The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-12
THE SUCCESSION.
CHANT DECLARES HIMSELF ron
CONkLtNE.
interview Between the President ana "a
ao:Orfd Congressman.

Go'ored Congressman.
A few days ago Washington special
to the DEMOCRAT announced that GEN
Grant in an interview with Jere Hatal-
son. u negro Congressman from Ala
| bama, had declared himself for Conlt-
ling. In the New York HeraH Of the
9Th, we find the following report Of the
! interview
| Among the six colored men who stood
! by the President in the House on the
third term resolution was Jere Haral-
son, OF Selma. Ala. Representative from
the First District Of that State. Mr..
HARRISON, according to his official biog-
raphy, was born a slave in Georgia in
1916, and on the death of his first muster
was sold on the auction block and sub
sequentIy taken to Alabama Becoming
free in 1865 he educated himself, was
twice elected TO the State Legislature,
and in 1874 was elected to the present
Congress. Every square inch on his
back shows the scars Of the whip Of his
! slavery days.
Mr. HARRISON called on the President
and, notwithstanding his illness, was
cordially invited to u conference. He
went chiefly to talk over the matter Of
the Republican officials in his district,
and referred principally to the removal
OF Colonel Wichersham, the postmaster
at Mobile. He then commenced. at the
instance Of the President, to talk freely
OF the condition Of affairs in the South
and as to how it would go in the next
Presidential campaign
Mr.. HARRISON avowed himself to the
President n rong Grant man and went
on to explain that the people Of his
State We're very much divided up be
tween Bristow, Morton and Conkling,
and since the recent decision Of the
Supreme Court on the enforcement act
the colored people were very much
staggered and did not know what to do
as the Democratic Southern papers
billsl" 'tNo more Niger voting" ''No
more military rule as q Republican
Supreme Court had decided upon it.
The President was very much inter
ested and was exceedingly stirred up
and manifested his feelings quite i'm
pressively to Mr. HARRISON The Presi-
dent said that Mr.. Morton was q very
good Republican and very strong man,
but Mr. Conkling was also strong man
and had always been upright and con
sistent, as well as never having had his
reputation assailed in any way. The
CATION from his State would 90, and for
answered he could not really say; that
Mr. Morton was very highly thought OF,
and 50 was Mr.. Conkling, as we'll as Mr.
Bristow but the colored people would
not think of Mr. Blaine.
The President reiterated bis convie-
ton that Mr.. Conkling would make an
excellent President, and Mr.. HARRISON
said to him, ''Why Mr. President, are
you going to electioneer for him?"
FHI .ia hn cif in
swer that he was decidedly in favor Of
Mr.. Conkling, as he thought he would
make the strongest Republican candi-
date.
Mr.. Harrison went on to say that,
having Just returned from his State, he
could say that there was 81 preference
for Bristow, because the old Whig ele-
ment, who did not like the Democratic
leaders, said that Though Mr. Bristow
had fought in the Union army, yet he
was Southern man, and would
be more favorable to the
South" Besides this the colored
people were set seriously to thinking
how they would be affected in their sur
rouudingS by sustaining Radical can
didate, and they were impressed that
there might be a question Of policy for
them to vote for that Republican candi
date who would arouse the least ami
The decision of the Supreme Court on =
the enforcement act ought to be eX-
planned by the judges or in some way,
for it was all rnispTesented TO and mis-
by the colOred people now,
and they did not know what to do.
The President was still deeply inter
estcd and signified that he would do all
in his power to encourage and protect
the colored people. He would not make
the removal contemplated which was
pressed by Senator Spencer, unless
there were some charges against HIM.
The interview closed just as Mr.. Har-
Alison was getting to the most important
part OF the consultation, in reference 10
the future Of the Southern States, but
it is to be resumed at the desire Of the
President, in a few days, when, Mr.. Har-
Alison saws, on account of the very Sc
rious aspect Of the destiny OF the South,
he is desirOu5 Of going over the whole
matter, as he has found the President,
to his surprise, 50 deeply interested and
willing to know and provide for emer-
gencie5.
Mr.. HARRISON spoke in very cautious
and measured, but extremely intelligcn
manner, through the whole Interview,
and was extremely pleased WIN the
Presidents willingness to listen 10 MN
and the avidity with which ne received
the ordinations made to him. Mr.
HaraIs6n also says that if President
Grant is. as he avowT himself, for
ConkIing for next President, OF course
il will give Conkling great strength
Senator Conkling, he says, Is looked
upon among his people as the second
Grant.
Josh Billings observes: 'Sekrets are
L. VI rIF.sr