The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1865-11-10
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM
GEO L. STEARNS, OF BOSTON.
President Johnson Declares I'm Favor Of
Negro Suffrage i'm Tcnnessee-AuthOrix-
ell Statement of the Presidents Views.

President Johnson Declares I'm Favor of
Negro Suffrage in Tcnnessee.AuthOrix-
ell Statement of the Presidents Views.
The following letter, from Major
George l.. Stearns to President John
son, accompanied by statement of
the Presidents views on the negro
suffrage question, revised and correct.
ed by himself, will be read with pro-
found interest. Andrew Johnson is
now, as ever, on the side ofhumanily,
progress and liberalism, May God
bless him! Light begins to break,
and the olive branch to bloom
MAJOR sTEANs TO THE PRESIDENT.
MEDroED, MASS, Sunday. Oct Sth,
lS65-My Dear SIR: was so much
impressed with our conversation Of
last Tuesday, that returned imme-
diately to my room and wrote down
such Of the points made as could re-
member, and having pondered them
all thc way home, am to day, more
than ever convinced that, if corrected
by you and returned to me for either
public or private use, it will 90 far to
promote good understanding be-
tween you and our leading men.
1t viii also unite tho public mind
in favor Of your plan, so tar at least
us you would carry 1t out without
modification.
You are aware that | do not asso-
ciate much with men in political life,
but rather with those who, represent.
ing the advanced moral sense Of the
country, earnestly labor for the good
of our people, without hope of, or
even desire for office, or other imme-
diatc reward, Tho latter class de-
sire earnestly to understand y"urpa
and, ii'possiblc support your admins
tration.
| think the publication Of your pro-
cess Of reconstruction, with the rea-
sons for your faith in it, will COM
mend itself to their candid judgment
and as | told you inspire our whole
Northern people with confidence in
your administration.
Tho report is meagro and unsatis-
factory, but think it conveys for the
most part the spirit Of our CONVERSE
ton. Therefore, although the whole
tenor Of your words led me to believe
it was not intended to be kept private,
| have refrained from answering the
specific inquiries OF anxious friends,
whom | met on my way home, lest !
might in some way, leave wrong
impression on their minds.
Truly yoar friend,
GEORGE l.. STEARNs.
Tie President Of the Uastei States.
WASHINGTON, D, C., Oct. Sd 1868, |
| have just,roturned from an inter
view with President Johnson; in
which he talked for an hour on the
process Of reconstruction Of rebe!
States. His answer was rs cordial,
and his conversation as free, rs in
1868, when | met him in Nashville.
His countenanco Is healthy, even
moro so than when ! knew him.
l remarked that tho people Of the
North were anxious that the process
Of reconstruction should be thorough,
and they wished to support him in
the arduous work but their ideas were
confused by the conflicting report
constantly circulated, and especially
by tho present position OF the Dem.
ocratic party. 1t is industriously cir.
culated IN the Democratic Clubs that
be WAS going over to them. lie
laughingIy replied. Major, have
you never known man who for
many years had differed from your
views because you wcro in advance Of
him, claim them rs his own when he
came up to your sland-pOintY
] replied | have often. lie said so
have | and went on: the Democratic
party finds its oh position untonuble,
and Is coming to ours; if it has come
up to our position am glad of it.
You and | need no preparation for
this conversation We can talk freely
on this subject for the thoughts arc
familiar to us; w0 can bU perfectly
frank with each other. lilo then com.
monced with saying that tho States
IN tho Union which is whole and
indivisiblc
individuals tried TO carry them out.
but did not succeed, as II man may try
to cut his throat and be prevented by
the byStanders; and you can not say
he cut his throat because he tried TO do
it. Individuals may commit treason,
and DO punished, and II large number
of individuals may constitute rebel.
lion, and DO punished ~ traitors
Some States tried to get out of the
Union and we opposed it honestly,
because we believed it to be wrong
and wo having succeeded in putting
down tho rebellion, The power OF
those persons who made tho atlempt
has been crushed, and now wa want
to reconstruct tho State governments.
aud huVn tha nn,vu, h, a.. I. M