Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-27
QCtlt9rap4it.
Between the President
and the South CorOlina Delega-
Nf0N,

W hoiiANuiOANt ouliO uC uClCRdJlOu
from South Carolina, consisting OF the fol-
lowing named persons, had late this after
noon, an Interview, by appointment, with
the. President Judge Frost, Isaac f.
Holmes, Geo. w. Williams, w. Ii. Gillet, j.
IL. Sternmeyer, Frederick Richards, Will
liam Whaley, James III. Taylor, r. Ii. Gill,
and Joseph A. Yates.
+ The President said it was his intention to
talk plainly, so there might be no misund-
erstanding. Therefore, it were better that
they should look each otllerifull in the face
and not initiate ancient augurs, who, when.
they met one another, could smile at their
success in deceiving people. He said ifthis
Union was to be preserved, 1t must be on the
principle of fraternity; both the Northern
and Southern States maintaining certain re-
lations to the Government. a State can
not go out Of the Union, and, therefore,
none of them have yet gone out. We must
deal with the question OF restoration and
not OF reconstruction. He suspected he
was better States rights man than some
OF; those now present. He always thought
slavery could not be sustained outside of
the Constitution of the United States, and
that whenever the experiment was made it
would be lost. Whether it could or not he
was for the Union, and if slavery set itself
up to control the Government, the Gov
ernment must triumph and slavery perish.
The Institution of slavery was made the
issue, and we might as well meet, 1t like
wise, patriotic and honest men. All insti-
tutions must be subordinate to the Govern
ment, and slavery has given way. He could
not, II he would, remand it to its former
status. lie knew that some, whom he now
addressed, looked upon him as a great peo-
ple's man, and a radical; but however un-
pleasant it might be to them, be had no
hesitation in saying that, before and after
he entered public life, he was opposed to
monopolies, and perpetuites and entails.
For this, he used to be denounced as
demagogue. I'VE had monopoly South
in slaves. Though he had bought and
held slaves, he had never sold one.
From Magma ChartG we had derived our
ideas of freedom of speech, liberty of the
press and unreasonable searches, and that
private property should not be taken for
public uses without just compensation.
He had these notions fixed in his mind, and
was therefore opposed to class legislation.
Being proyidentially brought to his pres
ent condition, he intended to exert the
power and influence of the Government, so
as to place In power the popular heart of
the nation. He proceeded on the principle
that the great masses are not the mushrooms
about stump which wet weather supplies.
lie believed that this nation was sent on a
great mission, to afford an example of free
dom aud substantial happiness to all the
powers of the earth.
The Constitution of the United States in
speaking OF persons to be chosen as Repre-
sentatives in Congress, says that the electors
in each State shall have the qualifications
requisite for electors of the most numerous
branch of the State Legislature. Here we
tnd resting place. This was the point at
which the rebellion commenced. All the
States were in the Union, moving in har-
mony; but a portion Of them rebelled, and,
to some extent, suspended and paralyzed
the operations of their Government. There
isa constitutional obligation resting upon
the United States Government to put down
the rebellion, suppress insurrection and to
repel invasion. The slaves went into the
war as slaves, and came out free men of
| color. The friction of the rebellion has
rubbed out the nature and character of
slavery. The loyal men who were COM
PEELED to bow and submit to the rebellion
should, now that the rebellion is ended,
stand equal to loyal zen every where.
Hence the wish of restoration, and the try
| ing to get back the State to the point at which
they formerly moved, in perfect harmony. He
did not intend to serve any particular clique
or interest. lie would say to the delegation
that slavery is gone as an institution. There
was no hope that the people of South Caro-
lina could be admitted into the Senate or
House of Representatives until they had
afforded evidence by their conduct of this
truth. The policy, now that the rebellion
is suppressed, is not to restore the State
government through military rule, but the
people. While the war has emancipated
largo nIInb bpr nj clauac ~ hoe I
large number of white men. He would talk
as plain as the delegates had, and said that
was what they desired. He could 90 to men
who owned fifty or hundred slaves, and
who did not care as much for the poor white
man as they did tor the negro. Those who
owned the land have the capital to employ
help, and, therefore, some of our Northern
friends are deceived when they, living aiar
OF, think they can exercise greater con-
troll over the freedmen than the Southern
men, who have been reared where the in-
stitution of slavery has prevailed. He said
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 eman-
cipation. He was for emancipating the
white man as well as the black. -
MIR. Holmes asked, is not that already
accomplished"
The President replied that he did not
think the question fully settled. Theques
tion as to whether the black man shall be
engratted in the Constitution, will be set
tied as we go along. He would not dis
guise the fact that while he had been per-
secuted and denounced at the South as a
traitor, he loved the great mass of the
Southern people. He opposed the rebellion
at its breaking out, and fought it every
where, and now wanted the principles of
the Government carried out 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
assist us. .@''f fll Ia
The President replied that the Govern
ment cannot 90 on unless it Is based on the
right. The people of South Carolina must
have convention and amend their Consti-
tuition by abolishing slavery, and this must
be done in good faith; and the convention
or legislature must adopt the proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, which prohibits and ex-
cludes slavery everywhere.
One of the delegates said: We are most
anxious for civil rule, for we have had more
than enough of military despotism. al'.
The President, resuming, said, that as the
Executive he could only take the initiatory
steps to enable them to do the thing which
1t was incumbent upon them to perform.
Another of the delegates remarked that
1t was assumed in some parts of this coun-
try that in consequence of the rebellion the
Southern States had forfeited their rights
as members of the C0nfederacy, and that If
restored it could only be on certain condi-
tions, one of which was, that slavery shall