Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-05-16
The Interview.
From the Richmond Enquirer

inpton paper-anI requested Mr.. Babcock to
have it Published in the Enquirer 1t gives US
pleasure TO comply with The Conncl's request
The administration had sent for Cnl Mnsby,
who is Dractciug law in Virginia Having done
a good deal in the way of collecting from the
Yauks during the war. he balances accounts by
collecting FROM Fir-iuians in behalf Of the
Yanks since the bloody conhict The admins
tration, while owning the carpet-baguers ami
counting the colured vote, seeks to coucl.late
the rebel vote. aud therefore sent for Nlosby.
And 50 the President received Colonel MoShy
quite cordially, aud Introduced him to General
Ames, supposed senator from Mississippi and
positive sun-iu-law to Ben Butler. They had
nor been seated many minutes when in calna
Colonel John W. Foruey. President Graut IN
troiuced COLONEL Forncy to Coi"pel MoSby-
the pen to the sword.
Colonel Forney (coloncl through courtesy?
does not cry Halt SO much as he did Tor
,nerly. Colonel Forney, in accordance with
previous arrangement, opened the interview
Colonel Foruey-''Ah, Coanel Mo>hy. |
have heard Of you before.
CoIouel Mosby Yes, aud have beald vi
you through your paper used to get II nearly
every day through the lines, and have read
SUtGe DTCllS SllaI ~ lIiltlSS III II di''ui M.
Coloue Fornry Had | known you were
such good looking young man would not
have i,rcu so hard upon YOU.
The remark caused lau ghter all rouui.
The conversation then took a general turn as
70 how Virginia and the Southern States would
20 under certain contingencies. Colonel VI in
a measure. reiterated to the President what he
wrote to Senator Lewis, that if Mr.. Greeley
divided the Republican vote with himself, and
the Southern States, holding the balance OF
power, and having no choice between himself
and Mr.. Greeley they would go for whichever
one would offer the best terms and pursue the
most generous policy towards the Southern
people. You, Mr. President, can afford to
be more generous to them than any other
They laid down their arms and surrendered to
Won, and YOU can well afford to be liberal to
them"
The President in response, stated In sub
stance that he was kindly disposed to the South
ern people; that he had no unklnd feelings
toward them; that il his administration OF
acts appeared 10 be harsh or untrlendly, he was
simply carrying out the laws which he MAD
taken an oath to do. He was merely an H.
strument OF the will OF the law making power
The President had remarked that while com-
mander-iu-chief he had great difficulty III keep.
ing Andrew johnson from arrestlng GENERAL
Lee aud other prominent conederates TO nave
them tried for treason, and kept sendlug to him
20 know when their trials would commence,
II replied, not until they violate their oathS
Colonel Mosby stated that he had been an
moved very much shortly after the WAL He
couldn't leave Warrenton and 60 to Leesburg
or Alexandria that he was not arrested Ills
wife's father was member of Congress from
Kentucky, and we'll acquainted with Andy
johnson. both serving to the House at the same
time. She came to Washington; went and saw
President johnson, made herself knoWn, and
asked him, the friend of her father, for protec-
ton be would not only not grant 1t but Was
positively rude to her. ''She went to see you.
General, and you not only gave the necessary
protection to me, but permission to 60 any
where in the United States My wife was
raised strict Catholic, and little Rvverdy here,
then six years old was with her. When he
kpet down at the bedside, in the Metropolitan
hotel, that night, he said. Ma, may pray to
God to send old johnson to the devil
President Graut-''A good mluy vino voted
for Andrew johnson would like TO have joined
10 Bev's prayer.
A. may be imagined all this created mnch
laughter with those present.
Here Secretary Fish came in and entered into
taside) conversation with the President.
In the iutervti Colonel Nlosby remark ed very
peasiugly to Colonel Foruey that the Rspubli!
cans would have to take IA new departure
with the South Their vindlctive policy would
Le the death Of it 10 the South aud the party
would have to carry out such policy as to con-
vince the South that they were sincere 10 1t,
and meant to bury the hatchet and the toma-
hawk
The President inquired of Colonel Mosby
what "he thought of the Dolly Warden conven-
ton at Cincinuati?' The Colonel thought the
Philadelphia Convention could do better. The
election Of Greeley would be opening Pandora
box of evils upon the Southern people. Gree
lev would be surrounded with much worse in.
fuences than the present administration. And
if the South had to undergo another humllla-
ton, he, for one, would prefer doing it to the
warrior to whom General Lee surrendered his
sword than TO fanatcal old philosopher like
Horace Greeley.
But as to how Virginia will go depends
upon future events. Dan Voorhees, says he
doesn't think Democrat will be put in the
field: but he won vote for Horace we're he
to do so the old Democrats 10 his district would
hunt him out Of his district with hounds. Now,
in my own district, there's Lewis Mckenzie,
an ex member of Congress and delegate to
the Philadelphia convention; he has come out
for Greeley. Mac is very popular with the
negroes, and may carry them over with HIM tor
Horace. But think it very good exchange,
and you would be benefited by it, to let him
have the darkies and you take the white peo-
pie" (Hcre the President smiled unmlstaka-
bly, -. ;,
President Grant remarked that, politically,
between himself and Mr. Greeley there was no
difference; the issue Was merely a personal
one, and purely SO.
Col. Mosby informed Gen. Grant that what
made his administration so unpopular in the
South was that all the Federal Offices were
in the possession of carpet baggers. aud they,
said the COL, ''are natural born thieves.
He did not think Southern man would sac
rifce any principle by voting for the President
against Greeley, because Greeley ae'rocntect am
justified every act which the President had
e emp people. fri am to be ruled by isms |
prefer military despotism to a despotism of
lsms.