The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-27

ceedngs OF the next session or during the present
Congress but do expect o very exciting time,
which will enlist the feelings OF the whole country
and the most active exertions Of statesmen and
politicians, as the next Presidential election ap-
proaches and during the campaign preceding it.
The great storm will display ats fury in the Con-
gress succeeding the present one. That Congress
Will open the next Presidential campaign.
REroRrER-Would you be willing to give me your
views upon the question OF C@sarism and the re-
election OF General Grant, which is now being quite
extensively discussed in the newspapers for pub
hcation in the NEW YORK HERALD
Mr.. STEPHBNs-I have noticed the discussion
and, though l have not thought much upon the
subject, my views upon it, especially upon the
principles involved, are mature, and, II they are
desired, should have no objections to giving them
to you or to their publication, provided you will
report them and the HERALD will publish them In
my own language, so that my views may be cor
recty understood by those who may read yo1r
report.
RECOMMENDATION Mr. stephens. would be glad
to know what you think OF the question-"A third
term for the Presidency"
Mr. SrEPHENs-what do you mean by this ques-
tionf DO you wish to know II favor such policy'
II so, have no hesitation in saying thatI do not
what erect you think his third election by the re-
publican party would have upon the institutions OF
the country; allude to what is called the Cesar
::ssm rnay would attend his election.
NO FEAR or Y8pEHIALIsx.
Mr.. SrEPHENs--well, don't think there is much
in that. have lately read great deal in the
papers under the head OF ''Casarism" which might
just as well have been called "Dunciadtsm." BY
C9sarlsm Isupp0se is meant Imperialism, or the
overthrow OF the federal Union 0fthe States and the
establishment OF consolidated empire instead. 1
do not think General Grants election to third term
would have any effect upon the institutions Of the
country In this respect, different from that which
his nrst and second has had, especially II he should
confne his exercise OF the executive powers within
the same limits hereafter as heretofore. C@sarism
does not consist OF who Ii in the Executive chair
nor how long, but In how the government is ad
ministered. C@sarsm and imperialism consist In q
disregard by the Executive Of the checks and limi
tati0ns Of the constitution and the grasping by
usurpation, In the hands OF one the powers OF any
Of the other two departments Of the government
the legislative and judiciary. There can be no
Cesarism or imperialism In this country so long as
the ''rrinity In unity" Of the constitution 10 pre-
served, that Is, so long as the three great
separate and independent departments-the
executive legislative and the judiciary-are main
tanned intact In their coordinate relations with
each other, 80 far as the delegated powers Of the
general government are concerned; nor can there
be anything like consolidated single republic in
this country, which Is not much less dangerous
than Cesarism ITSELF so long as the rights Of the
separate States, consttutionally reserved and
secured, are respected and left tnvioate. The
greatest danger, in my opinion which now threat
the liberties Of this country Is Just that which
the trainers Of the constitution so carefully guarded
against; that ts consolidation OF all the separate
and distinct smaller republics, as Rome was con-
solidated. This result would most certainly, In my
opinion, lead 10 the establishment OF an empire
and as surely end In Cesarsm in this country as 1t
did In Rome.
REpoRTEs-But do you think that Is lust what
General Grant is aiming atf
GENERAL GRANTS PROBABLE COURSE.
MI. sTErHENs-No; viii do General Grant the
justice to say that have not seen any evidences
from him Of any such wish or desire; not hun
dredth part as much as have seen from the course
OF those malecontent republicans, who style them
selves liberals, who have fallen out with General
Grant, and who have lately raised such hue and
cry against his Caesarism-so called. II General
Grant has ever violated any law am not aware or
It. The greatest objection have to him Is his rigid
enforcement of the very bad laws which these
mslecontent republicans were mainly instru-
mental In carrying through Congress-some
Of them by fraud and perHdy. az well as
usurpation. They, as 1 understand their his.
tory, were tho EXTREMIST OF tho ex-
treme in urging the passage Of measures
which tended more towards the establishment OF
an empire in this country than anything since the
Union was formed In 1776-then formed mainly for
the establishment and maintenance Of the ines
tmable right Of local selfgOvernment on the part
OF the people OF each OF the States, severaly and
respectively. It Is true they now style themselves
liberals; but wherein they have ever changed their
designs objects or policies have not seen. Gen.
eral Grants position up to this time as far as
have been able to understand It, Is, that the Exec
utive Is simply to enforce the laws as passed by
Congress and exp0unded by the Judiciary, acting
upon the avowed principle that the best way to
get rid of bad law Is rigidly to enforce 1t. The
reason Of this principle in his action, perhaps Is,
that the evils OF the law will be sooner
seen and felt by the cruciole OF experience, when
the people, BY q change Of their representatives.
may eject the proper remedy at the ballot box.
There Ia certainly nothing like Cesarism In this;
but there il q vast deal like consolidation and
empire In the policy and principles upon which
many OF the very Ubiquitous laws he is rigdly en-
forcing are based. l think
GENERAL GRANT UTTERLY DEMOLISHED Mr.. TRUN.
BULLS ATTACHMENT
OF him In New York, at the opening OF the canvass
in one sentence. AS the matter was related to me,
some friend feeling greatly aggrieved at Mr.. Trum
bulls denunciations, went to General Grant, sup
posing he, too, would be somewhat incensed at IL.
but, with that imperturbable temper 30 character.
istic Of him, he replied:-T don't know what MIR.
Trumbull finds 80 much fault with me for; nave
done nothing but execute his own LAVISH
This covers the whole ground. The free institu-
lions OF this country can much better be MAN.
tanned BY changes in the members Of the House and
the Senate than by any limitation upon the term
OF the Executive once. Usurpatton of power BY
the Executive in interfering In any way with the
legislative or judicial departments is what marks
and distinguishes the Cesar. and not the number