Year: 1879

Thomas l.. Clingman, of North Carolina. was tenn
porarily stopping at the New York Hotel. HERALD
reporter called upon him there yesterday. About
sixty-seven years old. Of tall. spare figure.
erect as Indian chief, having hair
and beard of iron gray. which intensfes
his somewhat weather-beaten appearance the
ex-senator. or he is better known at home. Gen.
eral Chngman. may be regarded a venerable con-
Meeting link between the present and that era of the
past when the utterances of Southern statesmen
all potent in the councils Of the nation. Thirty
six years ago General Clingman was elected
from the Pine Tree State to the House
Of Representatives, where he continued to
sit for fourteen years. each time being
reelected independent candidate. In the
spring of 1883 he first appointed United States
Senator by the Governor of North Carolina and was
subsequently elected twice to the Upper House OF
Congress by the Legislature OF that State About
the time the war commenc ed he had entered upon
his second term as United States Senator but in the
early days of the struggle he offered his sword and
services to his native State He had four years Of
steady service in the Confederate army, the last
three OF which passed a general officer, and
with his brigade he participated in some hard fight
ing, receiving at various times six wounds, some of
which he still suffers from. He has not been cam
didate for any political Office since the closed


GENERAL cLINGMAN ON PARTIES.


Having been asked by the reporter in the course
OF conversation what he thought of the result of
the recent elections and also as to how the Grant
movement was progressing among the Southern
people. General Clngman replied as follows:-"1
have not been disappointed at all in the elections
this year. On the contrary. I told friends
last winter. and have repeated it from time
to time, that the republicans would carry
the elections in the Northern States this year. After
the commencement Of the panic the democrats could
have beaten the republicans as the wings did Mr..
Van Buren, in 1S40 on the hard times issue. They
neglected to do this however. and they failed to
make any earnest or united effort to re eieve
the country from its distress the people have
been disgusted with them and have been inclined to
leave them The democrats have also, during the
past been playing into the hands Of their oppo
nents. The republicans. seeing that they had lost
the confidence of the country by their bad civil gov
ernment. sought to their ground by reviving
the animosities Of the war. The people at the
North connect the in their minds with
the question of State rights. A horse that
has been badly frightened at any place. whom he
back to it will be startled with the futter of
bird. The democrats. very unfortunately for them
selves, accepted the banter of the republicans and
kept>up the debate the subject of State rights.
The elections of the past two years have made it evil
dent that neither of these parties has the confidence
and support Of the majority of the people
Of the United States. Last year eleven States





votes, threw heavy majorites against the republi-
cans. and with the solid Southern vote could have
beaten them Overwhelmingly. During the present
year the democracy have been disastrously beaten.
Both of these parties are to certain extent sectional
the North instead OF defending themselves they say
in effect, Though have done badly you had better
bear with US than let the rebels come in On the
other hand. in the South, when complained OF. the
democrats say, III you don't stand by us the radi-
Gals will get the control. You will be put under
military government and be plundered again. as you
-Daggers.
them Of the story of the old fox in the fable, with
replied to him. You had bettor stand
on ror a we you Wa ps va VIII ta
ligent people, both in the North and in lhe South,
that these parties are mere machines for keeping
certain in Office To that extent has 1t gone in
some places that respectable gentleman told me in
North Carolina some time ago that he had been ear
organized to elect certain individual to Office.


SOUTHERN OPINION OF GENERAL GRANT.


in the Souths"


..There two causes for it. First. general dis
content and desire for change have something to
do with it; second people in the South generally
believe that Grant would be more liberal as o Pres
dent than such men as Blaine. Sherman or Conk-
ling. who, to strengthen themselves in the
North, are constantly repeating malignant calumnies
against the southern people. Both parties in the
South complain of the manner in which they are
treated by their associates i'll the North. Though
majority of the Southern States voted for Grant in
both his elections, yet the Southern republicans
complain that they are ignored and snubbed by
their associates in the North. In fact, Northern
sent into North Carolina now to nll
many of the best local offices, though the
natives are very anxious to occupy them. The
Southern democrats have similar grounds Of COM
plant. The course of the republican party in the
North has made the democratic party also sectional
in its action. Though Tilden expected to get ma
self in the North he deemed it necessary to
write letter. especially against Southern
claims. Any other candidate would have said
in former tunes that he would oppose unjust claims
and pay honest ones. But southern claims were to
be rejected without reference to justice. promi-
nent Northern democratic member of Congress told
me- that he would have been beaten In his district IL
Tilden had not written that letter. Again:
the Capitol at Washington. they could not
mocracy is like that of who is asked to enter
partnership and contribute his full share OF money.
but is told that he enter the psrlor din
ing room. but eat in the kitchen and sleep in the
cellar. Though very few Southern men are really
with parties that ashamed of their association.


NEW PARTY PROPOSED.


81 am satisfied, continued the General, "that
large majority of tho people OF the South would be
willing to enter into fair and liberal new national
organization At present We are in slack water but
there will be movement of the waters ere long, aud
the current will probably prove strong There
Is. however. in the minds of men at present an
indisposition to commit themselves to any partic-
ular candidate. They think that
wise one who determined not to the bridge
until he got to 1t. / mean to say, however, that
majority ready for something new. and that they
will look anxiously to the pents of the next
SIX months. In this connection l may have some
thing important to communicate to the HERALD at
an early day."


"Do you think that majority of the Southern
people would accept General Grant as candidateY'


while the Southern people not L think, set
tied as to any particular candidate-as their para
mount desire Is to get good government, peace and
quiet for the whole country-they will be prepared
to support such candidates may seem most likely
to promote that end. What is desirable il that
We have national parties that may be maintained
in all the States. When thirty-six years
ago I first member of Congress my
speeches were well received i'll the whig
States of Vermont and Massachusetts, as they
were in my own district. One day, when dining
with Senator Davis known as Honest John) OF
Massachusetts, he said to ne:-I cannot satisfy my
people with that speech of yours. / have already
sent home thousand copies and they are writ
ing for more would like to q similar state of
things rs when there sectionalism in our
politics"


swnat truth is there in the reports that the elec-
tions carried unfairly in the Southg'


'I think there is little IL any ground for general