The New York herald., 1874-08-26
TOONBS ON THE THIRD TERM
The Ex-C0nfederate Statesman
on Southern Politics.
GRANT THE soUTH,s SAVIOUR.
81 Will Never Accept the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments

dnO FlltccLln Amendments.
ATLANTA, Ca, August 20, 1874.
Taxing the Richmond and Atlanta Air Line route
o few days since at the former point within thirty
two hours, including numerous halts for meals,
&C., had traversed the six hundred miles lying
between the two capitals OF the New South. AS
Paris is France so is Richmond an epitOme OF Vir-
gina, and with even more truth may Atlanta be
characterized as the Dusthng centre Of thought
and action for Georgia and the Central South.
AT Richmond, the historic capital Of the South,
and yet the focus OF immense influences in South
ern politics, and at Atlanta, now, perhaps, tue
best expression OF the rehabilitation for which the
whole South seeks, are TO be found the unerrlng
indices OF the predominant sympatnies and ex,
pectatiOns OF the section south of the Potomac
and the Ohio At the two Southern capitals one
hears an abundance OF that brilliant gossip and
bold, defiant talk which has always given such
fascination to political discussion in the South.
Your Richmond correspondent has already given
you the drift Of the political tide in the Old Do
minlon, and to determine the tendencies of the
entire Southern mind 1t remains to be seen how
far the Empire State of the South is in unison with
the prevalent thought OF the Old Dominion.
ROBERT TooMBs.
In Atlanta the properly accredited seeker after
sources OF genuine public sentiment is peculiarly
blessed In the facility with which he ascertalns
the force and direction OF the current OF public
opinion from its very ioun tain heads. A few days
ago, after brief talk with OF the first public
men of the South, whose views current political
| topics shall give the readers OF the HERALD III q
! day or two, / unexpectedly encountered at the
| Kmball House General Robert Toombs. always q
| typical Southern politician, once the Mrabeau Of
| the federal Senate, and even nOw after the ter
rbe failure OF the revolution which he did much
| to inaugurate, no Insignificant power In Georgia
politics. Many years have elapsed since had last
seen the historic General, when, as Confederate
Premier, walking with characteristic fnsoucidnce
along the streets OF Richmond, in the early days
OF the war, he used to boast that he carried the
Confederate Department OF State in his coat
pocket" Despite the changes wrought by time
and trials there was no difficulty in recognizing
the Toombs OF the olden time-ne0lige in apparel,
incandescent and unkempt as ever, and, in the
apt phrase OF the prize ring, ''mutilated, but st
in the ring"
HISTORIC FIGURE
As leisurely approached the veteran politician.
and had time to think how wonderfully, under the
supervision of some artist gifted with the power
of Illustrating history and individual character by
attitude, mien and expression, he would serve in
fresco an eptome Of the turbulent era OF Ameri-
can politics, in which he had baZed like meteor
and had dealt right and left his s,alwart blows as
though intrus ed with the tilt-hammer Of Vulcan.
In brief, the ''od man eloquent" though no
longer Georgia's Senator, menacing abolition sena
tors with the prophecy that he would yet 'call the
roll Of his slaves ON Bunker Hill, and though now
without the insignia OF power, authority and pubic
care still wears the air Of one who believes that
his sceptre has been wrongfully wrenched from
him iOr a time only by some "unllneal hand" ana
who before nim the day OF certain restoration
POWER OF THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.
Without unnecessary fOrmalty or circumlOcu-
ton expressed my desire to obtain an express
sion OF his views IOr the HERALD upon the salient
declining to talk at any length upon tie ground
that he had been so often unfairly treated by ad-
venurous &c sonemians, Ia, who mad sought mis- pres
OF the HERALD representative that Southern
public men must look to the independent press of
the great Northern CiHeS-paperS not run IN the
interest OF factions and chques-as medium Of
communication between the thought Of the South
and that OF the rest OF the country. In replying
to this suggestion General TOOmbs gave an anus
ing sketch OF the present aboy-gentee condition
declared .too poor to speak the truth" ~
REPORTER-Well, General, the country always
Iikes TO near from you, Wae.her IN tine shape Of
shape OF one OF those brilliant lusilades OF political
gossip with which you so often favor your friends
INvETERATE HOSTILITY TO FREEDOM AND SUFFRAGE.
General TOoMBs-ln due time l shall be heard
from at length upon the great questions which
with no uncertain sound. never was mlk-and-
cider politician in my life, and everybody, friend
Columns OF type would hardly express my views
upon present puDllc questions and yet in fifteen
minutes can give you the substance OF my pres
ent political creed. never shall acquiesce IN the
fourteenth aud fifteenth amendments and never
shall tolerate the damnable doctrine that there
can be good government where negroes particl-
pate in the shaping or public policy
NEGROES AND THIEVES ALLIED.
RErORTER--But, General unless you are indulg-
ing in an expression OF that vehement aud yet
heretofore Impotent resentment OF the wrongs Of
reconstruction SO often heard rom Southern pub
liz moi I MO IN n a w IA
quo mOdO with which you propose to act.
General TooMBs-This government is now run
is not numerically powerful, but ne holds a bal
ance OF power, whicn makes the thieves who run
the radical machine North and South deier to his
beasty propensIties. ThIs alliance OF negroes and
thieves must be broken up rom base TO capital,
and before long shall begin 1t right here. have
made one revolution and can make another. Yes,
sir, right here In Georgia snail begin this work OF
driving The negroes and thieves from the national
political sanctuary
REPoRTER--perInt me to ask respectfully, Gen
era, these what Mr.. Choate used to call "gllt-
terlng generaties' IN which you are Indulglng,
or do you mean them as prophecies based upon
your knowledge of some really revolutionary en-
terprise for the RELIEF OF the South rom the evils
imposed by reconstructlOn9
THE DAY OF EXPEDTENTS PAST.
General TooMBs-l mean that the day OF middle
men, o. temporary expedents and o! compromise
politicians Is over In Georgia ana the entire South,
and that men Of my views and purposes see In the
be swift 10 embrace. Fools and time servers may
denOunce 1t as revolution: but care noJhing ior
that, so long as it Is common sense and have the
people Of Georgia with me.
THE THIRD TERN SCHEME.
This ! took TO be nothing but the third term
idea, which Il now so rapidly growing III the
southern mlnd-the notion that with Grant for
third term the South is TO be rescued from further
punitOry ana oppressive legislation by the repub-
Iican party. The sequel proved the correctness oil
this inference and left no room to doubt Gen.
eral 1oOmDs' own sympathy with the third term
sentiment with the understanding that ii success
ful, IL would give the south relief
KRPOITER-General ToOmbs do you think that
fher IA INV
General TOOhBs-PIenty OF II, and 1t Is growing
stronger every day We are ready TO give Grant
any number Of terms TO make him our ally in
breaking down this internal government OF
negroes and thieves. Grant Will help u.s. believe.
aud with that understanding | am heartily Tor
hIm. You can through the HERALD proclaim 1t to
the world that we are tired OF TINS
CARNIVAL OF KSAvERY,
and that the South Is determined once more 10 AZ
iemnt a reYunLlQu The side OF a pure and