Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-28
THE POLICY AND PURPOSES OF THE
PRESIDENT.

The declarations made by the President to
IIajor Stearns, recently, have greatly reassured
the masses, whatever may be thought of them
by the politicians. And the sentiments enun-
ciated at that interview and authorized to be
given to the public, are no more than such as
all reasonable men must have supposed to in
huencc him, when is considered his course
since his elevation to the Executive chair.
We also had q conversation with the Presi-
dent, some three months ago, much after the
same manner, although on a different class of
topics; and although his declarations were
considered by us as important and well calcu-
lated to reasSure the doubling and the timid,
yet we had no intention, and did not feel at
liberty, at the time, to commit them to print,
although eminently satisfactory to ourselves as
convincing us that he was on the right course
But since the good effects Of recording the late
conversation have been seen, perhaps it may
not be amiss in us to take the liberty of giving
oar readers the results of some Of the points
made at the interview in questions; perhaps
those who still fear that matters may not 90
right, may be finally convinced that in the
President, the country has indeed q public
officer capable not only of indicating his own
honor and consistency, but further, capable Of
taking care of the honor and interests of the
country as well.
The fact is not to be concealed, that the one
great subject of measiness to the real cham
piOns Of the Union since the late terrible con-
fct, has been, that the President as life
long Democrat, one measurably identified for
the greater portion of his political career with
that Southern party which so long controlled
the destinies Of this country, would naturally
drift into his old relationships with them;
would, in fact from his former connection
with them, and as a supporter in the former
canvass for the Presidency of John C. Breck-
inridge, favor. revival of the alliance be-
twiXt the Northern and Southern Democ-
racy; those factions, one of which brought on
the war, and the other did so much to prolong
it. At the interview in question, we reminded
him that this was the public view of the case;
of its possibilities, at least; view which to
those who did not know him personally as
patriotic and very determined in his purposes,
was calculated to unsettle the public conf
dence, and prevent a return to that condition
of quiet so essential to the happiness and pros
perity of the country.
We reminded him, further-that from his
antccedents, his lifelong affnities for the
working classes, his always ready champion
ship Of what the Southern arstocracy hated as
'plebian," his opposition in his last canvass
for the Guberatorial chair of Tennessee to
the 'two-ffths clause,n and his Homestead
BILL so earnestly advocated in Congress.
that Tor all this, no prominent man in the
South was more thoroughly hated and dis
trusted by that aristocracy of the Calhoun
school who set the revolution on foot:-that
whoever might be forgiven and taken into
favor and alliance by them cordially and
in good faith he would not be; and that
therefore, as wise and far seeing statesman,
as one who was accredited by all who were
best acquainted with him, as sagacious and
patriotic it was impossible that he could de-
pend upon an alliance with such, to the slight
ing of that great and progressive National
party, which in re-electing Mr.. Lincoln and
electing himself, had saved the country-had
preserved the Union. Committed to the OPP
position of revolutionary schemes irrevocably
by his great speech in the Senate Of the United
States in December, 1861, he had no alterna-
tive-we continued-but to maintain those
positions which had incurred for him the last
ing opposition of the men whose schemes he
then denounced and had since done so much
to thwart: and that if, forgetting all this. he
were-from any cause-to commit his politi-
cal fortunes and those of the country to their
hands, they would at the first opportunity be-
tray him, after he had served their purposes in
dividing or defeating the great Union party.
the only true reliance of the country.
To all this, the President repled-that ut
terly regardless of consequences to himself,
he should continue to consult what he deemed
the best interests of the country; that we might
rely upon lt-that no set Of men could use him:
that his course in preserving to the States
their rights in pronouncing on the malifca-
ton OF voters, was imperative on him; and
That so Tar as that was IN dispute he might as
well be expected to interfere in restricting the
vote OF a State where it was likely to interfere
with his wishes or purposes, as to extend
1t IN the manner desired by some. He
was Tor maintaining the Constitution in
every particular where it could be done. at a
time when attempts at revolution had strained
Its provisions in many cases to undue limits.
that he must proceed slowly and cautiously in
the condition to which the country had arrived.
II matters were to be placed upon secure
basis, and one which would be finally salts
factory to all.
10 US, at least, earnestly DESTROYS of not
seeing the sacrifices made by the country
thrown away even in part, the conversation
thus had with the President was eminentlv
satisfactory; and at the time we took occasion
to mention our impressions, without feeling
at liberty to go into details) to manv friends
who were subjects of doubt, who were for tho
time uneasy at the seeming tendency of events
revelations however, day by day, show that
the liberal minded, the patriotic have little
to fear lest the policy of the President should
not be all that could be desired; and if there
areas there always will be-mere devoteas
of party, ultras of various schools who are
still dissatisfied, the masses of those who have
stood by each other, and up to the present
time, by the President, in endeavoring to pre-
serve the Union, will, we think, have NOTHING
to regret; but on the contrary, will have the
best reasons to congratulate themselves at the
permanent reconciliation that is taking place
on the basis of restored Union.
EDGAR ALLAN POE.