The daily gazette., 1875-06-21
EX-SENATOR BAYARD's OPINION.


EX-SENATOR BAYARD's OPINION.
RINGS AND CORRUPTION EvERYwHrrr--
NEGRO sUFFRA6E--THE PRESIDENTS a
LETTER.
New YORK, June 19.--Ex Senator
James A. Bayard, of Delaware. who for
more than forty years has taken an &C
tive interest in political affairs, is at the
new fork HOTEL much enfeebled in
hea ith. In conversation with O Tribune
reporter he stated that he had virtually
Withdrawn from political life most of his
olu colleagues were dead, and his age pre-
vented him from mixing with the class or
active leaders who shape the destinies OF
parties and control the politics of tha
country. Stillhe could not be disinter.
ested observer of public events. and con.
templated with fear and anxiety the
| spread OF corruption in both parties.
| rake our town of Wilmington, for in
| stance, said the ex-senator. eve have
Tweed Ring there on q small scale.
composed Of both Republicans and DEM
ocrats; and wherever look around and
see city growing in wealth and popula.
ION There IS corruption. In Philadsl.
as formidable as any you have had in
New York. Corruption stalks about
everywhere IN high and low places ia
municipal, State and Federal politics.
ana unless it is stopped there must come
an end to our republican institutions. |
cannot but feel a deep reverence for
1hose OLD constitutional principles which
prescribed limitation of powers and
FORBADE, among others, the Federal Gov
ernment from interfering in internal i'm
provements. The abandonment of thess
principles breeds corruption, and Gov
ernment interference with railroads or
any other matters, which should be left
20 lndlvidual enterprise, will ultimately
lead to its destruction. This Limitation
OF powers should be applied to State
and municipal governments as well as to
reqeral. III Government, wether Fed
eIal, state, or municipal, is to take
charge OF everything, the'result is always
especially in large towns, that some
with clique, take advantage off powers
conferred by precedent or by statute
control the masses, and corruption en-
sues. GIVE Governmentn more power
than 1t needs to exercise its proper func-
tions, and the occupation of the bad
leaders will be at an end. There is no
question as worthy of the attention of
the p &c mind to-day as this question
OF corruptio 4. 1t must be met, and met
"PS-oiJ1 wv II VIC dEc III I'LL ueC6rmIneu
to preserve the institutions founded by
our fathers"
Upon being asked what he thought
of the political status of the Southern
States, nj I. Bayard again repeated that
he did not mix sufficiently with the
people to express an opinion.
"But," said he, " I have ALWAYS
thought and believe today that it has
been great mis- 'le to give the right
of suffrage to the negro race. They
arc unturtored; are q race full of pas.
sions, without deliberatiOn, without
live powers, and they be.
come the easy prey of any demag0gue
who desires 10 use their votes for His
own selfish purposes. They did not
expect this ri At of sutfage, though l
considered them always and consider
them now worthy of equal rights be-
fore the law"
In referring TO Pr 'ident Grants let
ter on the Third term que lion, the ex-
Senator shook his head and said:
"How easy it would have been for
him to write letter which might have
stopped allcontrovcrsy on this subject
My opinion is" he continued, that
Grant will take the nomination if he
can get it, and l believe he would not
hesitate to employ the armed forces OF
the United States in various Southern
States of the Union, if he saw the least
chance of success. But Grant is not
a 'ool. Hei persistent, obstinate evep,
in all his doings. At the same time
he has great degree of common sense.
Everything depends upon the Fall
elections of this year. Ssould they
go against the Administration youwill
hear no more of the third tenn; but ii
they should go otherwise, take my
word for it Gen. Grant will lose no
opportunity in drawing comfort from
it,and you will see him the Republi
can candidate for the Presidency next
year"