The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-29

Axp MEET HIS TRADucen5 rvvru.t. spEAKs
IxrgRyTEw IN WHICH Ih. u. I'm prur 10
At LENGTH As TO HIS PRIVATE ~"
CAREER. 49,.
az Atlanta Constitution OF ThursdsyJ.
.,....,cb was received ut this office on
Yesterday from General oos u,,u,, ," n;oht
would reach Atlanta on neAs .mn,,id mai.
He also telegraphed tnat NC "v ,,'a nsonis
~ nsarrs. and Discus face to lace Win
~. ~ sonia the issues that have grown OUT
w nc ~. rasIonstiou. We shall be able TO pup
H. vsh Tho irst of these appointments by sun
a. rorn,ng. We publish In the mean
time an interview with General Gordon'
furnished by our Washington correspond
ent: ,,vcru
WASHINGTON, May 25.-"Genera', you,
resignation seems not only 10 nave eauseu
universal regret among all parties al over
the Union, but universal surprise a,so.
"You are mistaken" said ne, "aoout ,nc
surprise being universal. Many Oh my III
innate friends have known OF my uis'hon-
nation for public life and Oh my purpose "
resign for long time"
al see the Graphic and some other pa
pers, while expressing higb regard ior you,
seem 10 be under the. impression that you
loved politics us profession"
LIPE OF A SENATOR NOT HAPPY ONE.
General Gordon replied: "a similar mis-
take was made about me during the war, as
10 nv love OF soldiers life. fhaye an ar
dent temperament aud an intense love Tor
the South, and when IN her service, whether
In war or in peace, have cODsecrated TO ner
all the talents which God has bestowed upon
me. and that, too, without one lurking
thought of self. But am more devoted 10
domestic life, and take more pleasure In the
love and happiness OF my wife and chlldren
than in all the honors that can be gathered IN
political life. Yes, sir there are hundreds
in Georgia and elsewhere VINO know that re-
tirement to private life has been cherished
purpose with me, and who will recognize
IN my resignation the contamination oil That
purpose. Ny life OF senator has been one OF
great labor and anxiety. Twice since the
people Of Georgia so generously placed me
in this high office have its labors almost
cost me my life. Once, after the terrible
ordeal through which passed In Columbia,
s. G., in 1876, sitting often until O'Clock
I'm the morning in order to counsel with
friends and prevent collision, which
would have brought ruin to that people, II
not to the whole South. On my return TO
Washington l was completely Frustrated;
but l still labored on, and remained IN
Washington more than month after adj
tournament, at the request OF that grand
man Governor Hampton, and OF friends in
Louisiana, working for the release OF those
States from military domination. Again,
the winter before last was stricken down
the very day OF the adjournment. The fact
is that though l look vigorous and strong,
am not so. NY wounds received in war
would have shattered constitution OF iron,
and they, with the constant work and trials
1 have done and gone through with here
have told upon my health and spirits. am
no longer a candidate for office, and cannot
be supposed to refer TO these in any spirit
OF popularity hunting. The whole case is
this: | love my home and my family, and
am forced to neglect the one and do inius-
tice 10 the other rs long as | remain in pub
lie life"
PECUNIARY CONSIDERATIONS.
"Do | understand you, General, as Civ
ing these as the reasons OF your retire
ment?"
"Yes, il you add the pressing and in
creasiDg pecuniary demands made upon
me, and my decreasing ability to meet
them. II bad fortune, this life, OF course,
would be much more agreeable; but TO
man sustaining the relations l do to the
southern people, he must. in order TO re-
main in the Senate, have large purse or
very small heart"
81 can very well see good reasons for
your decision, but the thing that seems to
impress some people as strange Is the sud-
denpess OF your determination" queried
your correspondent.
"Yes," replied General Gordon,
know, but in this you and all others who
think so are also mistaken. As said IN
nv letter OF resignation, IL is but carrying
into execution Iong-setted purpose; and
as I said TO you awhile ago, my purpose
neighbors, TO many OF my relations, and to
some OF my intimate friends in the Senate"
THE SURRENDERED SALARY.
"But, General" asked, "wby did you
not hold on to the end OF the session and
draw your salary as senator until the Legis-
laturc metz"
General Gordon quickly answered. " Sim
ply because could not postpone the busi-
ness arrangements that long. Governor
CoIquilt begged Inc to do so, but could
not"
"Hsve you any objection TO stating the
nature OF the business arrangement alluded
to?''
"Certsinly not. 1t is that OF general
counsel for the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad Company"
al infer, then, that you intend to return
to the practice Of lawf".
81 think / will, and if | do expect to
work Just us energetically as lawyer and
and to try and he as successful there as j
have been soldier or politician"
ANONYMOUS ASSAULTS.
At this point / asked il General Gordon
had seen the interview with General
ToOmbs and others, and the anonymous as
saults made upon him.
The General said "No," and then took a
paper, read through the whole Of them, and
then said, as he paced the floor:
"Thls is all ungenerous and unjust. 1t
\ the Misrepresentation and traduction
which my best acts have invariably met in
some quarters while was In public life,
and which are now employed to deiame me
as / retire from it. They will produce no
permanent impression upon the people OF
Georgia. They know me, and | know The
authors OF these attacks too WE'LL"
81 see that some OF these critics seem to
think you ought to have remained here at
any cost"
"Yes, it was my duty as long as the South
was in danger. Now. however, the South
is restored and the great object l had in POI
litical life Is attained. Besides, believe |
can be OF as great service to the people in
the capacity OF private citizen as in public
office, and certainly greatly promote the iu-
terests Of my family
81 infer from your last remark that it IL
not your purpose to cease to take interest
in public affars!"