National Republican., 1883-10-23
EX-SENATOR THURMAN.
He Thinks 1t Wrong to Rail at tho Supreme
Court on Account Of the Civil Rights Case.
Not Being n Candidate, He Declines TO Dis
cuss Presidential Possibilities.

Ex-senator Allan G.. Thurman is stopping
at the Ebbtt house for q few days. waiting
for a case which ho is to argue in the supreme
court TO be called. His old friends call upon
him there. Last evening, when a reporter of
THE REPUBLICAN went to see the senator,
he found Judge Bartley and Mr.. Phillips in
his parlor. Their talk was about the pro-
fession Of which all three are distinguished
members, about politics, and about old ac-
quantauces.
81 don't practice except in tho supreme
court now" said Judge Bartley.
"Neither do l." said the senator. "Men
of our age, judge, can't go into general prac-
tco like the young fellows j havo never
done IL since | came off the bench; but occa-
sionally some man thinks haven't forgotten
all ever knew about law yet, and wants me
to argue q case for him. That's why am here
now"
After more desultory chat about the court
the reporter suggested that the senator must
have pretty good recollection of the origin
of the civil rights bill which the supreme
court has Just upset.
al ought to have" said the senator, "and
If any man will read the speech which made
against IL he will SEQ pretty clearly what
thought about it at the time. / have never
seen the speech since, for / don't make
practice of keeping my speeches. l suppose
could find it by looking over the old Con-
greSSiOndl Record or Globe, whichever it was
in. / mean to look it up after get tho full
decision of the court and compare them. l
never had anyadoubt but that the act was un-
constitutional, and it is absurd and shameful
to rail at the court as they are doing about it.
The court decided according to the law. But
they began railing at the court good many
years ago, when Judge Taney gavo the decis-
fptnt IN thaD rn1 GpAt l,afp cot tl.Na
ample, and they have rallied at the court ever
since"
How will the decision affect the colored
vote?"
- don't believe it will make much differ
ence. There is stir about it now, but it
will soon be over The negro has got just as
many rights now as the white man. That
bill proposed to give him more, and don't
believe but that white man is entitled to
just as many rights as q negro. OF course
there are negroes, and white men too, who
will try to take advantage of this thing to
give themselves notoriety. They will as
sumo to lead the negroes and try to make
something for themselves out of it, but it
won't amount to anything"
" Then you don't believe that there will be
any effort made TO pass n constitutional
amendment to cover the case?'
" don't believe it. For my part can
hardly see how such an amendment could be
framed 1t would be q very difficult thing"
There appears to have been quite polit-
ical change in Ohio" suggested Mr.. Phillips.
The senator's face wore q very pleasant
smile as he put tho tips of the fingers of one
hand against tho tips of tho fingers of the
other, and answered Yes; il seemed as well
to do it thoroughly while we were doing it.
1t was only n question as to whether tho old
hardshells would support Hoadly, and it
looked rather doubtful until about three
weeks before the election. Then the repub-
lcans made some of the most outrageous per-
sonal attacks upon him-threw mud at him
and that settled it. The old fellows turned
in and elected him without any difficulty"
ut seemed to me-" said Mr.. Phillips, that
two things served to make the result of that
contest what it was-the determination of
they considered their right to drink beer un-
disturbed and their right to enjoy Sunday as
a day of pleasure and rejoicing after their de-
votional exercises were over They would
not have it Jewish Sabbath"
Those things may have had something tC
do with it," said the senator, "but the truth
is / firmly believe that the people were tired
of republican rule. After a quarter of n cen.
tury of it nearly they wanted d change"
To question concerning the senatorial
fight, the old statesman replied:
VI have nothing to say aboutit. leave that
all to the younger men. am simply private
citizen, out of public life altogether, and there
is no public Office that want or would take.
But will they let you remain private
citizen?"
81 don't see how they can help it, If man
really wants to get out of public life he car
do it,"
Have you seen the suggestion recently pub
lished that you would bo the next demo
cratic candidate for president, and would bC
eected?"
Yes, have seen it, and / can't imagine
who the man is who is so foolish rs to max,
such a suggestion. 1t is quite ridiculous thi.
hunting around for candidates, but | suppose
they must say something"
But you are, of course, interested in tn,
next campaignW
Certainly l. am, as II citizen and demo
crat, but don't want to be interviewed abou
the candidates"
1t seemed that the senator might we'll re
fuse to be interviewed upon that or any othcl
subject He is q great sufferer from rheuma
tism and from an arm that was broken somC
months ago. Notwithstanding this he an
swered questions with the utmost courtes,
and good nature