Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-21
tOESARISM.I
Ex.President Jehns0n's Views on
the Question Of the Day.

Ex.President J0hns0n's Views on
the Question Of the Day.
The Dangers that Threaten the Re-
pubIie-A severe Review OF the Sit.
uatiOn-LessOus from the Past and
PrognOsticatiOns Of the Future
Grants Ambition Explained.
From the New York Herald.
GREENvILLE, TENN, Sept. II, 1872
A few DAYS ago yonr correspondent called
upon ex-President Johnson, at his Office,
and fortunately found him not too much
engaged to grant the interview desired.
Mr.. Johnson's Office is an unpretending
brick building, one story high and about
18x24 feet in dimensions. It Is plainly
furnished, containing small walnut table,
on which the ex-President does the most of
his writing, large painted desk, three I'M
painted split bottom chairs, small aIudex"
stove and large square spittooD, filed with
sawdust. His library numbers between
| 200 and 1900 volumes, and is arranged
on plain pine shelves, reaching from floor
TO ceiling. On the walls are steel engrav-
lsings of President Lincoln and himsek, with
q picture of cross in rustic frame, which
complete its adornment, the floor not being
carpeted. Here he sis and muses. on the
events of an exciting life, and composes
those wonderful speeches which always
draw crowds and rarely fail to electrify his
hearers.
On entering Mr.. johnson was seated
writing, at little table on which lay an
open volume containing Pittman's account
| of the trial and execution of the conspira-
tors engaged in the plot which terminated
in the assassination of President Lincoln.
The book was marked in several places
with slips of paper, and be had evidently
been refreshing his memory BY a re-perusal
of its contents.
After kindly greeting and exchanging
the customary situations, knowing his
bluntness, your correspondent plunged in
nedtGS res by asking the leading question,
upon the affirmative answer Of which de-
pended altogether the success OF the inter
view.
THE GREAT UoMMONER'S VIEWS.
Reporter-You are aware, sir, of the dis
cussion that has been carried on for several
weeks past in the hewspapers on Casarism.
l have been specially commissioned to as
| certain If You would be willing to give me
your views on the subject for publication
| in the New York Herald?
! After a corteous sllusion to the proprietor
OF the Herald, with whom he was person.
ally acquainted, and expressing his aGmira-
ton of the present conduct Of the paper,
Mr.. johnson replied:
eyes, sir; l have seen several Of the arti-
cles to which you refer, and while fail to
see that anything is to be gained by the
agitation Of the matter, yet my views are Of
long standing, and having been heretofore
expressed, though not with direct reference
| 10 the name it now bears-Cesarism-
which is understood third term, l have no
| objection to their publication.
Reporter-In that case, Mr.. johnson,
may l ask if you would favor third term
for the Presidency?
Mr.. Johnson-No, sir, do not; and If
| there is not an Improvement in those who
occupy the Presidential chair,
ONE TERN is TOO LONG.
Reporter-Perhaps L did not make my
self sufficiently clear. What l wished to
ascertain was-What, in your opinion,
would be the effect upon the country of
| Gen. Grants election for another and third
| term?
Mr.. Johnson-That is,a question involv-
ing more the exercise Of prophecy or sur
mise than any probable result to come to
pass of which one has actual knowledge /;
and, however accurately one might foretell
| the future, yet if the danger was seen to be
imminent by the people, or if, to use a
metaphor of Napoleon l., athe pear was
not yet ripe" those contemplating farther
lease of power could and would forego
their iptention for the time, and the just
reasoning of the patriot and statesman be
| considered as the utter2nces Of false
prophet. The tendency of affairs is GER
tainly toward third term, if not a mon
aTchy, the consumation OF the latter being
the cherished idea of respectable numb-r
| of
In THE ULTRA RADICALS AND REBELS
of the country, who in the present tenden-
Icy see a nearer approach to the success of
their wish than while the Southern Con-
federacy was in existence. |
Reporter-Do yau not think that Presi-
dent Grant has sufficient patriotism to de-
cline third candidacy, if he believed the
true interests of the country would suffer
thereby? u
A BAD OPINION OF THE PRESIDENT,
Mr.. Johuson-What, Grant? Not he.
Why the little fellow is but puppet in the
hands of his advisers, who by appeals to bis
vanity and cupidity influence him to carry
out their aims. He is already an sspirant
for the position for four years more, but
wilhal has sufficient shrewdness to abandon
the idea by seeming to repel the approach
to q Capitalization of power, which his car
vsss would involve, if by SO doing he could
gain popularity and blind the eyes of The
people to bis true aims. His instincts are
entirely selfish and be is governed by policy
not patriotism.
Reporter-What are the indications Of
danger threatening the republic as compTe.
hended in the term OF Cesarism.
Mr.. Johnson-As history informs Us, tbt
downfall of liberty in Rome commenced BY
gradual encroachments on the rights Of the
people by privileged few; privileged by suf
ferance; for bad their first assumptions beer
checked the evil would have been nipped il
the bud, the Rubicon would never have beer
passed by Cesar, aud the mistress of tht
known world would have been spared tht
long years of bloody civil wars she endur
ed. ..
THE DANGER THREATENING OUR INsTITU
TIONs
was seen as early as 1929 by Presiden
Jackson, who, In order TO preserve the pu
rity of the chief office of the government
recommended the one-term principle.
= great deal has been said In reference to th
first term OF Office being consumed in ma
nipulsting for second term, and that tn
patronage OF the government is used TO
partisan and corrupt purposes. This is on
argument for combining the Presidency t
one term, and is good 50 far as it goes. Blu
c this does not remove all the objections Q
: abuses that grow out of the election Of
' President. l not only believe that it wOul
/ be far better to elect the President for on
term, but would go further and elect hiI
t directly by the people, and also members {
I the Senate, in the same manner that Rel
, resentatives in Congress are elected. Thi
: would dispense with the intervening m;
q chinery of the Electoral College, as we'll q
: Congressional csucuses and national col
:. yentions, which is a temptation to II
: triguing politians and designing office seei
It ers to make arrangements for the Ioav'
: and fishes to be divided among themselvt
!, and their special friends. In my judgme1
q the time has arrived when these CONVEX
; tions, both State and national, should /
a d spensed with, and | so stated during u
Il canvass in this State last summer. II
t election by the people is simple and entir
" practicable. The States can be laid c
l. in electo al districts, equal in number
h the Senators and Representatives in Coz