The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-08-21
Going to Cru~l president johnson.

table an aristocracy rs exists in Great
Britain.
Going TO Crush President Johnson.
The Hon. J. NJ. Ashley, member Of
Congress from Ohio, and Chairman Of the
House Committee On Territories. is now
on his way 10 Oregon and the adjoining
Territories on official business. 1t may
be interesting to our readers to know his
views on the leading topics of the day.
We find the following in the Toledo (Ohio)
Commercial of June Sth, in regard to
Mr.. Ashly
Yesterday the Hon. J. NJ. Ashley took
his departure from this city for Il prolong-
ed visit to theTerritories. first going to
Virginia City, and thence in succession
To other portions Of those rich and inter-
testing regions. On Tuesday night Il
meeting Of the honorable eentlemau's
friends ard supporters was imlroviset! Cor
the purpose of bidding him God speed in
his new undertaking.. aud interchangine
with him counsel and advice a4 Ia their
future political action. After some time
spent in social converse, Mr.. Ashly, ii
obedience 10 the expressed desire OF his
friends. proceeded TO formally address
them. He said
| recently went to Washington
lat my vi expense. of course, as | have
always @one-to present what | conceive
are the views uf the earnest men Of the
couutrytotle President. lnthe interview
which | had with him-with other gen
ltlemtn-and m interview with him alone
II formed the belief that the President
desires earnestly to carry out the wishes
of the Union men Of the country. | ask
ed him to withdraw the Amnesty Procla-
nation of Mr.. Lincoln, so that the releEs
who had committed treason since It's issue
should not have the benefit Of its prom
ises or provisions. | asked him to with
draw it So that these rebels could not de-
mand, as of right. the benefit of that
proclamation. | asked him to do 50 be
cause | believe that no Executive officer
he's the power of issuing a pardon in adj
vance Of the crime To any one. We sue
ceeded. Every condition the earnest men
asked for was put INFO the new proclama-
tion. Upon only one question did we
differ. and that was on the question
whether. upon the reconstruction or reer-
ganization OF the rebel governments. the
eolored soldier and colored loyal citizen
should be allowed to vote or whether
because of the coior Of their skin they
were to he excluded from this privilege.
While protesting TO desire. in his inter.
view with Us that all men should vote.
without distinction Of color the President
embarrassed himself and us with this idcl
that the States which had been in re-
bellian are still States-or. in other words,
that the governments oF these States
were not Destroyed, but were only in ahey.
ance, and that when the rebellion was
suppressed or the laws and Constitution
revived neither he nor Congress had any
authority to prescribe the qualification oi
electors in those States. / replied to him
ty saving that while | had no disposition
10 press any theory of my own-willina
as | was to subordinate any such theories
to the accomplishment of the great pur.
pose in view-l said 10 him frankly. tina
this decision was a~ntagenistic to three de
%oisions made by the Supreme Ceurt-one
by Chief Justice fancy, and the Other
by Chief Justice Chase. ] said to hin
according to the dicta of these Judge,
that he could as readily enfranchise tn,
black man as d~istranchise the white. foI
that under the Consultation. or any Law
Of Congress, he had nopower but the mil
itary power to say who should or shoult
not vote at the preliminary elections fol
reconstruotion-that if he could exclude
one man as a voter under the Constitution
be could exclude ten thousand. and tina.
if he could admit any man to vote h,
could admit all loyal men without re
gard to color. | need not tell you wha
the answer was to that | merely said t,
him that the Anti-SIayery party had de
stroyed the old Wing and Democratic
parties-that the wrecks Of these parties
are now scattered and strewn along thu
political coast-and that we intended
under God, to crush any party or any MAJ
who stood up against the universal enfran
chisement Of the country. x Z y