The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-06-27
Reconstruction in South Carolina.
Interview Between the President and
the South Carolina DelegattOn.--ERe.
oarIxS OF the President.

this afternoon, an interview, by APP
pointment, with the President: Judge
Frost, Isaac E. Holmes, Geo. w. Viii
liams, w. II. Gillet, j. II. Sternmeyer,
H. Taylor, r. II. Gill and Joseph A.
Yates.
The President said it was his inten-
ton to talk plainly, so there might be
no misunderstanding. Therefore, it
were better they should look each other
full in the face and not initiate ancient
arguers, who, when they met one
another, could smile at their success in
deceiVing people. He said if this
Union was to be preserved it must be
on the principle of fraternity; both the
northern and southern States maintain
ing certain relations to the government.
A State cannot 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 recOnstruc-
ton.
He suspected he was a better State
rights man than some of those now
present. He always thought slavery
could not be sustained outside the con-
stitution of the United States, and that
whenever the experiment was made it
would he lost. Whether it could or not,
he was for the Union, and if slavery set
itself up to control the Government,
TIC OON AA1uSl anu
slavery perish. Theinstitutiou of slav-
cry was made the issue, and we might
as well meet it like wise and patriotic,
and honest men. All institutions must
Ike subordinate to the Government, and
SgI"TTe re has gfSSn way He GOULD bl1 not
status. He knew that some whom he
now addressed looked upon him as n
great peoples man, and IL radical, but
however unpleasant it might be to them,
he had no hesitation i'll saying that,
before and after he entered public life,
he was opposed to mOnOpOlies and per-
pctuities and entails. For this he used
10 be denounced as demagogue.
We had ii monopoly South i'll slaves.
Though he had bought and held slaves,
he had never sold one. From Magma
Charta 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 compensa-
ton. lie had these notions fixed i'll his
mind, and was therefore opposed to n
close legislation. Being prOVidentially
brought to his present condition, he in
tended TO exert the power and influence
of the Government so rs to place in
power the popular heart of the nation.
He proceeded on the principle that the
great masses are not the mushrooms
stDOut SIbAAAllS NAASA4 WEI NG@Ll4lGE sup
plies.
He believed that this nation was sent
on II great mission 10 afford an example
of freedom and substantial happiness
to all the powers of the earth.
The Constitution of the United States,
in speaking of persons to be chosen as
Representatives in Congress, saws that
the electors i'll each State shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors of
the most numerous branch of the State
Legislature.
Here we find resting place. This
was the point Mt which the rebellion
All the States We're i'll the
Union, moving i'll harmony, but II por-
tiOn of them rebelled, and, to some ex-
tent ParalyZed the operations of their
Government.
There is constitutional Obligation
resting upon the United States Govern
ment to put down the rebellion, sup
press instruction and to reDel inVa-
sion. 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 ofslavery.
The loyal men who were compelled to
submit to the rebellion, should, now
that the rebellion is ended, stand equal
to loyal men everywhere. Hence the
wish of restoration, and the trying to
get back the States to point nj which
they formerly moved in perfect har-
mony. He did not intend to serve any
particular clique or interest. He would
say to the delegation that slavery is
gone rs an institution.
There was no hope that the people of
South Carolina 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
tn 1,a
through military rule, but tho people.
While the war has cmancipated large
number of slaves, it has emancipntGd
n large number of white men. He
would talk as plain as the delegation
had, and said that was what they de-
sired.
He could go to men who owned fifty
or IL hundred slaves, and who did not
care as much for the poor white man ms
they did for the negro. Those who
owned the land have the capital to en-
PlOy help, and therefore some of our
Northern friends are deceived when
they, living Hfhr off, think they can
exercise greater control over the freed
men than the Southern men, who have
been reared where the institution OF
slavery has prevailed.
Now he did not want the late slave
holders TO control the negro votes
against white men. Let each State
Judge Of the depository of its own po-
litical power. lie was for cmancipa-
ton. He was for cmancipatinr The
white man as well as the black. Mir.
Holmes asked, as not that altogether
accomplishcd?'' The President replied
that he did not think the question fully
settled. The question as to whether the
black man shall be engraftcd in the
constitution Will be settled as we 90
along. He would not disguise the fact
that while he had been prosecuted and
denounced at the South rs traitor, he
loved the great mass of the Southern
people. He opposed the rebellion mt its
breaking out and fought it everywhere,
and now wanted the principles of the
Government carried out and main-
tanned.
Mr.. Holmes interrupted by SAYING:
I'VE want TO get back to the same posi-
ton as You describe, and we are With
out law, no courts open, and YOU have
the power to assist u.s."
The President replied that the gov
eminent cannot 90 I1V,1,..s, e =, I,.,...1