Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-16
TIRE PLOT FOR A MILITARY DEs-

~ ASeFS ~N-SA-e3 " Ao-yAoAl bOHdlNS II
military despotism, that the memorable
words of Mr.. Webster, when be commenced
his celebrated reply to Mr.. Hayne, of South
Carolina, are Apostle to the situation Just
now. "When," said he, l''the mariner has
been tossed for many days, in thick weather
aud on an unknown sea, he naturally avails
himself Of the frat pause in the storm, the
earliest glance Of the sun, to take his lati-
tude, and ascertain how far the elements
have driven him from his true course. .
The Philadelphia Convention and the aG-
journment Of Congress furnish US that
pause, and let us see how far we have actu-
ally drifted in the direction indicated in the
commencement of this paragraph. Grant
has become q willing convert to the theory
that he and his horde of depredators are
fairly entitled to one or two more terms of
Office. Their foresight extended beyond
one or even two terms, as Gen. Rawlins
showed in his famous settlement of the
terms on which Grant would turn Republi-
can and accept nomination of the Pres
deney. The negotiations have been reported
by Col. John w. Forney, the agent or at
torney Of those who made the contract with
Grant for at least two terms, as follows:
81 retired to my rooms on Capital Hill
and prepared the fiye-column article which
appeared in the Washington Chronicle and
Philadelphia Press OF Nov. Z, 1867.
After 1t was in type, Senator Thayer and
myself called upon John A. Rawlins, chief
Of Gen. Grants staff, and read it to him.
He instantly advised that it should appear
the very next day, but l answered that
Gen. Grant was net candidate for Presi-
dent, and did not desire to be, and if /
printed it without authority there was little
doubt that some superservicable politician
would call upon him and ask him if he had
been made candidate with his sanction
He will, Of course, reply that he never saw
the article until it was in print, and 80 all
your schemes to make him President will
gang gLey.' Then RaWlins took it in to
Gen. Grant, and stayed quite long tine.
When be returned, he said: Gen. Grant
Is quite pleased with your statement of ais
political record and surprised that be proves
to be so good Republican"
"When Rawlins came back from Gen.
Grant with the editorial, he told us with
great emphasis; 'Gen. Grant does not want
to be President. He thinks the Republican
party may need him, and he believes as
their candidate he can be elected and re-
elected; but said RaWlins, what is to be-
come Of him efJer his second Presidential
term-what, indeed, during his administra-
ton? He is receiving from seventeen to
twenty thousand dollars year as General
Of the armies Of the Republic life salary.
To go into the Presidency at twenty-five
thousand dollars year for eight years, is,
perhaps, TO gain more fame; but what is to
be become of him at the end Of his Presi-
dency? he is not politician. He does
not aspire to the place. Eight years fiom
the 4th of March, 1859, he will be about
fifty six years old. OF course he must
spend his salary as President. England,
with her Wellington, Nelson, and her other
heroes on land and sea, has never hesitated
to enrich and ennoble them through all their
pOsterity. Such policy is in accordance
with the character Of the English govern
ment, but in our country the man who
fights for and saves the Republic would be
beggar if be depended upon political Of
fee; and mark it, if Grant takes anything
from the rich, whose vast fortunes he has
saved, after he is President, he will be &C
cused as the willing recipient Of gifts"
This transaction was, in substance, a
bargain and sale of the nomination to
Grant, who took # for certain stipulated pc
cuniary considerations him thereunto
moving" as they say in such contracts.
The Philadelphia Age says: "The military
clique around Grant have formed a c.ose
alliance with all the prOhigate politicians
and every Ring Of REGULATORS throughout
the land. They began operations early. A
newspaper was established in New York,
cLed the ImperiaLiSt. 1t is not true that
It was established by Mr.. Borie, Of Phila-
delphia, but it is true that it
was established in the interest of despot-
ism, and its constant aim and purpose
was to reconcile the public mind
to change from Federal to Imperial gov
eminent. The whole course of Radical poll
tics has tended that way, and huge strides in
that direction have been made under the
Grant administration. The name "Impe-
rialst, in high favor here during Napo-
Icons hollow success and grandeur, be-
came suspicious after his ignominious fall,
aud the exposure how the strength and
vital forces of a great nation had been
sucked away by vampires just like those
by whom Grant is surrounded. The igno-
minious fall of CeSarism in France, has
cowed the impudence Of its advocates here.
Last year, when Grant sent in message
asking to have Buffers Ku-Klux bill passed,
it was confessed and acknowledged that
such a bill made him the arbitrary
and uncontrolled master of his own cleo
ten. This was so plain, that proViso was
put in the bill, providing that it should ex-
pire with the late session. 1t was passed
by lying declarations that the South was in
a state Of instruction, OYerthrowing the
carpet-bag governments and resisting the
Federal authority. This monstrOus lie is
embodied in the bill. 1t passed. Smelling
committees of selected partisans have
since trsversed the South to collect evil
dence TO excuse it. They found no trace or
sign of the alleged resistance and insurrec-
ton. They made a catalogue Of every
case of murder, assault, and grand
and petty larceny that could be
heard Of They were such cases as
happen in every community. 1t was proved
in debate that they were fewer in number
than the crimes committed, within the same
period, in the city Of Boston. There was
no crime that equalled in atrOcity or mys-
terry, the murder Of Capt. Colvocoresses the
other day, in Connecticut. Such case
would indeed, have been a God-send TO the
Congressional smellers who were bound to
find some pretext for extending their Ku-
Klux act to the Presidential election. Pretext
there is none; the true cause and Object
S 10 carry out the plot OF the Imper
alists, of whom Grant is the tool
and was chosen as such three years