.

SPARTA, June z, 1877.
After two days wearisome hunt havet sue
Ceeded in finding Mir. Robert Toombs. left Atlanta
day before yesterday morning, reached his no Inc at
Washington late the same afternoon, and att once
made my way to his family mansion--a stately build
ing. with huge White Grecian pillars and ain inn
mense light of front steps. | rang the beH and
demanded OF Aunt Dinan or Lucy, or whatever was
the name or the African Fortress ii the Georgian
Cheitaln was at honle
''Mr. ToomDs.n she repeated, pensIvely, ate me,
as though the words strange ana unIar ailiar
and conveyed but doubtful meaning to her b ram.
"Mr. Toombs; do you mean Massa Bobs'
"Yes, Mr.. Robert ToomDs."
'Ahi Massa Bob done gone away ON the vars
yes'day morning."
Following In Massa Bob's tracks by the first rain
thereafter, at last upon the genia free tier
himself in the court of this little Geore ian
village, surrounded by score OF rustcs, who
listened with open mouth ana starlug eyes 10 his
unceasing now of talk, now and then applaudlng
with horse laugh some especially poignant ripple
OF political or social bitterness. did not wait long
before recognized the one tralJ III his character
which friends aud foes alike accord to hln--the
strength and fearlessness ana wit that mark his
criticisms OF men and things.t He Is one OF those
men who, without being ba u-hearted, give free
rein in the conversation 10 every brilliantly
lie is sayer OF smart things, and
no fear of offending against the' laws of webred
society," misgving, lest the gply seasoned words
may prove the seeds Of an uhNying hatred has
power to curb Is tongue. His fuends warn you,
ere they recent you TO him, not tor pay any aten-
ton to his shrewlsh apses from Verbal polIteness.
Gle doesn't mean any HARM" they say; "when you
know him you will love and admire thlm as we do"
Which is perfectly true. After talking TO him ten
minutes you viii see that he is very lauch like one
OF those surly uncles IN old play, who preface
some unusual exhibition OF larne-hear!edness by
outbreaks OF snappishness and rudeness which, IN
anyone else would be SIMPLY unpeaabs.
Bob Toombs belongs TO
A TYPE Or SOUTHERN GENTLEMEN
which the social revolution tnat Is following on the
heels OF the war will probably sweep away forever.
hundred years hence some historic novelist may
study him rs Thac keray has studied Dick Steele or
Joseph Addison--as q specimen OF extinct
variety Of human culture and character. And in
that day, when the evi that bis prejudices have
prompted him to work Is well nigh forgotten, only
the nOber lineaments OF his nature will be brought
ent IN bold relief. The man OF the twentieth Gen.
fury, while he win teebIy mark the energy OF his
msdirected public spirit, his blind, passionate
hatred OF the dominant form OF American civiliza.
ton. and his careless impetuosity Of speech, win
dwell with greater pleasure upon the frank honesty
shat has made him ever scorn to cloak his real
sentiments by equivocal or unmeanng phrases; his
generosity hospitality, and chivalrous gallantry
OF his mind, and the breadth and acuteness and
the kindness OF his heart.
You cannot be In Georgia week without having
it pressed upon your mind that Toombs is one or
HER MOST FAyoRTE SONS.
Every man yon meet viii tell you that he has the
Grandest intellect" and the blggest heart In the
State. just now he Is politically under passing
cloud OF unpopnarity but his name is none the less
o name Of might. Endless VIII he the examples
you will hear Of his pecunla1y hberaliy, aud "his
STORIES" are caught up and repeated from mouth 10
mouth as the quintessence OF WIT: Que Of
by the way, Illustrates pretty wen the venaty OF
certain portion OF the State government and may
be interesting to Governor Bullock. Toombs was
hired to defend Murderer aud received fee OF
$500. The evidence however, was too clear and
the man was found guilty and sentenced to death.
after awhile came back with pardon. They called
upon r0ombs TO tell him OF their success.
Now, how much did this thing cost you ~ in
.'1hat's not fair question:" was the answer;
"but can tell you this, 1T was Id sight cheaper
than lawyers 1ee."
Toombs has
TWO PARTICULAR wEAKhESsES
also, which commend him TO popular favor. hey
are inc same which Horace Greeley consciously or
ucorsc0usv, has used as levers upon the hearts OF
ms couatrymen. First, ne mas passion Tor farm.
Agfcultursts in the state. lie Is ready at any time,
Iko Horace to further prove, by tncontestabe
figures. that ms farm - pecuntary success; out
ms is thing about which even his best trends are
goodnaturedly ncreduoas. Ana. secondly. he is,
III seasons Of provocation, the proanest OF living
Georglans, Just as Horace ~ believed u the cham.
pion "swearst' in the Fourth ward. Strange ISN'T
It, that two historic characters SD utterly un ike in
Ill other respects should closely resemble each
other III these two NOME American iolbIes2
Before proceed TO give the conversation which |
held with the Genera' 1t is wei to say that In the
opinion OF your correspondent AIR. 1oolnbs Is
PROBABLY MISTAKEN
oh Inv
majority or his Fellow citizens Conscious Of his
former popularity and power, he very likely exagge-
very large majority Of Georgians respect and admire
him, and VIII cheerfuy sing his praises 10y the hour
dence IN his Judgment. They tell you he Is the
greatest orator anu the most generous gentleman IN
violent preudices ana that ne is little to he trusted
as party leader Some, too, VIII say iurther that
nc Is aaa nn oe cna ms e ana that ne too old
IN appearance Massa Bob Is very Stout with
pleasant, nut-brown. healthy face ana bright hazel
ewes You might take HIM for sort OF better class
farmer; but the first lew words lie utters will be
companied ny q lighting up OF the features and y
QUICK, electric glitter oil the eyes, which Will reveal
his true intellectual rank. BY the way, his inabnty
10 Keep silent ana the brilliancy Of his conversation
were his greatest peri when Ito was running away
TO Cuba, and several times nearly betrayed HIM
''Do YOU think the people OF the SCUM preparedto
accept the .ia. = 81
OF the Northern democracy, Mr.. Tcombs ~ said 7.
''Why, OF course they won't accept IL. They can
Justice ana lleedom,p
nat are they going to do about itin
IL dom; know. But they cannot support It, For
my part see no difference now between the demo-
Gratis ard the lepub,icons. | should advise our
people 10 make the best bargain they can and side
WITH Whichever party bids the higaest.n
'Nou have given up, however, al hope OF making
armed resistance to the United states governmental
mot NJ all. don't know but That IT Is about time
for US TO
FIGHT AGAIN.
our only hone Is In ourselves; every party In tho
anlnnOuS |
Northern democrats since they deserted us AT tho
beginning o. the war, so | am not greatly disap-
pointed | know TIC men who are their leaders,
ana tney are gust as unscrupuUus rs the radicals.
inc Clique VINO run IamIlany and the
Northern democracy don't want democratic
principles 10 be succcssful; they would raj her icse
me erection than have Il result In victory Tor the
on doctrines OF the PARTY. They are bondhoders,
ana are JUST "a much IN favor OF centralized des
pUtism aS the raticais.u