Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-09-08
Important and Interesting Interview
Judge Mills Visits the President,
Sir. Line0ln's Views of the Democratic P0liey


count of a recent interview with Mr. LIN
COLIN, with report Of the remarks of the lat
ter IN regard TO the consequence which
would follow the adoption of the war policy
urged by the friends Of Gen. MCCLELLAN.
Judge MILLS was accompanied by ex-Gov.
RANDALL, Of this State, who introduced him
to the President, and whom he warmly thanks
for his readiness to serve his friends from
Wisconsin at the capital. They found the
President at the Soldiers Retreat, "a building
not imposing in size, half hidden in foliage,
the grounds tastefully laid out"
The following is Judge Mills account of
his interview with the President what he
said, and his impression Of Mr. LINCOLN:
The Governor asked of a man in waiting if
the President had arrived. eyes," was the
reply. We entered a neat plainly furnished
room. A marble table was in the centre
ment, tall, gaunt looking figure, shoulders
inclined forward, his gait astride, rapid and
shutting, ample understandings with large
slippers, and Briarian arms, with face radi-
ant with intelligence and humor.
The Governor addressed him: 'Mr Presi-
den, this is my friend and your friend. Mills
from Wisconsin"
81 am glad to see my friends from Wiscon-
SIM they are the hearty friends of the
Union"
81 could not leave the city, Mr.. President,
without hearing words of cheer from YOUR
own lips. Upon you, as the representative of
the loyal people, depend, as we believe, the
existence of our government and the future
of America" This introduced political to-
pics.
{" Mr.. President" said Governor Randall,
'w why can't you seek seclusion, and play her
nit tor d fortnight? it would re-invigorate
you"
Aye" said the President, "two or three
weeks would do me no good. | can not fly
from my thoughts-my solicitude for this
great country follows me wherever l 90. |
don't think it is personal vanity or ambition,
| though | am not free from these infrmities,
but cannot but feel that the veal or woe of
this great nation will be decided in Novem-
| Der. There is no programme offered by any
| wing of the democratic party but that must
result in the permanent destruction of the
| Union"
"But, Mr. President, General Mcclellan is
| in favor Of crushing out the rebellion by
force. He will be the Chicago candidate"
Sir" said the President, the slightest
knowledge OF Arithmetic will Prove to any
| man that the rebel armies cannot be DESTROY
ed with democratic strategy. 1t would sacri-
| flee all the white men of the north to do it.
| There are now in the service of the United
States near 100000 able bodied colored men,
| most of them under arms, defending and
| acquiring Union territory. The democratic
strategy demands that these forces be dis
| banded, and that the masters be conciiated
| by restoring them to slavery. The black
men who now assist Union prisoners to escape,
they are to be converted into our enemies in
the vain hope of gaining the good will of
their masters. We shall have to fight two
| nations instead of one.
| "You cannot conciliate the South if you
guarantee to them ultimate success; and the
experience of the present war proves their
| success is inevitable if you fling the compul
| sorry labor of millions of black men into then
| side of the scale. Will you give our enemies
| such military advantages as ensure success
and then depend on coaxing, fattery and con.
| cessiOn to get them back into the Union
Abandon all the posts now garrisoned by
black men; take 100000 men from our side
and put them in the battle field, or corn field
against US, and we would be compelled to
| abandon the war i'll three weeks.
owe have to hold territory in incement
and sickly places; where are the democrats
to do this: 1t was free fight, and the field
was open to the war democrats to put down
this rebellion by fighting against both master
and slave, long before the present policy was
inauguratcd.
| "There have been men base enough to
propose to me to return to slavery the black
warriors of Port Hudson and Olustee, and
thus win the respect of the masters they
| fought Should | do so, | should deserve to
be damned in time and eternity. Come what
will l will keep my faith with friend and foe
| My enemies pretend L am now carrying on
this war for the sole purpose of abolition
| So long as | am President, 1t shall be carried
on tor the sole purpose Of restoring the Union.-
| But no human poscer can Subdue this rebellion
ocittout The use Of the emancipation policy, and
e0ery OTHER policy calculated to acecket the moral
and physical forces Of the rebellion.
Freedom has given US 900 men raised
on southern soil. 1t will give US more vet.
just so much it has subtracted from the enc
my, and instead of alternating the South.
| there are now evidences Of fraternal feel
ing growing up between our men and the
rank and file of the rebel soldiers. Let nv
Fstruction of slavery is not necessary to a res
toration of the Union. l will abide the is
sue"
L saw that the President was not a mere
joker, but man of deep convictions, of abid-
| ing faith in justice, truth and Providence
His voice was pleasant, his manner earnest
| and emphatic. AS he warmed with his theme
his mind grew to the magnitude of his body.
| felt | was in the presence of the great,
guiding intellect of his age, and that those
"huge Atlantean shoulders were fit to bear
! the weight of mightiest monarchies." His
| transparent honesty, republican simplicity
| his gushing sympathy for those who offered
| their lives for their country, his utter forget
fulness of self in his concern for its welfare,
could not but inspire me with confidence that
he was Heavens instrument to conduct His
| people through this sea of blood to Canaan
| OF peace and FIRE dom. j. 7. MILLS.
FIRST WISCONSIN CAvALRY.-This noble
regiment was at Gainesville, Ca, guarding
the line of railroad from Chattanooga to At
lanta, on the 22d ult. After the McCook
raid, III which the regiment suffered severely
IN the loss of officers, it was ordered back
from the front to Gainesville, to rest and re-
cruIt the men and horses, at which place
they were gladdened by the return from can
tlvity of their gallant Colonel, o. H. LA
GRANGE, than whom 10 officer is more de-
servedly popular with both officers and men.
In letter written since rejoining the regi-
ment Col L. says: " In reviewing the opera
lions OF the summers campaign, while we are
called upon to mourn the loss of most valua-
bic officers, there is melancholy pleasure in
| 49, Al