The daily gazette., 1878-05-18
Cnssius M. Clay Speaks.
THE MEN ELECTED SHOULD HAVE BEEN
sEATED-No CIVIL WAR
ANTICIPATED,


Although 1t is nearly ten years since
the Hon. CAssius NJ. Clay visited New
ork, lie seems to have aged bu. little.
His beard and mIsiache, close cut, are
white now, and his hair, although abun-
dan', Is very gray. But as lie stood in
the parlor Of the Rossmore Hotel, last
evening, receiving a few friends, his
step was firm and his carriage as erect as
they used TO be In the old days, when he
faced angry and dangerous throngs and
TALKED 10 them about slavery as no other
man ever did and live. Occasionally, as
lie chatted, his eyes lighted up with that
remarkable expression which was noticed
by every one who heard him in the anti
slavery days but his voice was soft,
though decided i'll tone, as he referred
10 that stolen Presidency.
81 am here only on a little private
business" he said, sand 60 hence to ST.
Louis to deliver lecture on Commerce.
by invitation of many of the prominent
men there"
ado you still take an active interest in
politics, MIR. Clay ?''
IAN active interest ?-yes. An ac-
tive part, no."
"You have very decided views regard
Ing MIR. Tilden's election TO the Presi-
dency ?"
~ certainly believe that he was elect
ed-elected equitably and legally. His
lawful majority In the Electoral College
was just as certain as his undisputed
majority ofthe popular VOTE"
"lou thought that he should have
been seated ?"
"Not only should have been, but could
hav. been. l believed that, having a
clear, legal majority Of the electoral vote
Congress should have proceeded to act
constitutionaliy and declare him elected.
presided over a convention in my own
State and framed resolution to that
effect. 1t was the constitutional duty
of Congress to declare him elected who
was elected"
"Iou did not anticipate civil war, had
this been done ?'
"No. Had the Democrats insisted and
stood their ground, Mr.. Tilden would
have been seated. Grant would not
have fired gun. The Repu ublican party
would have opposed revolution, for il
held the bonds, much of The CAPITA, aud
controlled largely the business enter
prises that would have been prostrated
by war"
Il hen why did the Democrats quail?"
81 don't think that it was the result OF
any bargain, but more on account of the
timidity of the Northern Democrats.
The Southern Democrats did not wish
to take The initiative. 1t would have
been thrown at them. But, had the
Northern Democrats stood firm, Tilden
would have been seated"
"You opposed the Electoral Commits
sion?"
Il did, thoroughly. l thought it was
gambling game"
Sand your opinion of redress now
is"
"Well, Hayes has given us of the South
fore l say TO our people that, having got
what they want from Hayes, they
should not now toss him back into the
hands of Cameron and Conkling for
them to handle. Besides, L think that
they agreed TO stand by the game of
chance, and i'll good faith ought TO do so.
His policy has made the South strong and
peaceful. expect to see the country
governed by Southern men and influence
largely, now that our troubles have beeh
resumed, because we are more homogen-
eous that The people of the North. We
have no Jacobinism there. Men follow
an issue more compactly, while at the
North they are divided into factions, par
ties and schisms. But l regard all this
talk about North and South as out OF
place. We are Of one country. don't
know any sectionalism, excepting US l
am called upon to defend my own peo-
ple."