The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-06-29
Thursday Morning, june 80, 1865.
The President Visited by the South Caro-
lima Delegation. .llii.
"PLAIN TALK BY THE pREsIDENr.
South Carolina soiu Accept the Presidents
Conditions. Nv


WASHINGTON, June "a. The South Caro-.
lima delegation had an interview with the
President this afternoon by appointment. The
President said it was his intention 10 talk
plainly, SO there might be no misunderstood.
ing; therefore 1t were better they should
look each other iull in the face, and not imis
tate The ancient augurs, who, when they met
one another, would smile at their success In
decieVing the people, He said If this Union
was to be preserved, it must be on The princi-
pie OF fraternity, both the Northern and
Southern States maintaining certain rela-
lions to the Government. a State cannot go
out OF the Union, and therefore none of them
having gone out, we must deal with the ques
ton Of restoration, and not reconstruction. He
suspected he was a better State rights man
than some OF those now present. ~
Mr.Hoimes-You always claimed to be-.
Laughter.
The President replied that y he always
thought slavery could not be sustained out
side OF the Constitution of the United States,
and that whenever the experiment was made
1t would elost. Whether 1t could or could
not, he was for the Union, and il slavery set
itself up to control the Government, the Gov
eminent must triumph and slavery PERISH
The Institution oi slavery made the issue, and
we might as well meet it, like wise, patriotic
and honest men. All institutions must be
subordinate TO the Government, and slavery
has given way. He could NOT, ii he would re-
mandit to its former status. He knew that
some whom he addressed looked upon him
as great peoples man and radical, but how
ever unpleasant it might be to them, he had
no hesitation in saying that before and after
he entered public life he was opposed to mo
nopolies, and perpetuiies and entails. For
this heiused to be denounced as demagogue.
We had monopoly South in slaves. Though
he had bought and held slaves, he had never
sold one. ts,a ~ -.,sfs s-aefsais
From Magma Charta we had derived our
ideas of freedom of speech, liberty Of the
press aud unreasonable searches, that private
property should not be taken for public suses
without just compensation. He had these no
tions fixed in his mind and was therefore op-
posed to class legislation. Being pTovidentiak
ly brought to his present condition, he intend
ed 10 exert the power and influence of the
Government so as to place In power the pop
ular heart OF this nation. He proceeded ON
the principle u at the great masses are not the
mushrooms about stump which wet weather
supplies. He believed that this nation was
sent on great mission, to afford an example
oi freedom and substantial happiness to all
the powers Of earth. mob
The Constitution of the United States, in
speaking of persons to be chosen as represen-
tatives in Congress, says that the electors in
each State shall have the qualification requisite
for electors OF the most numerous branch Of
the State Legislature. Here we find q res !
ing place. This was tine point at which the
rebellion commenced. All the States were III
the Union moving in harmony, but portion
of them rebelled and to some extent suspend
ed and paralyzed the operations of their gov
ernmehts.
There is constitutional obligation resting
upon the United States Government to put
down rebellion, suppress insurrection and to
II - s.-A- H.. Il.
as slaves and came out freemen of color. Tie
friction of the rebellion has rubbed out the ma
ture and character of slavery.
The loyal men, who were compelled to bow
and submit to the rebellion, should now that
the rebellion is ended, etand equal to loyal
men every where; hence the wish Of restora-
tion and the trying to get back the States to
the point in which they formerly moved In
perfect harmony. He did not intend to serve
any particular lclaim or interest. He would
say 10 the delegation that slavery is gone as
an institution. There was no hope that the
people of South Carolina would be admitted
into the Senate or the House of Representa-
tives until they had afforded evidence by their
conduct of this truth.
The policy, now that this rebellion is sup
pressed, is not to restore the State govern
ment through military rule, but by thepeople.
While the war has emancipated the slaves 1t
has emaneipated larger number Of white
men.
He would talk plain, as the delegation had
said that was what they desired. He could
60 to men who had owned nfty or q hundred
slaves and who did not care as much for the
poor, white man as they did for the negro
Those who own the land have the capital to
employ help, and therefore some of our North
ern friends are deceived when they, living
alar of, think they can exercise greater con
troll over the freedmen than the Southern men,
who have been reared where the institution OF
slavery has prevailed. Now, he did not want
The late shareholders to control the negro vote
against white men. Let each State judge OF
the depository of its own political power. He
was for emancipation. He was for emancipat
ing the white man as well as the black.
Mr. Holmes asked: sis that not altogether
accomplished frl
The President replied that he did not think
the question fully settled. The question as 10
whether the black man shall be engrafted in
the Constitution will be settled as we &c
along.
He would not disguise the fact that while
he had baen prosecuted and denounced at the
South as traitor, he loved the great mass oi
the Southern people. He opposed the REBEL
ion at its breaking out, and fought it every
where, and now wanted the principles oil the
Government carried ont and maintained.
Mr.. Holmes interrupted by saying: "We
want to get back to The same position as YOU
describe, as we are without law. No courts
are open, and you have the power to assis
u.s." EM&RN kbsFs
The President replied that the Government
cannot 90 on unless it is based on right. The
people OF South Carolina must have conven
tion, and amend their Constitution by abolish
ing slavery and this must be done in gOot
faith, and the convention or Legislature mus
adopt the proposed amendment to the Consti
tuition of the United States, which prohibits
and excludes slavery everywhere.
One Of the delegates said: "We are most
anxious for civil rule, for we have had more
than enough of military despotism.''
The President, resuming, said that, as the
executive, he could only take the initiatory
steps to enable them to do the things which /
was incumbent upon them TO perform.
Another OF the delegates remarked that i
was assumed in some parts OF this country
that In consequence o the rebellion the South
ern States had forfeited their right as mem
bers Of the Confederacy, and that If restored
1t could only be on certain conditions, one D
which was that slavery shall be abolished
This could be done only through a conven
tiOn.
The President repeated that the friction Of
the rebellion had rubbed slavery out, but il
would be better so to declare by law, as one
of the delegates had just remarked that as
the Constitution of South Carolina did not es.
tablish slavery 1t were better to insert clause
antagonistic to slavery.