Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-25
GRANTS SOUTHERN TOUR-Is 1T 4
PEACE OFFERING?

| a Richmond correspondent Of the New
York Herald processes to state the objects
! of the Presidents contemplated tour
through the South, derived from a converse
ton with citizen of that city, who the dig
patch asserts is a favored guest Of the Pres
ident, and who has recently had an inter-
view with him on this subject. OF this in
terview, it is stated as follows:
"The President admitted that great bar
rier had been placed between the Southern
| people and the national government by the
| perniciCus results Of the congressional plan
| Of reconstruction, which had given the con-
| troll of the late rebelliOus States to men
whose policy it was TO misrepresent, detract
| and keep them in antagOnism with it. The
four years of his administration, now near
| ~ closed, were peculiarly in this lamenta-
bic condition. The social and political
status of the Southern States, with the ex-
| ception of Virginia, was disturbed and un-
| settled, and in his frequent efforts to effect
| some good he was often circumvented and
| thwarted by designing and tricky politicians
While there was not one Of his administra-
tive acts towards the South with which be
| could reproach himself, having done
the best he possibly could under the
circumstances, yet there were many
instances within his knowledge
where different line Of policy would have
had decidedly better sndImore pleasing re-
suits in the national way. He deplored, not
the carpet-baggers as individuals, for there
were many Of them good men, who had &C.
compiished a good deal in the way of loyal
ty and good feeling; but the carpet-bag sys-
tenn he thought was not only injurious but
destructive of the very objects sought TO be
obtained. He casually referred to the cha
otto and unfortunate governments in some of
the Southern States, but gave no express
ion of opinion as to the merits Of the parties
to the different quarTels. He was especial
IL gratified at the peaceable and prosperous
condition of Virginia, and seemed to be
proud in the reflection that the electoral
vote of the mother OF States and stesmen
were cast for him, the first time she voted
in Presidential compaign since he con-
quered peace on her sacred SOIL"
The President proposes to start on the
2Oth of March, and the dispatch says:
"The object will be to arrive at the true
solution of the Southern problem, and, if
possible, TO inaUgurate new and national
era Of good feeling an prosperity. He has
already lent his friendly aid to the compile
ton of Virginia's long wished-fOr water
line from the Chesapeake Bay to the Ohio,
and my informant thought the President
intends 10 investigate carefully the material
wants and necessities of the South, and to
devise, subsequently,, the best means by
which they can be consistently advanced
with national aid. Perhaps the burden
some public debts of each of these States
will also engage his attention. A feature of
the visit viii be 10 examine thoroughly the
working Of the carpet-bag system, to root
out such Of these precious birds of prey as
he finds obnoxious TO the interests of the
respective peoples or States where they are,
and, as far as be can, to supply their official
places with natives of character and re-
spectability among the people where they
reside. Next, and lastly, the President is
determined to ehectually harmonic the
people of the North and South, and in this,
initial movement, to make the next four
wears of his administration years of unex-
ampled national peace, good will and pros
perity. Il might have added, however,
perhaps he wishes 10 ascertain the opinions
Of the Southern people with regard to the
acquisition of Cuba, Mexico and st. Do
mi 60, as they, being the nearest neighbors,
might be most interested"
We do not know what reliance is to be
placed in this statement Of the objects
Grant has in view in visiting the Southern
States. He has talked frequently TO South
ern men, when they have called upon him