The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1865-08-17
From the Grecmuine Mountaiineer.
Speech of the. Governor.

sional Governor OF South Carolina, would
on Salesday yesterday address the citi-
zens of this District in reference to his in
view with President Johnson respecta-
BILE representation of the. citizens assem-
bled at the Court House.
His Excellency alluded to the fact that
he had already addreSseda a meeting of the
citizens of the District since his return,
and would therefore be compelled to re-
peat much of what he had said. On his
arrival at Washington City, he immediate
" notified President Johnson ofhis arrival,
but, owing. to the miscarriage of his note,
received no reply from the President until
day had interviewed. He then received
him and other members of delegation
from South Carolina at specified hour.
The time having arrived, they went to the
White House and met with cordial re-
ception. Their interview with the Presi-
dent was a very pleasant one. Gov p,
in the course Of mis- remarks, told the
President that lie knew the opinions OF
the people .ofSouth Carolina; that they
had been the most .rebellious Of all the
States they were the very head
and front" of the offending; but; that,
having had an opportunity of measuring
their strength with the Union, and hav-
ing found it a hopeless task, they had en-
tirely abandoned the position, and were
now disposed to come back and be q loyal
people. They were willing to accept the
provisions of the amnesty proclamation.
The institution of slavery being gone, tlsc
peoples minds were wonderfully changed
in regard to it. During the war they had
found slavery to be q burden. The Prcsi-
dent expressed himself as gratifed at this
information
Gov. P. also stated to the President
that the State Convention would so amend
the Constitution as to abolish slavery, and
that the position of South Carolina in re-
gard to the election of Electors of Presi-
dent tand Vice President, and of Governor,
as well as their system of Parish represcn-
tation in the Senate, would doubt be
entirely changed. South Carolina was
the only State in the Union in which
these elections were withheld FROM the
people; land the system of Parsli repre-
sentation, which was just at the time Of
its Inauguration, was now decidedly un-
equal, and should be abolished. The Pres
.ident concurred in these views heartily,
and stated that he would be highly pleas
ed to see South Carolina side by side with
the other States in these matters.
In reference to the doctrine of State
rights, the President expressed himself as
being as much opposed to the centraliza-
tien ofpower in the General Government
as he was to the doctrine of secession.
The question Of negro suffrage. should be
left entirely to the States-Congress had
no right to Interfere with it.
Gov. P. having made some remarks in
reference to postal arrangements, the
President informed him that the Postmas-
tcr-Gcneral was working day and night
for the purpose of facilitating these opor-
ations.
The Governors interview with the Sec
retary of State was also an agreeable one,
and some pleasantly was INDUCED inwith
regard to an unfriendly view that had
been taken by few Of the people North
with reference to the speech made by Gov.
P. at the Court House on the Sd of July
last. and in which the Secretary said that,
considering the stand point, he could see
nothing Objectionable.
In an interview with the Secretary of
the Treasury, the Governor was handed
a list of appointments, and was informed
that the Administration had determined
upon. making no appointments in q hither-
to odisloyal State except when approved by
the Provisional Governor thereof. ALI
applications for pardon must also receive
the approval of tho Provisional Governor
before any action would be taken upon it
by the President.
He regarded President Johnson as one
of the ablest and finest looking men. Hc
is polished and gentlemanly; bland, cour-
teous, simple, dignifed; in appearance pre-
possessing, and of striking manners
The Governor stated that he was in
formed that the military authorities at
Charleston had taken exception to his
mannerot reconstructingt the Government.