The Van Buren press., 1873-09-09
NO. 20
Third Talk.
Hhat Ee. .Gorsraor LetcAsr OF Vkosn;a
Tanks About IL.


A correspondent .sof, The New York
Herald has interviewed ex Gov. Lctcher
with the following result.
Correspondent Isit your impression
that Gen Grant viii be elected for third
. term
/ Governor. Certainly, il he wants il
have no doubt whatever Of that now.
Il Correspondent: What are your rea.
sons for thinking so?
! Governor; My reasons are very few.
Grant has the power. and ii he chooses
to exercise IL he can very easily have
himself elected and besides, the Repub.
lican party Of tho North intend TO run
the government and keep tho .spoils
among themselves. and Grant suits their
purposes as well as any other man thew
could pick ap--perhaps great deal bet
ter AZ least, they have tried him. and
so iar he has succeeded In pleasing tho
leaders OF the party by whom be is sur-
rounded admirably. do not think thew
would risk nominating anybody else.
Correspondent: Assuming. then. that
Grant will be elected to a third term. do
Your regard that as an approach to Cn-
sarism or empire2
Governor; do, unqucstionably. Tho
government, as it Is now administered.
IS moving rapidly in that direction, aud
the election OF Grant to third term will
be stride that but to plainly indicates
the road to empire.
Correspondent: DO YOU think tho
people of the North would submit to be
so easily deprived of their liberties?
Governor Oh, yes. They have
looked so calmly and quietly on while
usurpaiioh and tyranny have been hear
ed and piled on the Southern people that
they have intuitively become Injured 10
desPotism, aud were the @yokc Of an
American Cnsar fastened on them TO-
morrow they would submit with all the
grace aud case of tho most ahlect aud
willing slaves.
Correspondent But, Governor. thsv
can scarcely be so insensble to and for
getful Of their past traditions, Of the nlo.
rlous liberties achieved by their forcia.
Tiers, and OF that independence which il
The boast ofevery American, as TO allow
all to pass away without striking blow?
Governor: That is all very we'll; but
lhls march townrd empire has begun 90
wen, II has crept along SO insidiously:
alter inanacle has been so we'll
nnd securely fastened on; the dearest
ana cherished rights Of the states have
been SO willingly surrendered; and bar.
rier after barrier to Imperialism has Weld.
"a 80 easily that the announcement OF an
empire ,s woala as se ,S1 SniSy SyjAtaWHlslBpits as
TO resistance TO the fcdcrM government,
incSer aicam, IT IL. = - : - ''-'i- -'i-
Correspondent DO you think that
Grant aspifcs 20 Cmsaris:n or at least to
a thlrd term?
Governor do without doubt, or
Else why, ia the face Of all this newspa-
per discussion, has he not had the man.
incss to come out and say TO the Ameri.
can people ] will not be candidate
under any consideration for the pres
lcncy after the expiration Of mJ present
term II he would do that then the peo.
pie would have reason to believe in his
patriotism. but a. the matter stands now
he shows By his silcncc that he has no
respect or regard for the precedent set BY
" ashingtou and esta biisi,ed is ii law ai-=
most by It's strict observance by all OF
his successors, Unqueslionably Grant
wants to he elected to third term, and
il possible, to be emperor.
Correspondent; What action would
the Southern people take in such a case!
Governor: Nose. 50 no action what
ever. Having no arms nor the means of
them they could not resist rs
became tree hern Americans At the
close Of the war the North took particu-
lar care 70 deprive us of all the arms We
had, and they have taken particular care
to keep us In that condition ever since.
we are helpless We could do nothing.
Correspondent: l. has been said by
some that the South might be rather ben
efitted by the change TO an empire, and
that they would welcome such change,
What is your opinion as to that ssaSsf
Governor; We do not favor an en-
pre We want pure republican gov
ernmcnt We do not want 10 live under
tyranny IN any shape. 1t is bad enough
80 il is, God knows, without putting us
under an imperial government; for
Grant would be rs much controlled then,
and more so, than be is now. lie does
not now rise TO the dieaity or just ad-
minstration of the chief majestrasy OF
a republic and could he be expected 10
WELD the sccptro Of Imperialism with any
degree Of imparliality7 No, sir, We
want no empire or Caesar. We wonld
not be benefited by it; we woald be more
oppressed than ever, and we will resist,
ii not with arms, with our votes, not on
i, the threatened C@sarism, but its fore
runner, the third term.
Correspondent: How could the pa
tiiotic feeling Of the ante-war period be
best restored in the South
Governor: 1t can only be done by
simple kindness on the part Of the gov
crnment We must NOT be rebuRed and
insulted on all occasions as we have been.
We must be allowed some participation
in tho government. II the government
has no respect for the people, the people
can have no respect Tor the government,
and in such a govcrpment there is no
stability. We want TO be restored to all
privileges and rights TO which under the
constitution we are entitled, and when
this Is done, my word fol il, there will
be rs strong and patriotic feeling IN tue
South as ever existed in the palmiost
days OF the republic.