Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-23
GEN. 10. SHELBY.
The Opinions of a Famous CON-
federate Cavalrylnan.
What He Thinks of the Impending
Crisis.
tic Says the southern People """t
no Fighting in Theirs.
He will Support President Grant in any
Event.
From Globe-Democrat, Dec. Is, 1876 ]

JFrom Globe Democrat, Dec. Is, lS.G
Learning, that Gen. 10. shelby was in the city
and stopping at the Planters House, II CLIQUE
reporter called OF! nun Aesteiuas
evening to obtain his views concerning the nm
uendinS political! crisis. Gen. Shelby. Lesides
having been one of the most elective anu pfii-
liant cavalry leaders in theConfederat" army Is
ocrat, and may be justly considered to reflect
the views of IA very large Class of democrittic
of this and other states. he votea !Sr
Gen. Grant, against Mr.. Greeley, Int IN the
late canvass h.. was an ardent supporter OF
Tilden, and did much to pile up the n>na'
''beastly majority" for democracy IN Missouri.
1t may be stated here, plrentheticaily, mat ne
took no part in the gubernatorial contest. voting
neither for Phelps nor Finke!nburs. the reasons
for which will be referred to IN a subsequent
portion of this article.
IN PERSONAL APPEARANCE
Gen. Shelby is not unlike j L. Il. stuart, the
shape ofhis head presenting considerable fesem-
blnnce and his manner OF speech beng innSm
been siiusted as Stuart was, he would untioubt-
eddy have r-aped a similar fame. though this
does not imply by any means that his lame was
second In briliIaucy to that OF Lees great CAV
alrym.n. The difference between the military
twain lies in the quality and not the degree oi
fame. shelby is II little short and stocky. as
Grant is, but nevertheless has Il LOOK oil dash
about him that none but u trained leader OF
horssInen could possess: In appearance ne is
Al once til. cool strategist and the impetuous
Observation-Disclosures anu sure III planning, but
swift and Irresistible In execution. In the eN-
preston of opinion, Shelby mss always been
seductions of Office. The part. lSfh had no
terrors for pim, and at hs hosne, " Lafayette
county. he hit, never tailed to contmand TIE
r=.pset oI both parties. The general courteohsiS
AN INVASION
Of his hotel apartment by the interyie Wer, and
during u hulf-hour's conversation expressed q
number OF opinions upon public affairs which
will be of special value and interest at tins CRIT
ical juucIure. He was convinced that the coun
try WAS approaching very serious crl.ls, an1
that il would require the exercise OF much COO
judgment, and II great deal of sectional anu party
rorbsarauce. to prevent an armed connict. Inc
difficulty with which We are confronted, was
undoubtedly Of such IL nature as was not anticii-
pated by the makrrs oil tl- CONSTITUTIONS, ana,
IN Unfortunately. that instrument did not POINT gu
. clear and unnista able Inc, lio.l Of settlement.
The most extraordinary problcin in politics eve,
presented for solution to the Amer lean people
was now before congress, with the cha ices muci
in favor OF q radical and uncOmpromising differ
ence betw cen the Two houses. The probabilitles
now seemed to he in favor of the house declarins
IN favor OF Tilden, and the senate in favor o.
Hayes. In such u contingency 1t would he nee
essary for the executive branch OF the govern
menr to espouse one side OF the other. and tina
espousal should b decisive with the people.
''DO you mean TO say, General, that II TIM
president OF the senate, after opening ami count
ing tile electoral votes, declares Hayes elected,
and the house should pronounce i'll favor of iii
den. the president sh al act rs unlrire?'
''By all means. the course OF the executive
branch oil the government should and will un'
doubleday be decisive, Ill the event OF such
dispute. II the senate declares Hayes elected
and President Grant conducts hun into the cap
itol, insuring his Inauguration by an intcrven
ing left but for the people to submit. 1t is i'm
possible to till who Is elected. Although l sup
ported Tilden with great heartiness, l am no
among those that assert there Is no SOlt OF doub
about his election.
has the name OF being a great organizer. AM
perhaps is. but it occurs to me that It was not
remarkable exhibition OF able leadership to per
nit SO many ineligible men to C eep in anon
his electors. On the other hand, there is littl
to be said in behalf OF Hayes as u leader, and
politicians, they would have seen to it that non
vi their electors We're debarred by constitutions
events 1 will say this: That if President Gran
concludes to sustain Mr.. Tilden, l am Wit
him; ii he upholds Hayes, | am with him.
consider that in the event of a disagreement be
tween the two houses of congress on this suffice
he is the decisive authority. and 10 oppose Exec
utive action will he rebellion. l was for rebel
lion once, but am not now. l, in common wit
other Coniederaies, was induced to go into on
contest for what VIC conceived to be constltu
tional liberty, with the assurance that We woul
receive the support OF
THE oRTHERS DEMOCRACY,
but sail northern democrats, instead OF joinin
with US N our struggles, colluded with III
enemy and shot bullets Mt us for four years wit
an effectiveness that decided the chances of VIZ
IN favor OF tnOee WHO opposed US. nave lltt
faith in the northern democracy-never had.
was satisfied in 1861 when l joined the Contedei
acy that the chances were all in favor of tn
south getting whipped. | did not believe Z!
northern democracy would stand by its pledges
that the south would have to fight its battl,
alone. Nevertheless, it was q question OF prin
ciple, and l had no hesitancy in joining til
confederate army to perpetuat- what l bslievs
to be a just principle OF our government. l refe
to the doctrine of state sovereignty. Coz
vlnced that the general government Is suprem.
