The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-06-29
The Pr~sident'S Position ON Recon-
StructiOn aud Negro Suffrage.
From the Washington correspondents of the Bosto
A.luniIisnr lRnnnhllnnnA

From the Washington correspondents of the Boston
Advertiser (Repubican)
1t is no longer secret that there
was gathering of Congressman here
in the latter days of May, and that
they camo hore to instruct the Presi-
dent in his duties respecting the South.
These gentlemen-specially and spe-
cifcally the friends of humanity i
came here in response to o circular
sent out by somebody who believes in
the virtuo of the famous doctrine so
elegantly enuBciated some years ago
by Augustus Schell-"One turn more
of the screw will fetch EN-" Who
this somebody was does not clearly
appear, though there are Indications
that it was Mr.. James II. Ashley, OF
Ohio, with whom were associated q
member from Iowa, another from llli-
nois, and third from Pennsylvania.
They meant mainly, 10 force the Presi-
dent into extending the privilege of
suffrage to the negres of the South.
lie granted them individually and
collectively, such interviews as they
asked; and they can, at least, comfort
themselves with the pleasant rofec-
ton that if the President has failed in
his duty on this question, it is no fault
of theirs That they were trihc ar
rogant and dictatorial in manner and
word will appear from Mr.. Ashley's
report: IL told him we intended to
crush every man and every party
standing in the way of universal suff-
rage" Report says the President re-
sponded, Good-day, Gentlemen. =
The tenor of the speech, in which he
told the story of his visit, would seem
to indicate that Mr.. Ashley is not
wholly satisfied with the position of
affairs. ..
The mistake SO often made in re.
spect to Mr. Lincoln is now made daily
in respect to Mr.. Johnson. "lf slave
ry is not wrong then nothing is
wrong" is q phrase of Mr.. Lincoln 8
latter days, yet the idea was in his
mind and in his conversation from the
beginning Of his Presidency. Know
ing this, men said, why don't he in
some way overthrow slavery" See
ing he did not touch slavery men said,
ale is weak, or cowardly, Or deceit
full" They would not recognize that
Il mans conviction of what he could
or might do, could be at variance
with his private judgment as to what
it would be desirable to have done
Mr.. Johnson thinks that tho Southern
negro ought, as matter of simple
Justice, to have the right of suffrage
he may even believe that public policy
would be furthered by giving him
such right; and yet he may bo per-
fectly honest in his view of power
and its limitations-entrely sincere
in believing that the Presidential of;
fee gives him no authority for grant
ing that right.
l have taken much pains to learn
what the Previdents views upon the
questions involved arc | am entire.
ly satisfied that he would give all ne
grocs who have been in the army, and
the more intelligent ones of those who
have not, the privilege of voting, if hc
had authority under the Constitution
to do SO. What does the President say
about negro suffrage?" | asked of th'
chairman of one Of the numerous del
egatons of Southerncrs in the city
"Wcll he don't say much; he asks IL
if it seems fair to make tho negro tigh
and then refuse TO let him vote; anC
ho tells me that pretty much all yol
Northerners seem to bo in favor O.
letting him vote, and he says tina
though he has mt let him vote in Nortl
Carolina, he may do so somewhere else.
, In respect to the idea in the last word
| may say that ! know the Presidcn
remarked to high officer, about th,
time tho North Carolina proclamation
was issued, "Wo'Il try that plan first
and if it don't work we'll try some
thing else" Mr. Ashley himself i
authority that the President "dcsirc
all mon should vote without distinc
lion Of color" Mr.. Sumner was un
doubtedly told that between himsel
and tho President there is no differ
cncc of opinion on the the question
that justice and oxpediency alik
would sanction the extension of tn
suffrage to negroes, Judge Yergcr, 0
Mississippi, was told that no good rea
, son, aside from the prejudices Of tn
! people, could bc given for excluding
them from tho right of suffrage, an
=" it was said to an Alabama gentleman
: that he would do well to use his in1u
!, cncc in preparing the minds of hi
u = people for quiet acquiosccnce in gene
. raj suffrage. ... ..
!, Tho President, however, is at pres
|, cnt clearly of opinion that he has n
power to say that the negroes sha
n vote. Tho States have never bee
q ont of the Union, though their "propc
= practical relations" to the Union hay
y been, Tor tho time being, suspended
= He can do no moro, he holds, than st
them back where they wero bcior
+ they passed ordinances of secession
q Yet, inasmuch as the people Of tn
:. State have been in rebellion, he cal
\ as tho executive head of tho Govern
:. ment, say that as punishment for crim'
q they shall not now vote. Ho can will
4 hold the right of suffrage from certai
q classes heretofore exercising it; but h
!, can not extend it to other classes o'
q cudcd by State Constitutions. Brief,
l. | understand this to be his position.
n Attention was called, in this CORES
II pondenco, in the latter part of April,
n the fact that, in respect to Virgini