The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-08-28
THIRD TERM TALK.
What Ex-Gov. Leteher, Of Virginia, Thinks
Aboutit

A correspondent of the New York Her-
AID has interviewed ex-Gov. Letcher with .
the following result
Correspondent-Is it your impression .
that Gen. Grant will be elected for a third .
term2
Goyernor-Certainly, if he wants it, ] D
have noubt whatever Of that now
Correspondent-Wha are vo-
for thinking SOP sJr reasons
Govern0r-My
Grant has tho reasons are very few.
exercise e power, and If he chooses t.
ee-' ., he can very easily have himself
led and besides. the Republican party
of the North intend to run the Govern
ment and keep the spoils among them
selves. and Grant suits their purpose a.
well a. any other man they could pick up
perhaps a great deal better At least, they
have tried him. and so far he has succeed
ed in pleasing the leaders Of the party by
whom he is surrounded admirably. ! do
not think they would risk nominating any
body else.
Correspondence Assuming, then, that
Grant will be- elected n third term, do
YOU regard that as an approach o. Caesar
ism or empire
GOVERNOR do. unquestionably. The
government as IL 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 10 empire.
Correspondent-Do you think the people
of the North would submit to DO 50 easily
deprived Of their liberties
tiovernor-Oh yes. They have looked
80 calmly aud quietly ON while usurpatiou
and tyranny has been heaped and piled on
the Southern people that they have intui.
lively become Injured u dcsp1tisnl, and
were the yoke of an American Caesar tas-
tened on them to morrow they would sub
NIT with all the grace and ease o. the most
abicct and willing slaves
Correspondent-Bu Governor, they car
scarcely be 50 insensible 10 aud torgettn
of their past traditions, Of the gloriou,
liberties achieved by their toreiathers, and
of that independence which is the boast o
every An erican. a. o. allow all b. pas.
away without striking blow?
Governor-rhat is all very well: bu
this march towards empire has began $,
wellit has crept along 50 insidiOusly mau
aclc after manaele has been sp well ant
securely fastened on the dearest aud cher
ished rights Of the States have been 81
willingly surrendered and barrier ate
barrier ~ imperialism has yielded 50 easill
that the announcement OF an empire woult
be only simple matter Of surprise anon,
the Northern people. As to resistance t,
the federal government, ii Grant assume
the role of Caesar, Dictator or Emperor
the Yankees would never dream Of it.
Correspondent--Do you think then tina
Grant aspires 10 C;esarism or at least tu
third term?
GOVERNOR do without doubt, or gls
why. in the face of all this newspaper dis
cussion, has he not had the manliness t
come out and say 10 the American people
| will not be a candidate under any eOnsid
Grafton for the presidency after the expi
ration Of my present term. III he woul
do that then the people would have reaso
to believe in his patriotism, but as the mat
ter stands now he shows by his silenc
that he has no respect or regard for Tia
precedent set by Washington and estat
lished as q law almost by the strict otsery
anee by all Of his successors Unquesti1r
ably Gras wants b be elected TO a thir
term, and, ii possible TO be emperor.
Correspondent--Wh hat action would tn
Southern people take in such case
Governor--NOne, sir no action wha
ever. Having no arms nor the means {
procuring them they could not resist q
became free.born Americans. AT tn
close Of the war the North took particula
care to deprive us Of all the arms we Ina
and they have taken particular care I
keep US in that condition ever since W
are helpless. We could do nothing.
Correspondence has been said b
some that the South might be rather ben,
fitted by the change 10 an empire, and tina
they would welcome such change Wha
is your opinion rs TO that.
Goyernor-We do not favor an empire
We want pure Republican government
We do not want tn live under tyranny j
any shape. 1t is bad enough as it is, Gro
knows, without putting us under an imp,
rial government; for Grant would be I
much controlled then and more 50, thu
he is now. He does not now rise TO Il
dignity or the just administration Of Il