The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-10-27


been able to make this issue just what we in
tended.
IMPORTANT FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. George l.. Stsarns OF Boston, had an in
teryiew with President johnson, at which in
terview the latter spoke very freely upon the
state Of the country and the policy Of his al
ministration. Afterwards Mr.. Stearns wrote
down the Presidents conversation and for
warded il to him. which Mr.. johnson returned
as correct. I, is therefore published by his
permission, and is to be regarded as semi-ofi.
cial. II is 50 important tina. We give il entire,
simply remarking that it substantiates every
word of commentator which We last week
gave to Mr.. johnson, rs wise statesman in
the broadest and best meaning Of the term, an
incorruptible magistrate, md man whom the
coppcrheads cannot Tylerize:
wAsursGroS. d. G.. oct. ,, 1866. III A. NJ.
I have just returned from an Interview with
President johnson. IN which h. ialied fora hour
ON the process of reconstruction uf rebel States.
His manner was cordial. and his conversation
rs Tree, rs in 1888, when met him daily in Nash
willie.
His couuteuanee is healthy, even more so than
when first knew him.
Ireularkel that the 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 reports constantly circulated,
aud especially By tn present position OF the Dem
ocratic party. Ii is industriously circulated in
the Democratic clubs that he was going over To
thein. lie liughingly replied, "MaJor, have you
never known man who for many years hal DIFF
ferel from your views because you we're in ad
vance vt him, claim them as his own when he
came mp To your standpoint
replied. have often. lie sail, so have |, and
went ON The Democratic party finds its old poo
sition untepable, aud Is coming 10 ours III has
come up To our position am glad IL. You and
I need no preparation for this conversation we
oan talk freely on this subject, for the thoughts
are familiar TO US We can he perfectly frank With
each other. lie then commencel with saying that
the States are in the Union, which is whole and
indivisible.
individuals tried To carry them out, but did not
succeed, as a man may try to cut his throat aud
he prevented by the by stan,lers aud you cannot
saw he cut his throat because he tried 10 10 l..
Individuals may commit treason, and he pun
ished (; aud large number Of individuals may
constitute rebellion, md be punished as traitors
Nome States tried 10 get out OF the Union. and we
opposed IL, honestly because we believed II To be
wrong and we have succeeded in putting down
the rebellion. The power Of those persons Who
-uade the attempt has been c"ushei, AMI now we
want To reconstruct the State governments, and
havs the power to do il. The State institutions
nre FRUSTRATED, laid cut un the ground, anil they
raust be taken up snd adapted 10 the progress OF
events : this cannot I've done in a moment. We
are making very rapid progress, 81 rapid some.
times cannot realize u; il appears Ike dream.
We must no, be in too much OF hurry II IL
letter 20 let them reconstruct themselves than to
force them to Il for IL they GO wrong, the power
"a In our hands. and we can check them at any
stage TO the end, and Oblige them 10 correct their
errors We must be patient with them. did not
xpect to keep out all who were excluded from the
amnesty, OF even n large number OF them, but |
intended they should sue for pardon, and 50 real.
ire the enormity Of the crime they had committed.
You could not have brOachel the subject OF
equal suffrage at the North. seven years ago. AMI
we must remember that the changes &C the South
have been more rapid. and they have.becn obliged
10 accept more unpalatsble truth than the North
has we must give them time TO digest part, for
we cannot expect such large Affairs viii be ccm-
pretended AMI digested at once. We must give
them time 10 understand their new position.
have nothing 10 conceal in these matters, aud
have no desire or willingness to take indirect
courses TO obtain what We want.
Our Government Is grand aud loity structure
in searching for its foundation we find Il rests ON
the bruai basis of popular rights. The elective
franchise l. not n natural right, but political
right. am opposed to giving the Stairs too
,uuch power, aud ais, to great consolidation Of
power in the central Government
II interferel with the vote in the rebel States,
TO dictate tina, the negro shall vote, might 10 the
~ame thing for my own purposes in Pennsy lyania
dur only safety lies ia allowing each State TO con
troll the right OF voting by its own laws, and we
have the power to control the rebel States IL they
20 wrong. IL they rebel. we have the army, and
can control them by Il. and, " necessary, by leg
islStion also. IL 1.-THE General Government controls
the right 10 vote in the States, IL may establish
such rules as will restrict the vote TO small mum
Der OF persons, aud thus create central despot-
ism. -,
My position here Is different from what would
DO IL were in Tennessee.
There I should try To introduce negro suffrage
gradually first. those who had served in the ar
property qualification for others, say $500 or
Il will not 10 10 let the nevroes have univers N
m rage now u W, III breed a war 1T races.
There Was time IN the Southern States when
the slaves Of large owners looked down upon non.
slave owners because they dill no; own slaves the
larger the number of slaves their masters ownei,
the prouder they were, AMI this has produced hos.
tility between the mass ~ the whites and the ne
groes The outrages are nasty from nOn.slaSe
holding whites sgans, the negro, anil from the
negro upon the non .slaveholling whites.
The negro will vote with the late master whom
he does not hate. rather than with the non.saSc.
holding white. whom he does hate Universal
suffrage would create another war-not against
US, but q war of races.
Another thing This government il the frcest
and best on the earth, and feel sure Is destined
20 last but 20 secure this, We mus. elevate aud
purify the ballot. for many years eontended
Al the South that slavery was political weakness.
but others sail il was political strength they
Thought We gsinci three ffths representation by
n; coutendcs that We lost two dffhs.
n We had no slaves, We should have had twelve
representatives more. according to the then ratio
of representation. Congress apportions repre-
cent alton by States, not districts, and the State
apportion, by districts.
Many years ago moved In the Legislature that
the apportionmeut Of Representatives TO Congress
In Tennessee should be by qualified voters.
The apporiionmsaf Is noe fired uHfI lsI2; De-
fore thai time ~s might change the oasis Of rspre'
ssaiaiioa from population 20 qualified rioters,
NORTH ,r,ii as South, cad ia due course OF
time the States, cithoaf regard 70 color, iehf sr.
lead the sisciirs Jraaeaiss 10 all rao possessed
certain nsaiai, aorai, or sseh other quaiife
tioas a. might 10 dsfsrmiaef BY an sRiishtenef
pablie Jsfsnsst ....
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FsLicrrr OF EXPRESSION. Z. G. Rsad,,