The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-11-02
GEORGE L. STEARNES.
To the President of the U. S.
WAsnlNaroN. D. C., oct. 3, 1868.

l. uuNo Jueb ICtuTHou iiO'h "u lhs0A
view with President Johnson, in which
he talked for an hour on the process of
reconstruction of rebel States. His
manner was as cordial. and his conver-
sation as free. as in 1868, when met
him daily in Nashville.
His countcnance is healthy, even
moro so than when l first knew him.
l remarked 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 werc
confused by the conflicting reports con-
stantly circulated, and especially by
the present position of tho Democratic
party. 1t is industriously circulated
in the Democratic clubs that he was
going over to them, He laughingly
replied, "Major, have You ever known
a man who for many years had differ
ed from your views because you were
in advance of him, claim them as his
own when he came up to your stand
point?"
Ircplied, Il have oiten.' He said
$50 have |" and went on: "the dcmo,
cratic party finds its old position un-
tenable, and is coming to ours; ifit has
come up to our position am glad of
it. You and l need no preparation for
this conversation; we can talk freely
on this subject, for tho thoughts are ia
miliar to us; we can bo perfectly frank
with each other" He then commenc-
ed with saying that tho States are in
the Union, which is whole and indivis-
ible. ....
individuals tried TO carry thcm out,
but did not succeed, as man may try
to cut his throat and be prevented by
the bystanders; and you cannot say he
cut his throat because he tried TO do it..
individuals may commit treason, and
bo punished, and a large number Of
individuals may constitute rebellion,
and be punished as traitors. Some
States tried to get out of the Union,
and we opposed it, honestly, because
wo believed it to be wrong; and we
have succeeded in putting down the
rebellion. The power of those persons
who made the attempt has been crush
cd, and now we want to reconstruct
the State governments and have the
power to do it. The State institutions
are prostrated, laid out on the ground
and they must be taken up and adapt
ed to the progress Of events; this can
not bo done in q moment. We are
making very rapid progress, so rapid
| somo times cannot realize it; it ap
pears like dream.
We must not be in TOO much Of Q
hurry, 1t is better to lot them recon
struct themselves than 10 force them
to it; for if they go wrong, the power
is in our hands, and we can check them
at any stage, to the end, and obligt
them to correct their errors. W.
must be patient with them. l did MOI
expect to keep out all who were ex
cluded from the amnesty, or even Q
large number of them; but intended
they should sue for pardon, and Sc
realize the onormity of the crime they
had committed.
You could not have broached thu
subject of equal suffrage, at the North
scven years ago, and we must remem
Der that the changes at the South have
been moro rapid, and they have
been obliged to accept moro unpalata
BILE truth than the North has. w,
must give them time to digest part
for we can not expect such larg,
affairs will be comprehended and di
gested at once. We must give then
time to understand their new position
l have nothing to conceal in thes,
matters, and have no desire or willing
ness to take indirect courses to obtail
what we want.
Our Government is q grand and lofty
structure in searching for its founda
ton wo find it rests on the broad basi
of popular rights. The elective fran
chise is not q natural right but po
litical right 1 am opposed to givinl
tho States too much power, and ais
10 great consolidation Of power il
the Central Government. ""
III interfered with the vote in th
rebel States, to diotato that the negr
shall vote, l might do the same thin
for my own purposes In Pennsylvania
Our only safety lies in allowing cac)
State 10 control the right Of voting