Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-21

may be provided for by con1niDg the second
to choice between the two highest csndi-
dates. In ronnec ion with such an amend
ment it woult seem advisable to limit the
service of the Chief Magistrate to single
term of either four OF six years. II, how
ever, 1t should not be adopted, it is worthy
Of consideration WHISTLER provision dis
qualifying for Office the Representatives In
Congress upon whom such election may
have .deyolved, would not be proper" In
the same message l went yet further =
"Strolgly impressed with the truth OF these
views feel called upon by an imperative
sense of duty to revive substantially the re-
commentator so often and 50 earnestly
made by President jackson, and to urge
that toe amendment to the Constitution
herewith presented, or some similar propo-
sition, may be submitted to the people for
their ratification or rejection" But Con-
gress was against me and the recommenda-
ton went for naught.
Reporter-As understand you then, sir,
q representative Democratic government,
in the literal meaning of the term, Is what
you consider the essential for preserving
and perpetuating the theory of Republican
government?
Mr.. Johnson-Tbst lie my meaning. The
trainers of the Constitution made the
government limited, as were the different
Sta es. Herein consists
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR OWN
IW AND THE ANCIENT REPUBLICS.
In the latter the individual was ABSORBED
in the State, which prescribed bis religion
and controlled his activity. The American
system rests on the assertion of the equal
rights Of every man 10 life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, to freedom of con-
sciepce; to the culture and exercise of his
faculties. As consequence, the State
government is Dmited-as to the general
government In the interests of the Union;
rs the individual citizen In the interest OF
freedom. Without States one great branch
OF the legislative government would be
wanting, and if we look beyond the letter
of the Constitution to the character of our
country, its capacity for comprehendiDg
within its jurisdiction vast continental
empire is due to the system of States.
Reporter-In the event that there is really
settled plan for third term, what steps
do you think will be taken to bring about
the contamination of the object?
Mr.. Johnson-The thing might be done
in many ways, but it would be the work Of
the mopopolists, who, one and ell, natural.
ly favor Capitalization. Among the many
rings of monopolies may be mentioned the
land grabbers, who, by Congressional en-
actment, have been awarded millions Of
acres of the public domain, which should
have been the heritage of future genera
tions. Then comes the railroad monopoly,
whose iron bands penetrate throughout the
country, from ocean to ocesn and from the
lakes to the Gulf, growing In wealth and
power from year to year, and forging chains
to bind the people as heavy as their OWL
rails. That these powerful corporations are
constantly increasing in wealth and power,
while being consolidated in the hands of a
decreasing few, is well known, and their
rottenness and corruption is clearly evil
denced by the Credit Mobilier and Fremont
scandals. Next are
THE BODYBUILDING RING, THE wRIsKEY
RING, THE IRON RING, AND THE MILL
TARY RING,
Of which latter Grapt is the head. Thus,
in the hands of the leaders of these rings,
representing the great interests Of the ma
ton, is more than imperial power, and to
retain the power they now have and acquire
what is certain to follow, they would do
anything that kept the people from interfer-
ing with their plaus and the carrying cut
their selfish ends. Capital and power 60
hand in hand, and cspital being timid de-
ponds for safety and protection upon power.
With fgurehead for a President and q
subsidized Congress, how easy it would be
to enact law declaring that the peace and
perpetuity of the government were in dan
ger, and pass law continuing the President
in his seat for an indefinite term, or during
the pleasure of Congress.
Reporter-But, Mr.. Johnson, the late
civil war has made us nation of soldiers.
and if such q Qsurpation Of power was at
tempted would not the people rise in Their
might and tear down their false idols?
Mr. Johnson-Steps would be taken be-
iorehand by skilful stationing Of troops to
overawe any attempt of the kind; ye., gran
ted that the effort was made, what could
an unarmed mob accomplish against dis
ciplined soldiery well armed and with
abundant war material and foil treasury
10 sustain them? Sherman would carry
out such orders with avidity and the pres
| tige of success would still further discour
age the people to resist the oppression
most of whom realize what the terrors Of
civil war are from sad experience. Th'
| country is already ruled by "stratocracy,
! or military government, and the transition
| to q more arbitrary assumption of power
will in all probability be so gradual as to
cause no alarm until the sbsckles Te riv
eted upon our limbs.
| ANOTHER GREAT AID TOWARD CENTRAL
IZATIoN
is an inflated paper currency for the people
and Understanding gold bonds fer the mo
nopolists.
He regarded this as one of the most dan
! gerous elements of power, and showed b!
statistics that while the quantity Of gold ant
silver taken from our mines was i'll exces
of the currency In circulation, yet, excep
| the small amount held in the Treasury, tbs
remainder mysteriously disappeared-th
people had none of it-2nd yet it was some
where; perhaps where it would "dO To
| most goodn when wanted. With the ring
in power and centralized government
would be an easy matter for Congress, by
special act, to deprive the people of ever
currency, by rendering it vslueless, and
with the gold of the Western mines in it
vaults, by lease of power which woul
satisfy the widest dreams of an avowed i'm
perislist.
Reporter-Wbat class of politicians d
you suppose most earnestly desire the brlns
ing about of this GENERALIZATION or CesarisI
the old rebel Democratic element, whic
boasts that it is rot yet dead, or the ultr
Republicans? .--.--- .r
Mr.. Johnson-Neither and both. III
sycophants who now cluster around Graz
would be glad to see him elected a thir
time, knowing it is their sole dependenc
for continuing il Office. They are Of bot
classes, and it is noticeable that every prom
inent ex-rebel who has fawned upon Graz
has been rewarded with position Of som
kind. .r.....
In this connection Mr.. johnson mer
toned Henry S. Foote, of Tennessee, VIII
had been longing around Washingto
waiting for crumb of patronage, an
whose zeal in the service of his master hi
lately been rewarded by an appointment
South America, which, occurring short
after bitter personal attack upon himse
(Mr. Johnson,) he considered as significal
ofthe Presidents hostility toward him.
PURITY IN PARTIES.
, Mr.. johnson, in response to q questio
on this subject, said that there were at Il
commencement Of the war, two grand pa
| ties-the Wing and Democratic-both
which had tho highest veneration for COZ
stitutional liberty, in which was include
? States' rights. though not the right to s