Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-24
KELLoaa RISES mo- EXPLAIN.

Mr.. VIM. Pitt Kellogg, the usurping Gov
ernor of Louisiana, was interviewed by
correspondent of the New York Tribune
some weeks ago, and being in the mood for
talking, said more, perhaps, than he inten-
ded, but nevertheless true, as here is every
reason to believe. In the letter of the cor
respondent of the Tribune, reporting this
interview, occurred the following passage:
"Referring to the Presidents proclama-
ton. L told Mr.. Kellogg that had seen no
evidence of disturbance anywhere il the
State, and had not heard that any had oc-
Cured for several weeks before the procla-
nation was issued, and asked him on what
ground he made the requisition upon the
President. He said that ID eoGs not his idea
at all, but the people of the North thought
that there was a civil war down here.
The Associated Press dispatches from here
exaggerated every little occurrence; great
posters were stuck up about the streets du-
ring the ST. Martinsyille flair, exciting the
people with reports that the citizens were
being murdered, and the reports sent North
were of the same character. HIS friends
IN Washington urged han to call upon the
President for help; Mr.. Packard l0dS in
favor of 1t. The use of United States
troops as posse cOnlitGtuS was slow and
awkward way. The law under which they
were used was sure to be abused; that had
been the history of it in North and South
Oorolina and everywhere else that it was
resorted to. In the desire to get the troops
men were likely to strain point in making
the affidavit, and when the case came to
trial it generally turned out-as at the trial
of DR.. Blanc the other dsy--that there was
no case. All these things, and the constant
reports sent North of disorder, were used
to injure the President, and so he finally
consented to giUe the President an 0ppOrtu-
nifty to place the troops directly at has DIS
posai, and stop all of this hue and cry"
This letter was published in the Tribune
of the 9th inst, and on the 18th Kellogg
telegrsphs to Attorney General Williams:
s'The purported interview published in the
New York Tribune of the 9th, regarding
the Presidents proclamation, is incorrect.
My requisition calling on the President was
fully justified" The Tribune confesses it
did not suppose kellogg would remain 81
lent under the extraordinary charges con-
veyed by its correspondents letter. ave
say conveyed by that letter." says the
Tribune; s.for it was not our correspondent
who made them; Mr.. Kellogg was his own
accuser." Aud sure enough, his "friends at
Washington" probably, have forced him to
make the denial we have quoted. The
Tribune now 'goes for him" after this
fashion:
ave should like to know in the first
place what Mr.. Kellogg means by q 'puE-
ported interview He will hardly have
the effcontery to say that he held no CONVEX
sation with our correspondent, when the
meeting took place by appointment, and
with full understanding OF its object. We
should like to know in the second place
what he means by saying the 'purported'
interview is incorrect In what is it in
correct? The conversation lasted two
hours; the story of it filled two columns of
the Tribune; it touched upon great varie-
ty of subjects. What are the mistakes? Are
they great or small? mistakes of language
or mistakes of facl? To say merely that q
long narrative like that is incorrect is
evSsive. Mr.. Kellogg committed the fault,
common with politicians of his class, of
talking too much for his own
good. He was invited by
our correspondent (of whom We may say,
in passing, that in all our professional expe-
rience we have n yer met with more
faithful, clear-headed, and scrupulously &C
curate NAM to state bis views of the polit-
ical and financial condition of the State. He
spoke, as our correspondent observed, with
very little reserve, and we rave our rea-
SONS at the time for believing that in regard
to the proclamation he told the simple
truth. We had received information 10
the same effect from anothec source ten
days before. Mr.. Kellogg, in his anxiety
to excnse himself, did not reflect sufficient
ly upon the full significance of his state
ments. He did not consider how they
would look in print. He admitted, perhaps,
more than be originally meant to admit.
Aud TOW be hopes to smooth, the matter
over by vague and general declaration
that the interview is Incorrect That is
a very convenient sort Of disclaimer; but it
does not meet the emergency"