The Portland daily press., 1865-10-16
rhe Pregiaent ana the 5. 9. pelegetes.

Judge Wardlaw, Alfred Huger and Co onel
Dawkins, delegates from the South Carolina
Convention to present the memorial asking
for the pardon OF JEFF. Davis and other lead
ing rebels, had an interview with the Presi-
dent on Friday The delegates appear to have
been sufficiently humble, and to have put on
none of the usual plantation "airs."
Judge Wardlow was the principal spokes-
man for the party, and was respectful In tone
and manner, and not immodest IN pressing
his suit. The whole interview appears to have
bean conversational and familiar. In the
course of the conversation President johnson
said: t1
sIf treason has boon committed there OUGHT to be
some test to determine the power of the government
to punish the crime. am free to say it was not a
mere contest between political parties, question
as to de Jdcto governments. Looking at the matter
as we do-the laws violated and an attempt made at
OF the government and the Constitution, even tne
par1oning power were exercised thereafter IL Geo
son has been committed, it ought to be deIet a II
by the highest tribunal and tho fact decared even
ciemency should come afterwards. There was no
malice or prejudice in carrying ont tnae uu's'
To this Judge WardIaw expressed his as
sent. The Following is the concluding and
most interesting portion of the report OF this
conference: 4. sb,.f,.
Judge Warllaw said although notinstructed by
the convention, he was induced TO ask W ether Mrs.
Ieifarsaa Davis who was now confined to Georgia.
coul 81 cross into South Carolina to see her friends
The President replied that he had received letters
from Hrs Davis, but they were not very commend
able. The tone afone Of them, however, consid-
eraoy improved, butt the others not of charac
ter becoming one asking lenicncy.
Judge Wardlaw interposed by saying that she was
woman ofstrong feelings.
TIE President-Yes, suppose she is woman of
strong feelings and temper; but there is intention
to prosecute her. There is as much magnanimity
and Independence and nobleness Of spirit IN submit
ting in trying put the government at defiance.
True magnanmity takes things as they are, and
when sakeain the proper way diseonnect them from
humiliation. Manifestations Of temper and defiance
do no good. s.t
Mr.. Huger remarked that they had deep con-
sci9usness Of the ruth ofan the President said
The President, resu1ning, observed: "The charac-
ter of an individual may characterize nation. A
nation is nothing but an aggregate of individuals
and when proper spirit is manifested al can ae;
most deted by his bearing. 1t lifts him above hu-
initiation. In these cases, gsntlemen we WlA 90 Ine
best we While there is sympathy, there Is also
a public Judgment which must be met. But as
you gentlemen, disposition exists for perse-
judge Wardlaw asked If the President had seen a
copy of the amended Constitution of South Carolina.
ofccurse he had seen that the people accept emanci
and property Of the negro will be protected, and
spoke Of the great diticulty Of regulating labor,
The President thought many of the evils would dis
appear if they inaugurated the right system. Pass
laws protecting the colored man in his person and
property and he can collect his debts. He knew how
it was in the South. The question when first pre-
sented of putting colored man the witness stand
male them shrug their shoulders, but the colored
man's testimony was to be taken for what it was
worth by those who examined him and the Jury who
hear it, After all there was not SO much danger as
was supposed. Those coming cut OF slavery cannot
do without work. They cannot lie down in dissipa-
ton; they must work They ought to understand
joy the products of labor; and, when we come to the
period to feel that men must work or starve the
e9untry VIII oe prepared to receive system applca-
bic to both white and black.-prepared to receive
system necessary to the short time back Won
could not enforce the vagrant laws the black but
right, and you treat both alike Let us get the
general principles, and the details and the oliaerals
Jui e Wardlaw, Col Dawkins and Mr.. fIueer an
expressed to the President their conviction that their
State had accep ed in good faith the result the issue
which had been male, that the people felt that the
President had stood between them and harsh use of
the power Of the government, that they felt entire
confidence in his purposes and actions and hone in
return to entite themselves to his confidence as to
their feelings and actions.
The President replied that he was glad TO hear it,
that whenever such mutual confidence existed there
would ne thought, be an open road to the restoration
f Fl goGs re tses and to condition and
would recommend nothing but what would advance
their interests. SO far from panderng or looking ior
future elevation. he must be believed when he said
he had not an eye single to such preterment. HIf',
he continued, 81 could be INSTRUMENTAL in restoring
the government to its former relations and see the
people once more united and happy should feel that
had more than filed the measure of my ambition
If could feel that bad contributed to this in any de-
gree, m heart would be more than gratiaed and nv
ambition FULL n Ct
Judge Wardaw.-Every man in South Carolina
would respond to that.
Mr.. Hager.=l am sure there is on their part no
Punic faith They deserve your confidence and 1
am sure they i'll earn it. 81
The President expressed himself gratiied wit what
had been said by these gentlemen.
Mr.. Dawkins remarked that all South Carolira re-
posed confidence in he President, and that the me-
morals presented by the chairman Of the delegation
Iepresent the true sentiments of the people Of that
State, both in regard to those whom they wished
pard1ned and the feeling and position Of South