The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-12
President Johnson Equally Opposed to
Disintegration and Consolidation.
The SOutherners at Mr.. Stewards
Reception.
Interesting and Amicabie Inter-
view With the Secretary and
Other Cabinet 0@oers.
&c. &c. DO.
WASHINGTON, Sept. IL, 1895.


WASHINGTON, Sept II, 1895
A large number Of Southern at present in Wash
ngton on business connected with the re-esabshment
Of civil government In their respective States called on
the President this morning by appointment, and had
long and agreeable interview They first assembled in
the East Of the White House, and organized by
calling Mr.. Phillips, Of Alabama to the chair.
Judge Lockrane stated their object to be to call upon
the President before their departure act OF cour
tesy and express to him their unqualified confidence
in the justice and magnanmity Of the government in the
matter of reconstruction.
On motion, Messrs. Bliss, of Alabama Mcfarland, Of
Virginia. Whit, Of Texas Cannon, of South Carolina;
Bass Of Arkansas wilkins of Mississippi; Lockrane, Of
Georgia and Baker. of Florida designated to ind
vduay present TO the President such persons as we're
present from their respective States
MIR. M'FARLAND's SPEECH.
The delegation admitted after eleven O'Clock
and presented tue President follows by Mr. McFar
land, of Virginia.
Mr. PpEsrDKsr-The gentlemen accompanying me, and
whom have the honor OF introducing TO you constitute
number of the most respectable citizens OF nine OF the
Southern States They come, sir, for the purpose Of
mancsting the respect and regard they enter
tain for you and express their sincere determination
cooperate with you whatever shall tend to promote
the interests and welfare of country, and to
say that they are as earnest and faithful to their
aeg ance to the United States the constitution Of
the Union in the past and that they have great conf
dence in your wisdom to heal the wounds that have
been made and in your disposition to exercise all the
leniency which can BIO commended by sound and judi
cous policy That they assured in doing this, OF
your desire and intention to sustain and maintain
Southern rights in the union Of the United States
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's REPLY.
The President surprised at the imposing appear
ance of the delegation and was evidently much affected
in reply. Every gesture and uerance was full Of sub
dued eloquence. The reply was as follows:
GRSTLsMss-I only say in reply to the remarks OF
your chairman that highly gratnea to receive the
assurances he has given They more than could
have expected under the circumstances I must say
was unpre2ared to receive delegation
this OCCASION it unexpected had no idea was -
be so largo or represent many States When ex
pressed l did my willingness TO see at any time so
many Of you chose TO do the honor TO call upon
me- and stated that should be grated at receiving any
manifestations OF regard you might think proper to make
totally unprepared for anything equal to the pre-
sent demonstration am free TO say 1t excitcs in my
mind feelings and emotions that language is totally made
quate to express When look back upon my past
actions and recall a period scarcely more than
four short years ago. stood battling for principles
was battling the principles that actuate me TO-
day, and which principles thank my God you have
come forward on this occasion to manifest disposition
to support say now, have said on many former
occasions that entertain personal resentmens en-
mites anmosties to any living soul south OF Mason
and Dixon's line, however, much he may have differed
from me in principle The stand then took claim TO
have been the only true remember how stood
pleading with my Southern brethren when they stood
with their hats their hands ready to turn their backs
upon the United statos; how mplorod them to stand
with there and maintain our rights and fight our bat
ties under the laws and constitution Of the United States
think now as thought them and endeavored to induce
them to believe that true position
under the law and under the constitution of the
Union with the institution Of slavery IT, but IL that
principle made an issue that rendered a dsintegraon
possble-if that made issue which should prevent
from transmitting to our children country az be-
oueathcd by fathersI had nothing else 10 do
but stand by the be the consequences what
they might said then, what you all know, that
for the institutions Of the country guaranteed by the
constitution but above all things for the Union OF
the statcs remember the taunts the jeers the scows
with whichf treated I remember the circle that
stood around me- remember the threats and ntimda
tons that freely uttered by the who opposed
mo, and whom wanted to befriend and guide by the
light that led me; but feeling conscious In my own In
tegrity, and that right needed not what they
might say or do to me- and was inspired
and encouraged TO do my duty regardless OF
aught else, and have lived to soc the realisation
Of my predictions and the fatal Of those whom
vainy essayed from the results could not but
foresee Gentlemen have passed through this rebel
lion say we, for was who responsible for IT,
Yes, the South made the ISSUE and know the nature
Of the Southern people well enough to know that when
thsy have become convinced Of error they frankly
acknowledge II, in manly, open, direct manners and
now the performance Of that duty or indeed 10 any
act they undertake PERFORM they do 10 heartily and
frankly; and now that they come 10 mo understand
them as saying that 1--WE made the issue We set up
the union Of the States against the institution Of slavery
we selected as arbitrator the God Of battles the arbi
trament was the sword The issue fairly and honor
ably met Both the questions presented have been Set
tied against us and we are prepared TO accept
the issuen I nnd on all siees this spirit Of
candor and honor prevailing II said by
1.-THE issue was ours and the judgment
has been given against u.s. and the decision having been
made against u.s. we feel bound honor 70 abide by the
srbtrament In doing this are doing ourselves no
dshonor and should not feel Inundated degraded but
rather that we are ennobng ourselves by our scton
and we should feel that the government has e6ed ~
magnanimously, and meet the government upon the
terms II has so magnanimousy preferred us SO far IS