The New York herald., 1871-12-11
The story Of the Negotiation
with the Democrats.
How Grant Pledged Himself Not to Ask
q Renomination-Chapter
and Verse.
Full Expose Of His Violations of
the Constitution.

.Cl1G OOIlSL1CuCAOus
It Is now certain that q determined effort ID being
MADE to crystalline the elements OF opposition 20
the reelection OF General Grant that are scattered
throughout the country into compact and homo
gene0us body, and, this once completed, to make
stern fight against the denomination OF the "Man
With the Cigar" One OF the most active agents IN
this organizing for The great contest OF the coming
campaign Is Mr.. George Wilkes and the cOnversa-
tion given below between that gentleman and the
representative OF the HERALD Will aord clear idea
OF the extreme bitterness of the antiGranr men, the
grounds OF their discomfort their gradual aggrega.
tiOn into party and their probable plan for the
struggle.
Mr. Wilkes was at first a little chary OF being in
terviewed, and, In reply 10 q request for frank
statemenr OF his views, sad:-
''Thc chief objection have to being interviewed
as TO this movement against Grants denomination
as the candidate or the republican party Is that
cannot help feeling that It Will look as II were
putting myself forward as OF too much Importance
In the AFFAIR, while the fact is that have really done
very little toward preparing the public mind for
his defeat"
The modest scruplcs OF the reporters victim were
however, overcome by little persuasive rhetoric.
and there followed some dcsultory chat "around the
subject" In the course OF which the reasons for the
nomination OF Graut at Chicago were discussed.
"How was II tnat with pretty fair chance OF
Knowing what Grant was-for he had not hid his
light under bushc-you were so sadly mistaken In
your estimate OF his character" !" asked the reporter
''Or. II the leaders Of the republican party knew
Grant TO be but bad material for President, why
did they take him up at all p,
Mr.. WILKEs-Thc republican leaders never erred
very greatly IN their estimate OF Grant They looked
nnnn Inn
turer, whose singular popularity 1t was necessary
10 avail themselves OF that 1t might not he
taken advantage OF by their opponents.
REPoRTER-Thcy adopted him chieny on account
OF his negative vrtu e. then, you think Mr.. WikosY
Ar. WLKEs-Well. they hoped that there would
be such substantial qualities found In the man that
they could make IN available and patriotic PresI-
Dent out OF him. They had no idea that he would
turn out In keeping only with his beginning as an
advcnturer-
A sORDID. oRAsPING. GREEDY, MoNEY.oErTrNo
man-whose main ambition was to collect together
o certain num0er OF dollars, enricn his relatives,
support his avortes and lay the foundation OF what
might become an iron despOtism. They believed
that although nc was man OF very common abili.
ties and gross nature he possessed hard, practical
common sense qualities, accompanied by q will OF
great stabcncss last virtue. by the way, II
he had an idea OF personal ambition, might make
him very dangerous.
REroRTER-And they have turned out to be only
partially correct III their estimate OF him9
Mr. WILKEs-Thc first substantial evidence they
had Of his real character his surrounding him.
self by very obscure persons. wnom he covered with
marks OF purely personal favor. thus commencing
THE CONSTRUCTION or COURT
Ills Cabinet officers were, the country has pain
fully seen, characterized for nothing except being
Tor the most part quiet unknown rich men, very
respectable, In the possession OF fine houses, deep
velvet carpets, and IN aptitude for giving money
away whenever they nad chance OF getting a
good return for IL. He ignored those natural
counseors OF his government who had grown up
by an Intimate acquaintance with the people into
skill In what might be called the art OF politics, and
on all occasions chose people to surround him who
would be responsible only to himself.
REPoKTER-When did this dissatisfaction with
him 1rst assume scrious impOrtances
Mr.. WILKEs-At Brst It was thought that this was
The result OF tie caprice or whim OF q
GOoD-HEARrRD IGNORANT MAN,
who did not see and was not bright enough to see
that he WAS pcrpetrating gross outrage well as
Q shameful insult upon The country at large In thus
rejecting the well.known counsel0rs upon whom
the people had constantly depended for their pollt
Cal instruction. But It Is needless to say any more
upon this point. The country knows the extent 10
ried, and they also know General Grant has ex.
hibted scldshness and a sense oi his personal inter-
ests Uy the appointment OF relatives TO Office, and
py the notorious acceptance OF presents, offered
under such circumstances that the public are cx.
cusaple for knowing them under even q grosser
term. In fact. he seems 10 have looked upon The
Presidency rs II he had
WON 1T AT A RArrLE;
ana We fancyihat we can even hear him complain
ihat any body should OBJECT TO his using 1t for Ills
own profit when It was notorious that he had Deen
SO very poor a man all his lile before
RRP0RTER-But alter all, this IL an Ofi1cal i'm.
propriety rather than On unpardonaDe political
crime,
abuses Of his once. IL Is notorious to all lawyers,
and even TO the most ignorant elements OF the
m as soos e he onar an 70 uer
disregard Tor the law.
REPoRrER-yH0w
nj the Treasury who was Interested In trade. Not
only did he do fnat but when 1t was pointed out to
actually asked o. the Senate tnat they would
SET ASIDE THE LAW
An obedience to his Will He has never hesitated
To- use any "a his powers without thinking oil CON-
parng his acts with the conditions oi tne constltu-
SO IN ms perSersion o' IN 5he waf nd
scandalously 50 in the recent instance OF taking the
Irgate Wabash, during the present sore need of the
navy In Cuban waters, 10 send his son
for European IMP.
RKroRrEn-Do you seriously think him guilty Of
ambition dangerous To the liberties OF the country
Mr. WILKxs-lt was thought by great many.
and among others myself, that Frank Blair was
only 10 be laughed nj when he sounded the alarm
aud warned us tnat THIS man had deslgns OF con.
Nnung nlmse!i III once by force, n necessary.
everybody ridicnled tho idea. But since We have
observed
THIS REGULAR CONSTRUCTION OF A DYNASTY
ny the establishment OF his family In place with
revenues proport0nate TO thefr rank very serious
opinion begins 10 prevaU-irom which am not per-
fectly lree--that THIS man medtates holding pos.
session OF the Presidential office as long rs he lives
aud that unless he Is disposed OF now our republican
system Will ptss away under his rule. Indeed Il
has alwa,s been nv opnion, and have frequently