The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-09-06
The President and the South.
ern Troubles.
OUR PERILOUs POLICY.
President Grants Explanation of
His Intentions.
Difficulties and Embarrassments
of the Situation.

LONG BRANCH, Sept. s, 1874
Since the publication Of the instructions to Sec
rotary Belknap and the letter Of Attorney General
Williams, President Grant has expressed the ap-
prehension that his position in relation to the
Southern disturbances may be misunderstood.
lie stated last evening that his nten ton is simply
to allow such precautionary measures to be
adopted in the location OF United States troops,
&C., under the advice OF the Attorney General, as
will afford faciliues for the prompt and erectual
suppression OF any insurrection with which a
State government may be unable to cope, and
insure the observance OF the laws OF the United
States. He denies that Williams possesses any
authority beyond this, and repudates the idea OF
the use OF federal troops in any State pending the
elections, unless their services are absolutely
necessary to the preservation Of the peace, and
then only within the limits or the constitution ana
the laws.
THE CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF NEW YORK.
prominent citizen OF New York visiting the
President yesterday spoke in strong terms OF the
dangers that might arise from the continued po-
litical oppression OF the Southern States not only
politically, but financially. Although a republican
and warm supporter of the administration. he
could not but iOresee that the corruptions of the
carpet-bag governments, such as In Louisiana,
and the disturbed condition Of society in the
South generally, must end in bankruptcy and
repudiatlon in many Of the Southern States, which
would mean financial disaster all over the nation
He called the Presidents attention to the leader
in yesterdays HERALD advocating national re-
construction convention and the relief OF the
Southern States, and did not hesitate to declare
that, while he might not be willing to wholly in
dOrse the HERALDs views he recognized broad
craftsmanship at their foundation.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE HERALD POLICY
President Grant, in reply, expressed himself as
personally In favor OF extending generous aid to
the South. He had always thought that the great
crime OF the rebellion should have been forgotten
as soon as the Union was restored, and that no
penalty should be eXacted OF the South, either
directly or indirectly except such the seeding
states are compelled to pay In the shape OF prop
erty destroyed, lives lost and industry paralyzed.
No portion of the debt OF the confederacy should
could be paid under any circumstances; but as
to the policy OF relieving the poverty OF the South.
ern States by a lessening OF the burdens OF taxa
ton even by making some payment to compen.
safe Tor the sudden change IN the system Of labor.
that is question which interests the whole ma
ton and might be proper subject for the con-
sheraton OF statesmen.
THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.
The President expressed himself as sincerely de-
sirous of leaving the Southern States take care
OF their own political affairs and OF nonntcr-
ference on the part OF the federal government.
But what was ne to do The fact Of the existence
bf lawlessness and violence in some Of the states
is undenlable. Reputable men and officials of
high standing come forward and represent that
peace cannot be preserved and lie protected
without the aid OF United States troops. To be
| sure their statements would not be sufficient TO
| warrant intervention. The constitution and the
| laws declare the circumstances under which the
federal government shall interfere In the affairs OF
state hut preliminary orders and the movement
of troops are legitimate and proper, 'and my
hope" said the President, lis that the moral
effect OF the presence Of troops in some localities
may render their active use unnecessary" Under
the representations made to the President by
Southern citizens, and the facts brought omcially
to his knowledge by the Attorney General ne be-
leves he should be guilty Of neglect of duty If he
should neglect to take steps for the prevention Of
the threatened evils.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS PARTTsANsHIr.
The fact Is that the President Is not wholly salts
fled with the Attorney General and does not thank
him for his hot ZEAL Williams processes to have
very spy all over e and
emissaries which show that an extensive cOnspir-
acy against the Union exists IN the Southern
States. Some OF these secret service mon pretend
to the knowledge of plots for the determination of
the black race and for the assassination of ali
general character and they always fail to give
explicit infOrmatlon. The Attorney General be-
ject Of democratic disloyaity. His fierce partisan
ship has already led the President into many
ana s a Ssss;
hence anxious to get back a to washing
Washington dispatches. or or the tone the Attor-
ney General evidently desires to impart to the
has expressed the belief that Williams would be
well pleased to rush him into extreme measures
If ne could, and on this account win be all the more
does not wholly relish the idea OF all the Southern
his % * ana
on headquarters. For some reason or another the
Attorney General seems averse to allowing any
Southern politicians TO reach the Presidents ear
with VI them had 70 anS
Southern delegates to me day or two since; '1t
was useless my seeing the President until Ihad
is not q man to relish this power assumed behind
the throne.
WHAT THE SOUTHERN POLITICIANS SAY.
The politicians who approach the President on
Southern matters generally agree In representing
the southern democratic. or opposition, party as In
ton OF the blacks. Texas Is said to be in depor.
able condition, not only from the democracy alone,
ments In the state. The President has been as
sured that ne certainly control Texas, both for
d Of the ne r oca
and replace them with reputable republicans
mas 1eem oeon the 0S ne Das ana
radical wings OF the republican party, and Bouds
Baker. the chairman OF the republican state Gen
eral Committee, Ii said to be the consolidating
link between the two. but both demand that
Ochtree and the rest OF the present federal ONCE
holders must be turned out. "The administration
has fastened such . set OF graceless vagabonds
on the party that we can get no respect
able support, and can say nothing In
favor OF the administration until the blunder has
been remeded." The democracy Is said to be
thoroughly imbued with the spirit OF 1861 and
Hancock, the nominee for Congress, and other
conservative Union men In the democratic ranks
are said TO be ready to unite with the republicans
II the latter Will only ''set their house in Orderu
President Grant has been told that II he Will make
the required changes In the federal offices of the
state the republican party VIII become reunited,