The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-03-21
johnson on the situation.

A Nashville correspondent of the Colt-
rier-J Journal recently had an interview
with Ex-Presinent JOHNSON. WequoIe
a few extracts:
"The sooner we get back to the consti-
tuition" urged AIr, johnson, 1.-THE better
for the country. Wny should we not
TO work and unite on a sound political
basis? Why should we be less concern
ed than the fathers? We must save our
ssives before IL is to late"
He thinks the republic is "going to
the devil at railroad speed" His judg
ment OF Grant and his policy was doub.-
less formed after mature de'iberati n,
aud he delivered it, apparently, rather
in sorrow th IN in anger, for l am will
ing to believe his assurance that there
was no malice in it.
"Orapt is little fellow" added Mr..
Johnson, with pleasant twinkle ofthe
eve, against whom.nO one could har~
Sor malice. He is especially a small
man-small OF stature, of brain, of NOR
ais. ] doubt il he even read the constitu-
ton OF the United States in his life; he
has certainly never read the commenta-
tors thereon. His idea of government
is exclusively personal, and OF low or
der at that; it was conceived in the field
and modelled upon army rules and reSu-
lations. He says to his couriers do this
and that, and they do j.; beyond this
character Of government he knows
nothing"
"But you will agree that Grant is
great Captain"
Not bit OF it would he. His opinion
of Grants generalship is only equalled
N contempt by that of his statesman
shin. He had the men, Mr.. johnson
continued, and followed the army, not
as its leader, but as an incident. What
fight did he ever win? Ask Of Belmont.
shiloh and Nieksburg. He took the lat
ter place after expanding millions of dol
lars and thousands of lives, 6OgRing
about in the swamps and burrowlng
like a cravtsh. He finally stumbled
ON the right plan, because there was
nothing else lett to be done. Good ulck
seldom deserted him he is a creature OF
luck from first TO last. He happened in
always to reap the hOnOrs that others
merited. If Mcclellan had been let
alone the war would have ended two
years before it did He has not even
the poor. merit of personal courage.
Where did he ever expose his person?
Where display any strategy? 1t wss
simply question of brute force wi b
him. y pendulum of ten pounds weight
will drive one of FIVE. He was carried
through by great armies. He marched
against foe greatly inferior in num-
beers invading a country especially
vulnerable-of scant resourceS-block-
AIDED, cut of from both the sympathy
and assistance of Europe.
Do you really believe he would de-
clare himself Di1tator, if the Opporsuni-
tv should offer? %
9" haven't the least doubt of 1t.
don't suppose he knows it by that
Nance but the idea is the same. He
loves power both for it's own sake and
for the recompense it brings. His
avarice is boundless. He cares-nuthing
what becomes of the people, so hs graft
fies his own ambition and lovo of lucre.
With Caesars or NapoleOn's ambition
he lacks their gre atneSs of soul. See
the former at the battle OF Pbarsalia,
and Napoleon at Lodi, where they rush
to the front snd encourage their soldiers
with short, sharp, pithy phrases that
have passed into history" My adju-
tant: II propose 10 move on your works
at once y II shall fight it cut on this
line if it takes all summer But his ex-
Exeellency simply remarked Raw
Inns" ami went on: "Grant could not
possibly be great captain, nor great
anything else. There is too little of
hun. A great stateman-never. He
looks upon the Government as ma
chine to be run in his personal interest:
upon its patronage as something tobe
dispensed to his friends and family in
return for services rendered in putting
down the REBELLION"