The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-06-22
A RATHER UGLY EXPOSE
THE " TRICKS AND MANNERS" OF
A TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT.

THE +" TRICKS AND MANNERS" OB
A TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT.
How Mr.. Smalley Requited the Hospf-
tality of the Hon. Alex. H. Stephens.
We nave already printed in The NEWS the
account from the New York Tribune of the
interview of its correspondent, Mr.. Smalley,
with the Hon. A. d. Stephens. Mr.. stephens's
side of the story is thus given in his paper, the
Atlanta Sun. It will not be easy for Mr.. smalley
to meet, with credit to himself, so damaging a
statement
From the Atlanta SUM-
It Is true that Mr.. Smalley, who announced
! himself as q correspondent OF the Tribune, did
| call on Mr.. Stephens on the Sd inst. He was
received civilly BY him, as all persons are
rich or poor, white or black. When, however,
the object eff his visit was stated, Mr.. Stephens
promptly told him that while he wished to
treat him and all persons civilly, yet ne could
| hold no conversation with him tor any such
purpose as that which he proposed; that he
| did not choose for his views upon public ques-
lions and public affairs to be given to the pub
lie in any such way; that when he had any
thing to say to the public he preferred it to
be said In his w language; that no
man could talk with another for an ho1r
or two and from memory alone give an
accurate report of the Dords used, even
If the object was to give the substance OF
what was said; but In most instances Of
this sort, the object was to dlstort the mean
ing by giving the exact words IN some parts
of the, report, while emitting others In their
proper connection, by which very erroneous
Impressions were produced; that he had q per-
feet loathing and detestation of having his
views thus presented to the public on any SUD
ject, and that he had no concealment of his
sentiments on public questions to make from
any person who might desire them for his
own information, and where everything said
would stand together In It's proper connection,
producing Its proper impression. 1t 1oGs not
until after an assurance toGs giuen by Mr.
Sn,dlley that he toouh not make any report J0T
the press of anything said By him that Mr..
Stephens consented TO talk to him at all on pto.
lie affairs. Upon the repeated urgent wish OF
Mr.. Smalley that he might b. permitted to
give some account of the views expressed,
Mr.. Stephens gave full permission to him to
refer to any lor1nen exposition Of his views
which had been published by his authority,
usinq the aoords OF such authorized exposi-
ton of his opinions, and not those Of his oUn
substitution.
For this purpose Mr.. Stephens furnished
him with a copy of the Augusta tGa.l Chroni-
Gle and Sentinel, In which his position on
most of the matters alluded to in the CONVEX
sailon was very correctly stated, and by his
authority. "It you wish to give my Views to
the readers of the Tribune said ne, take
that, and give them IL the words and connec-
ton there!a set forth
In reference to another war, and the differ
erence between Mr.. Stephens and General
Toombs as 10 the '.possibilityD of another war
s'between the North and South" Mr.. Smalley
entirely omlts to state that Mr.. Stephens was
exceedingly emphatic In his opposition to any
such resort, without regard TO lib poSsaoaIy.
In regard to the acts OF Congress known Us
the Reconstruction Measures" upon which
were based tho Foqrteeth and Fifteenth
amendments, all of which Re considered gross
usurpatlons by a majority IL on In Congress,
he expressed himself in must decided lam
guage, that there should be no resistance-no
physical force. The proper course, IN his
In all the States, towards these measures, was
the same as that advised by Mr.. jeff son to
be pursued by the same class towards !he in
famous ttAlien and Sedltion acts" In 1883.
While holding them TO be fragrant usApations,
and denouncing them as "nulllties and not
laws" de jure, yet having the form OF laws,
heIa s to be SO by those in authority, clothed
with power to execute them. The rlghtiul
remedy for these outrages upon. constitutional
rights wa not in accepting them as ''accom-
plfshed factsr not to be assailed nor question
ed; nor in granting dissolution to the perpe-
traitors of them, but by exhibiting their enor-
pie everywhere and to rally them to the polls,
that they might there give their public con-
domination, both upon'them and their authors.
This part of the conversation it lid not suit
the purpose and object, perhaps, OF the Tribune
interviewer" to repeat, or even 30 much as
allude to; or If he did intend to allude to 1t, In
one sentence, It Is In such terms as weakens
its force and breaks Its effect.
Mr.. Stephens did not, In any part of the con-
!versation, speak Of "the civilization Of Georgia
before the war as the highest in the world"
He did not speak OF the general condition and
happiness of the people Of Georgia at the time.
referred toAof all classes-black as well as
white. He moreover said, taken as a whole
looking to physical comfort, to habits Of tenn
general absence OF want, intrequency of crime,
to the standard OF moral culture and religious
training, and last, though not least, to the
principles of Integrity and honor-they were
unsurpassed by the people Of any State or
Commonwealth Of equal number OF inhabi-
tants In the world. Mr. Stephens Is q little
better informed, and not quite SO loose or ex-
travagant in his language as to'speak Of these
most admirable characteristics OIL. the people
of Georgia In other days rs the highest civili-
zatlon In the world. 1t was but the beginning
in their progress to. that higher emlnence to
which they aimed. But Of 1t, as 1t vas, her
sons may ever be proud.
We have not the time or space to say more
on this subject at present, except to add That
whatever others may think of The grades OF
civilization, high or low, our opinion 10, that
good manner and genteel breeding constitute
one of its brightest ornaments; and that 1t Is
no evidence Of any degree OF it TO boast OF, In
behalf of the people OF any State or Kingdom,
for one of the recognized enlighteners OF his
fellow.citizens or subjects, after being clvilly
received and kindly treated BY strangers, to
20 off and make such gratultous filings and
sneers at the poverty. OF his hospitable enter
tainers, as the Tribune correspondent has seen
1t to do in this case, upon the good people OF
Crswfordville and their humble residences.
THIS may be taken as a sample of the type OF.
the civilization and progress In social inter-
course, favored by the New York Tribune, as
Mr.. Sma(ley, we believe, is recognized as one
Of it's ablest and raciest correspondents.
Now, we venture to say that but few Geor-
gians, il any, could be found, even in the pre-.
sent down-trodden condition of the good old
State-with all the decentralization of the upr
turning Of society by military force-who
would, after. receiving shelter, and partaking
of the fare, such as it might me, of the hum
blest colored NAL in the land, go of, and either
speak or write ~contemptuously Of the unpaint-
ed hut, the puncheon floor, the broken chair,
or what not, that might have fallen under his
observation, when. his wants and comforts, to