THE PRESIDENT
is the most authoritative exponent of the wish'
of the government, l will regard his action
decisive. lie has the army and navy to baC
him, and to oppose his fiat 1t would be necessal
to raise an army in opposition. II he decide
t in favor Of Hayes, Of course he will see to
, that Hayes 10 installed in the White House, Al
that he has the continued protection OF the arm
{ and navy. II the democrats determine upon Il
active opposition. 1t will be necessary to ina,
a Surate Tilden in some sort OF fashion, give ii
his cabinet and establish Il separate seat OF go
eminent, and to appoint Il new and distincti
4 list of revenue and post office officials tnrou.
duced to q question Of force. l, for one, W
(. hx. been taught by the srbitrament OF arms tn
e the decision Of the Central Government Is .
. prrme, will go with Gen. Grant IN Whatever d
cision he may make. under the conscientio
conviction that In such a contingency he has
right, ~ the Executive of the nation, to dete
mine who is elected.
IF ACTUAL WAR
!. should occur between the two parties. and Pr.
ident Grant should lind 1t necessary to call
. volunteers to sustain him. l should not LOT
two hours in responding. l speak only for N
self, but l am sure that my opinion reflects Il
OF thousands OF those that followed myself u
d other Confederate officers. The southern p.
pie were grossly deceived in lSGl by the mort
ern democracy. They were led into . ruinO
war. which ended in their disfranchisem
= and Impeachment. Having been ~reinvrst
u ship, and having rebuilt their fallen fortunes
" : great extent. they are now i'll n state of col
p~arative prosperity and independence.
n opinion 10 that there is no desire for 4 n
:. strife. While the south is for IIlden, il has
desire to fight lor him, though he were elect
by = majority Of two millions OF votes.
TT THE SOUTH
,r 10 In no mood for armed CONFLICT. 1t has be
= engaged Tor eleven years i'll rehabilitating itse
and the result is Of the most gratifying chari
a. ter. Being devoted to the work OF material %
xress, IL will take II most extra, rlinary EN-
-. gency to excite 4 feeling for active participant
~ in = struggle Of politicians for control of
r government. The prize is really not wu
n. lighting for. This actual question in the ordil
:. ~ American political contest is. who can ch
- the most? The democrats stul Dallot-hoxss
Missouri u. the radicals do in Louisiana. I
has been exemplihed for several years. Til
~ 10 no such thing rs honesty IN party mana
mont, anu the fight for office is nothing but
unscrupulous struggle for the spoils which Il
IL be gathered IRON tho snces."
ma Continuing in this strain the General said t
events Vt our " state capital for several ye
nd had fully proven this There was the de
~ OF Gen. Blair. for instance. Blair. after a b
-, liant service in the Union army returue 10 y
~ souri,, anu devoted himself 10 the work Of Ii
~ ing the disfranchised rehsls reinvesiei with
,f privileges OF citizenship. lie succeeded in
- efforts, aud then became q candidate for Uni
' States senator before IL legislative body VIII
10. the ewly-euiranchiscd element had tie po'
NJ to decide in his favor. Bur tho henesciarie.
=. his liberal pslicy went back on him AMI cleo
y, Mr.. Rusy, whose only distinc ION was thai
lr. being the Must conspicuous ass IL tie I'm
la States senate. Not less Than $40. 900 had Il
distributed among varion, members Of The
H. islxturs to secure the defeat oil Gen. Blair.
TO was An exhibition Of in2laiiiude ON the pan
Of the ConielerAteS, and an ACT OF treac!Irry
Frank Blair. He was entitled 10 he eva AL
" u seat in the United State. A-natc.
ais In referring to the late effort to inlieacn |
ident Grant, Gen. Shelby raid II WAS the u
u, ridiculous prop Isition which had ever ,
=. preached in congress. he alluded especial.
ry the course of Congressman j. l.. Clark, OF !
in souri,. who displayed such all Undue anxiety
"a, the impeachment Of the president. THIS r
81" Clark was a brigadier-senelal III the COME
ces ate army, and il appeared
"A LITTLE ABSURD
To- TO Gen. Shelby that he should join an att-mI
impench the conquerOr of the rebellion. The
Oh tltuds OF Lamar on that subject, lie thought,
The the only one which commanded the genuine
m prevail CT the southern peop'e.
Gen. Shelby has no confidence in the inv
= eating committees which have been sent f,
mt. 10 accomplish anything. His idea - that
IN. committee is necessarily partisan, and tina
report Will be coiored 10 SUIT the party II re
Al srnts.
or Concerning the position that tls lower hou
he congress, in the event OF the employment OF
-. army to assist in the inauguration, should "
ION holI appropriations, he thought the idea
red really iinpractlcaDle. The popular lntsrea
r,- the issue of the presidential fight was No
strong that the people would indVrse II IN