Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-03
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN MR.. JOHNSON AND
GENERAL LOGAN.

GENERAL LOGAN.
A correspondent Of the Chicago Republican
says:
On the 3ist of May, while at Washington,
General Logan called TO pay his respects to IRE
sdent Johnson, and was most cordially received
I am able to give the following Synopsis oil the
conversation which took place at The interview,
through the politeuess of gentleman VINO was
present: ..,..,r,
the President upon the conservative policy which
he had initiated and which was srea'y produc'
live of such excellent results. He said that the
era of war was necessarily closed, and that OF
reason and Cancellation opened and that II was
essential 10 peace that the passions OF Doth Sec
ii, ms should now be allayed by kindly and con-
siderate. vet firm action on the part Of the Exc
cutiye, and he looked upon the Presidents as
such.
President Johnson replied that he desired to
have the Seeded States return back TO theiI lor-
mer condition as quickly as possible. slavery
had been the cause of the war. That cause was
now, most happily, removed and consequently ne
desired 10 see the Union restored as 1t was pTevi-
ously 10 the war, or, as the President laushlngy
remarked, as our democratic friends used to say,
the Constitution as 1t Is the Union as II was al
WAYS saving and except slavery that had been
abolished. The war had decided that and Tor
ever
and suggested that In recOnsiructing the Union 1t
would be necessary TO disfIanchise some leading
Rebels and enfranctise Others Cmeani1g loyal
cu.ored people) or that the case OF the Virginia
Legislature resssembllng would be repeated over
again. The gentleman is sstrong advocate oil ne
gro suffrage.
The President replied that the case of the Vir-
ginia Legislature was easily disposed OF; that II
had no power as leg slatiVe body and thatt could
do nothing anyhow. With regard TO the extern
I'll Of
present appeared 10 tend towards a restriction
rather than an extension Of the right OF suffrage
generally.
"t;eneral Logan seconded the v'ew3 CT the Presi-
dent on the above. and then said that 1t might not
be politc to give the Rebels the right of Suffrage
immediately lie thought that ii might be found
advisable ut first TO hO.d them in sort OF pupage
by military force. IS soon As they could be trust
ed then give them the same power they possessed
hsiore. The General also remarked that the wheel
of reconstruction was large and ponderous one,
and that many who would take their stand upon
A. would be ground TO powder. He had been lighting
four wears to save the Union. lie now proposed
that those who desired 10 reconstruct 1t might go
in and see what they could do. For his part he
ielt inclined 70 be rather lOJker-on than an aC-
tive participant IN tho contest which would natu'
rally grow out oil II,
thing AS reconstruction. These States have not
zone ont of the Union, therefore, reconstruction
!, unnccc, sary. DO not mean to treat theu as
iuchoate states, but merely as existing under
Temporary suspcnslOn OF their Government pro.
yiled always they eject loyal men. The doctIine
of cosrcion 70 preserve a state in the Union has
been indicated by the people. II is the province
If the Executive ID Sec that the will Of the poo
ne is carried out in The rehabilitation OF these
belliOus States, once more under the authority as
well as the protection Ot the Union.
Seen. Logan IespOned, That's So.
"Thc Pres cit ten passed on 10 tue question
of the public debt He said that the ii iantcs ot
the cvuaiIy werc in hOreltss cUnc itioni that
probably II was possible 10 resume specie pay
ments Immediately, were il not for the CONNER
cial distress it would create thr jughOut the ccun
/ generally. AS to the public debt Of the coun-
Try, he was in favor Of paying il to the last dol
lar and would never CUuntenance any man,
marty, sect or measure that even squinted at re.
pudiation in any form. The debt WAS Incurred to
save the country. II was legacy of the war
Leoueathed to us Tor good or evil. II was not
possible TO shirk IT, On the other hand, the great
question w uld he 70 make 1t, il possible, an in
strument of good not evil &c the public generally
The above is the substance OF the conversation
between these two distinguished men, brought
ND in tue same party, and 1t seems to me that ITS
purpo,t is reassurng to the loyal masses OF the
country. On the question Of negro suffrage the
President appeared 10 be somewhat noncomntt-
tai. probably, like Mr.. Lincoln, on emancipation,
waiting 10 feel the public pulse upon it, and then
acting as he thought they woulu desire him to
act At any rate he did not utter word in OPP
posit,on to it, if those having the right 10 pass
upon the question acted as they saw fit