Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-07-06
President Johnson's Views on Universal
Snffrara.

Inc uouDt WHICH mas arisen In man
thinds as to the Presidents views on the ques
ton of extending the elective franchise to ne
groes in the reorganization of the South, is ne
doubt due to the theory on which Eo deem.
it wise to undertake that great work. Thi.
theory is that which he has always held out
that the States are not out Of the Union, thai
no act of theirs has changed the constitutions
in force before the breaking out of the war,
and that all he has to do is to start them anew
in the paths wherein they walked prior to the
passage of the secession ordinance: Accord
ing TO the eccount given BY Nj. Ashley Il
Ohio, of an interview with Him. Mr.. johnson
''holds that the States hhich hid been in re-
belllon are still States--or in other words,
that the g6vctnnenb Of these States Mere
not destroyed, but wcre only In allegiance,
and that when the rebellion was suppressed
or the laws and constitution revived, neither
he nor Congress had any authority to prescribe
the qualification df electors in those States;' -
This statement Of bis views is confirmed by a
curious sentence III each of the proclamation
appointing provisional governors, "a sentence
which reminds ons of B.nton's fniorts re-
mark aboHt certair clause Of tic Kansas
Nebraska bill; After giving the provisional
governor authority to call convention, and
recltng that the said convention, or the Leg
islature elected in PURSUANCE Of its action may
fix the qualification of electors and the clgi-
Li!ity of PERSONS to held Office, tEis clause is
interjccted in the body Of the proclamation,
80 power tic people Of the several States
composing tie Federal Union have riehtfully
excrciaGd from tlic origin of the government
to the present time" 1t is easy to see that
in the application of this theory to the pract-
cal question before him, Mr.. johnson would
carefully avoid the appearance of debating tie
terms of reorganization.
The above statements and Quotations do
not, however, determine the President's tri-
vate opinion as to Tile negro sufrage s;tiestion
and this is what the people are how eager to
learn: Tie President is known to be posi-
tive man, and it is therefore assumed that he
must have some positive opinion on this point
What this opinion is has unquestionaLly been
more fully shown in the letters of our Wash
ington correspondent of the 18th and 18th.
than in any other quarter. In the first of
these letters, published by us on the 18th
our correspondent rccitcs the substance of
certain conversations between the President
and members of the Southern delegations. l.
would seem from his remarks 10 these gentle
meri tia, Mr. johnson does not express him.
self either fully or directly upon the question.
They and We are left to infer his views: but
it is significantly remarked that his way of
putting thiTgs ID Such that .tc Scrtleriier,
leave his Fresen@e jsuri,,t that hc fivors ne
gro Suffrage. Anxious as they must be to
find tia. te docs no. do tits, fair Inference
is to be dawn from tiicit feits that he does.
Our correspondents letter published on the
18th brings tUgether variotts c.ptc$s,oiS and
remarks Of the President upoa the fiooted
question but Hey, too, are either vague or
indirect, though they frrnisl! further ground
for the belief tlist lie personally at least does
not oppose the extension of the franchise.
What words cf counsel he has addressed to
any of the gentlemen whom he has made pro.
visional governors, the public will net, proba-
BY, very soon known. The only indication
of their tenor yet appartpt is the proclamation
Of Governor Holder OF North Carolina, issued
from Raleigh ON the 18th inst. After re-
marking that "no people has ever vet boun
ded at once " into the full enjoyment of the
right of sclf-govcrnmcnt," the Governor, l.
dressing himself 20 tie colcred people of his
State, says, 1t Is not to EG expected that
you can comprehend and APPRECIATE as a
sclfgovcrntng people, the wise provisions and
Of constitutions ard laws CT that
you can now have that Knowledge of public
ttfiirs whicl, is raccssary to qualify you to
lisclarsc all the duties Of 4 citizen" These
words may or may not be reflection tf the
Presdeh S views. Tbdt they cxtress the
view of Governor Holden is, of course, GER
tain and it is possible that they EXPIRES; the
views of the President though We regard this
rs hardly proaah'e, One disposed to be criti-
,al might say, with truth, too, that the words
,culd be applied to the poor whites of the
Governors State as well us to the negroes
md in this view the President would probably
Two wrongs do not, EoSc9er,
make one right. !
But the careful reader do:btl6ss observed
hat DIR correspondents credits tile President
Nth this rcr.rark, respecting the North Caro-
iu'a scheme, -" Well, we'll try this plan first
and if we find it won't work, why, well try
oma other" Though another source than
lis letter. We learn that th,sc " rls. or til ,ir
substance, were also addressed IL the Presi-
lent to one of the members of the Cabinet
who expressed doubts whether Governor Hol- |
len would be ati3 to Secure the election of
men really loyal without the aid of the negro
'ote. We attach q good deal of Importance
o this remark, believing that in it lies the
Key of Mr. Johnson's course. He regards
he measures taken by him thus far as OK peri
mental rather than final. If the result is
avorable he deems it better that it should be |
accomplished without any more positive pub
ic expression of his views 81 the question
hefy agitated, than those which he now
ives. If the result is unfavorable and
sreatehiag IS the permanent good of the
jnion, he has not placed the matter beyond
is control, but may then q try some other"
Ian ; and in that case we may look for more
csiive expression of his views as to the poll
y which should govern.-Boston Daily Id
ritiser.
ES-Ths Baltimore American states hat
ossmaster General Dennlson made a contract
with Thomss A. Keller of New /
reek Station, West Virginia, to convey the
ails from New Creek Station, BY Eec's Tan
cry, Ridgcville and Purgctsrile, to MOORE
cid fortv III rce uiles ana hcyb flJroo ta,,os |