The New York herald., 1873-08-24
G E S A r I S M.
Confederate Views on the Third
Term Question.
What Ex-Governor Letcher
Has to Say.
He Thinks Grant Has Aspirations That
Way and Believes the South
Indifferent.
Mr.. SEMMES' OPINION.
The Dim Future Undiscerned by
an Old Salt.
MR.. sEMMEs' OPINION
THE FAITH OF AN EVANGELIST.
ANN,

MONTGOMERY. WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. Va.
August 10, 1873. J
During the sessions OF the Southern Historical
Society, which were concluded To-day. there was
large number OF representative Southern men here,
including many prominent excOnfederate officers,
ex-governors and others OF more or less note.
Through the courtesy Of Ex-Governor Letcher Of
this State, was generally introduced to the most
distinguished OF them and had frequent opp0rtuni-
ties OF c0nversng with them; but, singular to say
/ found most OF them following the example Of Mr..
JEFFERSON Davis, who Is also here peculiarly retcent
in regard to political afairs unwilling to give their
views even on the now vital subject OF Casarism,
or any other kindred topic. Many OF them allege,
and with the force OF conviction, too that the
government having lost all interest in them,
they had consequently lost all interest in the
government, and they were now comparatively IN
different as to whether an empire was founded on
the ruins OF Republic that could be said to be a
little better than
A CENTRA LIZED DEsPOTIsM,
which had no regard for the rights and liberties Of
large and great class Of its ctizens-namely, the
people OF the South. While this was the generally
expressed sentiment could, however, detect in
the very manner OF expressing 1t an underlying
and lingering love for the Republic and the country,
patriotic spark not yet crushed out and which
requires only little kindness and fostering care
on the part Of the government to kindle it into
bright and glowing hame While a majority seemed
respondent and regarded the outlook as gloomy,
there were several among them who still cherished
strong hopes OF perpetuation OF pure republican
principles and government and an early return to
the
SIMPLICITY HONESTY, AND THE FORMS
restrictions and limitations that characterized the
fathers of the Republic. Not among the latter
class, however, Is Ex-Governor John Letcher, who
will be remembered as the chief magistrate OF the
Old Dominion when she seeded; but who, per-
haps, has had more to embitter him against the
national government than most OF the leading men
in the South on whom the vengeance Of the vic
torous federal troops was so ruthessly wreaked at
the wars close. Letcher resided at Lexington
when Hunter made his famous raid through the
valley OF Virginia, his track marked by fire and
smoke, and when he came to Lexington Letcher's
residence was first thoroughly plaged ana robbed
| OF everything that was valuable, even to family
| mementoes anu relics the property OF hls
wife and children, anu then burned TO the ground.
| His wife was not even allowed to save her daugh-
| ter's clothing rom the names. When the exGOv-
| ernor got home he found his family destitute,
homeless and heart-broken, his house and property
destroyed, himself pauper and all OF them de-
pendent on the charities Of his neghbors to save
| them from actual starvation. Thanks to an nd0mi-
table energy and strong will, the Governor has
| since in part retrieved his lost fortunes and he
! now lives comfortably at his father's old home
stead, which he has recently purchased, among lis
native hills and surrounded by the loved ones Of
his family and the friends OF his early days.
CORREsPONDENT-Govern have you read the
recent discussions In the newspapers on Cesarism,
or third term iOr General GrantY
GOvERNOR-I have not; Ihave heard OF IT, though.
l do not pay much attention nowadays to such
matters. They interest me very little.
CORRESPONDENTS 1t your impression that Gen.
eral Grant will be elected Tor third terms
GOvERNOR--CertaInly, If he wants II. / have no
doubt whatever of that now.
CoRREsPoNDENT-what are your reasons for
thinking so2
the power and II he chooses to exercise 1t he can
very easily nave himself electcd and, besides, the
republican party OF the North intend to run the
government and keep the spos among themselves,
and
GRANT SUITS THEIR PURPOSES
as we'll as any other man they could pick UPPER
haps great deal better. At least, they have tired
him. and 50 far lie has succeeded in pleasing the
| leaders of the party by whom he is surrounded
admirably. do not think they would risk nom-
mating anybody else.
be elected to third terh do you regard that as
an approach TO Cesarism or empire
GovERNoR-I do unquestionably. The govern
ment, as 1t is now administered, Is moving rapidly
In that direction, and the election OF Grant to
third term will be a stride that but too plainly
INDICATES THE ROAD TO EMPIRE.
CoRREsP0NDENT-DO you think the 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 usurpati0n and tyranny have
been neaped and piled on the southern people that
and were the yoke OF an American Caesar fastened
on them tomorrow they would submit with all the
grace and ease OF the most abect and willing
saves.
CoRREsPoNDENT-But Governor, they can scarcely
be insensiDle to and iOrgetiul Of their past tra
ditOns OF the glorious liberties achieved by their
lOrelatners and OF tnat independence which Is the
boast OF every American as to allow all to pass
away without striking bi0wY
GOvERNOR-lhat Is all very well but this march
towards empire has begun SO well, 1t has crept
along so Insidiously, manacle after manacle has
been well and securely fastened on, the dearest
and cherished
RIGHTS OF THE STATES
have been 30 willingly surrendered, and barrier
alter barrier to Imperialism has yielded 30 easily
that the announcement Ol an empire would be only
q simple matter OF surprise among the Northern
peope. AS to resistance TO the federal govern
ment, If Grant assumes the role OF Cesar, Dictator
or Emperor, the Yankees would never dream or it.
CORREsPONDENT-DO you think then that Grant
aspres to C9sarlsm or at least tO q third termY
GOVERNOR
I DO WITHOUT DOUBT,
or else why in the lace OF all this newspaper dis.
cussion, has he not had the maniness TO come out
and say To the American people IL Will not be
candidate under any consideration for the Presi-
dency alter the expiration OF my present term. II
he would do that then the people would have
reason TO believe In his patriotism, but as the
matter stands now he shows by ms silence that he
has no respect or regard Tor the precedent set bv
Washington and established as law almost by
its strict observance by all OF his successors. Un
questl0nably Grant wants to be elected. to O third
term, and, If possible to be emperor.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES action would the South
ern people take In such case
GOvEKNOR-NOne, sir no action whatever Hav-
ing no arms nor the means Oi procuring them they
could not resist as became free-bOrn Americans.
At the close OF the war the North took particular
care to deprive us Of all the arms we had, and they
ditlon ever slnce We are helpless We could do
nothing.