The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-10
An Interview with President Johnson
"A Familiar Talk np0n the Great
Questions OF the Day.
WAsu1NeroN. July 25. 1865.

w WASHlACiOh, d 0u1J - AoVo.
In company with couple Of friends,
| had the honor of an interview with
President johnson, few days since
We entered the private Office, and we're
introduced One Of as was member
of Congress, and ] infer the President
| Judged our eTrand Was q political Que,
for, after the usual courtesies had
passed, he proceeded 10 remark upon
some of the leading public questions Of
the day. His remarks had nothing of
the character Of a speech, but were the
of-hand suggestions which arose upper
most by reason Of the close attention
bis mind had already given the subjects
which he touched upon.
The President said he should do his
duty in the light which Providence
had given him that he had no party
70 build Up, no fayorites or ciiqnes 70
serve that, to be sure, he had always
held to certain fundamental principles.
and these he should never abandon
thathe had risked everything of per-
sonal or pecuniary nature for the union
of States, and he should not now aban-
don q principle he has fought for so
long and risked 80 much, so that, when
he was asked, as he 50 frequently was,
what is to be your policy with refer
ence to the seeded States 2 that the
recent struggle has been to preserve
the union of States; to prevent disintes
grafton as il were, and the effort now
was to restore the States to the status
which they held before the rebellion.
Much had been said about the cleo
tive franchise. So fsr as We are con
cerned, he should be glad to see every
man exercise it if Z could be properly
done; but he asked the question il il
we're proper for the Federal Govern
ment, or It's Executive, TO interfere in
the natter The position assumed bv'
US had been that the acts of secession
we're void; that the States claiming 10
be out were still in the Union. This
Was not only correct, but the only posi-.
ton we could safely assume. Now, IL
in the Union, those States were u be
recognized as possessing the. rights of
States, what would be doneR What
would the State Of Pennsylvania say il
he were 70 attempt 10 dictate IS to who
should exercise the elective franchise
l in that Slater He presumed auch in.
reference would not be agreeably con
sidered He did not think, either, that
it was enough to say that the slave had
served the country, and many ladies
had, in their sphere, rendered valuable
aid. There must be some controlling
principle, and what was that TO be2
he had been in favor Of the Union with
slavery; he vas now for the Union with
out slavery.
The white man had gone into this
war possessed Of certain powers, and
he had come out Of the contest possess
I ed of no more power than when heen-
tered il, and had even IN certain cases
forfeited his right in part 10 these he
then possessed; the black man entered
the service a slave, ne came out freed
man as he was termed; that is, he was
possessed Of the power 10 control bis
own destiny. which he had not hithsrto
possessed. He could now act for him
self. 80 far s. q human being may do,
for absolute liberty did not exist for any
one; Ia fact, there vas no liberty Withs
out law. Was the black man any the
fess free because he did not vote To
be sure he had 70 obey the Law, but
that Law had been provided 70 preserve
liberty, snd If the man Of color heG
not taken part in preparing the law,
might be not wait, at leAst for 3 while,
untif he should exhibit ability to appre-
ciate his neE foznd liberty, before he
should claim the law he amended?
He would not require the State 10
grant the elective frSncAise. II the
Executive might confer that privilege
in one particular, he might subtrzct it
in another, and finally be nigh. de-
termine who might or might not vote,
and that would be the worst kind Of
oontralization Of power. A consoiidat-
ed government be never would consent
20 In any form We weFe likely % hs
led astray By terns--foF inateEce, The
term elective franchise. He said that
when this Government Vas formed it
sas iet down, - i we're, from above,
among the nations 81 the earth that
i wsa necessary for az nations 70 have
some foundation On which 70 rest, and
cur 0oFernment ia sesilirz upon q b.
sia finally rested upon that 81 popular
representation. s. shown IN our House
Of Representatives, whose meuihers
Fers elected directly By The peopie ~
ery two years Il VS. alzo Recognized
that the people Of the seFeral a1ates
shoeld delesnine Who Elighf choose
fhese representatives. The casa vas
not altered now; Il was the bssis On
which our Government Faetsa and
Gould not be thanaad wifhout dietdrb-
ing De Whole atructuRe His duty ap-