Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-10-28

O4V vi q OOAAN
JOHNSON and Gro. =. STEAREs, of Mass.
detailing, in a clear and lucid manner,
The views of the former regarding the
questions of State interests which now
absorb the attention of our country, and
stating what his reconstruction
is.
He recognizes the power ofthe govern
ment to check the rebel States whea, in
the course of their efforts to rehabilitate
themselves, they do anything that is
wrong. This, he says, can be accom-
plished blythe army, if Unnecessary andy le-
gislation. Officially, he is prevented
from interfering in behalf of negro suf-
frage by the rights of States inherent in
themselves, but, as a private citizen, he
is in favor Of extending the privilege to
negroes who have served in our armies,
to those who exhibit intelligence and are
possessed of property amounting in value
to $3.50 or $500.
He has unqualiiedly placed himself on
record as In favor of the admission of
the testimony of colored men in courts
OF justice, and his followers are expected
to sustain him in that respect.
In the foregoing paragraphs will be
found a true exposition of his policy re-
garding the interests of the freedmen.
The question which yet remains clouded
is the extent to which he would sanction
-F Ea s+@
OF. advise Congressional action. On that
point hinges the power of our Govern,
ment to exact from the Southern States
the rights of a great race of people. In
doing this, we feel assured that the wise
men, who lead the movement, will not
attempt anything like universal suffrage.
Such a result would be disastrous, as it
would increase the degradation of the
ballOt-box in this section, by adding to
our voting community a large mass OF
Ignorance. Presidents JeHNsoN's 'tpri-
vate'' basis is the true one, and we are
sorry that he has not deemed it proper to
endorse it officially.
The following is the report of the con.
versation, certified to by the Presiden-
himself as correct:
WASHINGTON, d c., Oct. 8, 1885,, |
Iii A.. M.
/ have just returned from an interview with Pre-
| sideut johnson, in which he talked for an hour OF
the process of reconstruction of rebel States. Hi
manner was as cordial, and his conversation as free
as in 1868, when l met him daily In Nashville.
His countenaBce is healthy, even more so thar
when / first knew him.
remarked that the people of the North wer
anxious that the process of reconstruction should b
thoEough, aud they wished to support him in th
arduous work, but their ideas were confused by til
conflicting reports constantly circulated, and especial
~ by the present position of the Democratic party
It is industriously circulated in the Democratic Club
that he was going over to them. He laughingly re
piled, " Major, have you peyer known q man WIN
: had for many years differed from your views beeaus
you were in advance of him, claim them as his owl
when he came up to your standpoint q
I replied, "I have often" He said, 60 So have I,
and went on 4" The Democratic party finds it's oil
position unteuable, and is coming to ours if it. ha
come up to our position I am glad of it.. You and
need no preparation for this eonYersation ; we ca,
talk freely on this subject, for the thoughts are famil
liar to Us we can be perfectly frank with eacl
other He, then commenced with saying that TIT
States are in the Union, which is whole and indivisi
be.
/" individuals tried to carry them out, but did moi
S1CCGSuS d q HAL uny ty W u LID GuLOaG u "
prevented by the bystanders aud you cannot say
he cut his throat because he tried to do 1t.
Individuals may commit treason, and be punish
ed, and a large number of individuals may consti-
tute a rebellion and be punished as traitors. Some
States tried to get out of the Union, and We opposed
it. honestly, because we 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 crushed, aud we now want to reconstruct
the State governments and have the power to do it.
The State institutions are prostrasted, laid out on the
ground, and they must be taken up and adapted tc
the progress of events this cannot be don0in q me.
ment. We are making very rapid progress, 50 rapid
I sometimes cannot realize it 1t appears like
dream.
w must not be 10 too much of q hurry It II
better to let them reconstruct themselves than to
force them to it for If they go wrong the power Is
in our hands, and we can check them ct any stageto
the end, and oblige them to correct their errors. we
must be patiept with them. | did not expect TO
kerr ont all who were excluded from the amnesty, or
even a large number OF them butt intended they
should sue for pardon, and so realize the enornnity OF
the crime they had committed.
" You could not have preached the subject of equal
suffrage at the North seven years ago, and we must
remember that the changes at the South have been
more rapid. and they have been obliged to accept
more unpalatable truth than the North has. We
must give them time to digest a part, for we cannot
expect such large affairs will be comprehended and
djgested at once. We must give them time TO under
stand their new position.
:" I have nothing to conceal in these matters, and
have no desire or willingness to take indirect courses
to obtain what We want.
3" Our goyernnentis a grand and lefty structure
in searching for its foundation we find It rests on the
broad basis of popular rights. The elective franchise
is not q naGural right, but a political right. lam OPP
posed to giving the States too much power, and also
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