The Portland daily press., 1865-06-20
President johnson on NEGRO suffrage.

Says the Washington correspondents of the
Boston Daily AdDertissr: 81 have taken
much pains tolearn what the Presidents views
upon the questions involved are am en-
trey satisfied that he s0ould giSe all negroes
iDho haze been IN he army, and the more IN
telligent of those ,oho haze not, The privilege
of cotino ifhe believed he had authority ufa,
der the Constitution to do so. "What does
"the President say about negro suffrage?"
asked OF the chairman of one of the numerous
delegations of Southerners in the city. @Well,
he don't say much; she asks US If 1t seems fair
ito make the negro fight and then refuse to
"let him vote; and he tells US that pretty
"much all you Northerners seem to be in ia
"vor Of letting him vote, and he says t14t
"thoagh he hasn't let him pote in North Caro-
"lina, he mag do so somewhere else" In re-
spect to the idea in these last italicized words,
l may say that know the President remark
ed to high officer, about the time the North
Carolina proclamation was issued, "We'I try
"tbis plan first, and If Il don't scork, svhy
''then sDeH try something else" Mr.. Ashley
himselfis authority that the President "de-
'sires all men should vote, without distinction
"of color" Mr.. Sumner was undoubtedly
told that between himself and the President
there is no difference of opinion ON the ques-
tion that justice and expediency alike would
sanction the extension of the suffrage to ne
groes. Judge Yerger Of Mississippi, was told
that no good reason, aside from the prejudices
ofthe people, could be given for excluding
them from the right of suffrage;i and it was
said to an Alabama gentleman that be would
do well to use his influence in preparing the
minds Of his people for quiet acquiescence in
general suffrage. s
"The President, however, Is at present
clearly of the opinion that he has no powert to
say that the negroes shall vote. The States
have never been out OF the Union, though
their proper practical relations" to the Union
have been, for the time being, suspended
BE can do no more, he holds. than set them
back where they were before they passed the
ordinances Of secession Yet, inasmuch as
the people of the State have been In rebel
lion, be can, as the executive head of the gov
eminent, say that, as punishment for crime
they shall not now vote. he can withhold
the right of suffrage from certain classes here
tofore exercising it,; but he cannot extend il
to other classes excluded by State constitu-
tions. Briefly, / understand this to be his po-
eition. y - 81 tr-A ~ ~ AZ - IA i
Attention was called In this correspond.
enee in the latter part OF April, to the fac,
that In respect to Virginia, Mr.. johnson was
essentially carrying 1.-The programme Of Mr.
Lincoln. This North Csrolina plan Is Oh,
same as the Virginia plan, except that Their,
was no occasion to specify the qualification
of the voters in the latter State. II was ais,
at that time in this correspondence predicted
that the good old fashion Of Cabinet meeting
would be revived. 1t only remains now q
add that the Cabinet is unit in support 0
the Presidential policy upon this point Of ne
gro suffrage. A story has been going thu
rounds of the press to the effect that at leas
three members are in favor Of negro suffrage
and three are opposed to 1t. If / am not mis-
informed In regard to matter concerning
which l have made careful inquiry, ever,
memberof the Cabinet would gladly put tn,
ballot into the hands of every negre who ha.
carried a musket, and into the hands Of the
more intelligent Of those who have not done
SO; and every member also rests content in
the Presidential opinion that the general gov
eminent cannot thus give any negro the right
aof suffrage. ITO restore the proper practica
relations Of the States to the Union,' is the
one thing Mr.. johnson has nearest his heart
Show him that It can be done by giving the
freedmen of the South the right of suffrage,
and that he can consututionally give, them
that right, and do not doubt that he would
adopt that plan to morrow, and that he would
beysustained therein by the Cabinet. Show
him that he has made a mistake in the North
Carolina plan, and he will drop it at once 1
am convinced that he 10 not welded to any
set form or method Of proceedure, and that
he specially desires It shall be everywhere
seen and felt in what large sense freedom and
equality are the birthright Of all men, Of
Whatever race orcolor social condition.