The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-11-03
MEMORANDUM. a2aa
WAsHNe7oN, D. c.,
October 3. 1865-1IL A. m.

=
/ have Just returned from an interview with
President johnson, in which he talked for an
hour on the process of reconstruction of rebel
States. His manner Yves rs cordial and his
conversation as free as in 1862, when1 met him
daily In Nashville E8aollof nv sls aa
His countenance is healthy, even more 90
than when ! first knew him. ,ilt. bH
! remarked, that the people of the North
were anxious that the process of reconstruc-
ton should be thorough, and they wished to
support him In his ardu0us work db1t their
ideas were confused by the conflicting reports
constantly circulated, and especially by the
present position of the Democratic party - Il
is industriously circulated h the Democratic
clubs that he was going over TO them. He
aughingly replied. Major, have youl never
known Q man who for many gears had differed
from your views because yoa were in advance
of him, claim them as his own when he came
up to your stand poiut?"
replied. have often He said 60 have L
and went on; the Democratic party finds it's
old position untenablea and its coming to ours;
If 1t has come up, 10 our position, ann glad of
it. You and ] need no preparation for this
conversation; we can talk freely on this sub
jet for the thoughts are familiar to as; we can
be perfectly frank with each Other. He then
commenced with saying that. Inc States are
in the Union which is whni iae,v,sable. zee
Individuals tried to carr, ism out but did
not succeed. as man may scut his throat
and be prevented by the B., STA, ers !; aud You
cann0t say he cut his throat because he tried TO
do it. @3,5 .5i'i
individuals may commit treason and be pun
ished and large number of individuals NAV
constitutes rebellion and be punished as trai-
tors. Some States tried TO get out of the Union
and we opposed IL, honestly because we believ
ed it to be wrong; and We have succeeded in
putting down the rebellion. The power of
thna<e nQranOs w hO made the a has or,
crushed, and now we want TO reconstruct the
State governments and have the power to do
il. The olAle institutions are prostrated, laid
ont on the ground, ard they must be taken up
and adapIed TO the prog ress of events. This
cannot be done 10 moment We are making
not realize it: il appears like o dream.
We must not be 10 too much of hurry; it is
better to let them reconstruct themselves than
to for them to it; for ii they go wrong the
power is in our hands and we can check them
at any stage. to the end, and oblige them to
correct their errors; we must be patient with
them. did not expect to keep out all who
wee excluded from the amnesty, or even .
large number of them, but intended they
should sue for pardon. and SO, realize the enor-
nifty Of the cri,le they had committed.
You could NOT have broached the subject of
equal suffrage ut the North, seven years ago
and we must remember that the changes at the
South have been more rapid, and they have
been obliged accept more unpalatable truth
than the Mort, has we must give them time
70 digest part, for we cannot expect such
large affairs viii be comprehended and digested
1t lnce. We must give them time to under
stspd their new position. 5nes. .lssi
have nothing to conceal in these matters
and have no desire or " .llinguess 10 take indi-
rect courses 70 obtain what We want a44s,s
Our government Is . grand and lofty struc-
ture in searching for It's foundation We find it
rests on the broad basis Of popular rights. The
elective franchise Is not . natural right but Q
political right ! am opposed 70 giving the
States too much power, and also 20 o. great con-
s0lidati0n OF power in the central government
If I inlerfered with the v0te In the rebel
States, to dictate that the Negro rhall vote,
might do the same thing for my own purposes
In Pennsylvania. Our only safesy lies m allow
ing each State 70 control the right Of voting BY
it, own iaWs, au1s re hsve tbs power 70 cen
troA the rebel States If they go wrong. If they
rebel we have the army and can control them
BY IL and, il necessary By legislation also. II
the general government c0utr0ls the right 70
vote In the Ssstss, it may establish such rules
- viii restrict the vote % small number Of
persOns and thus ere ae . central desp0tism. z
Ny position here b dificrent from what sit
would bef IVES n Tennessee. nss'
There / should Try - introduce negro sud-
frage gradually afst, those who bad served ID
the army; those who could rod and write,
and perhaps properly qualikeasion for on
er4 cay 500 or ESQ. sti G.. ,i1s - ~
Il viii NOS do 70 let the useroes have unisef-
sal suffrage now. Is would breed VA Of
nceA -ss9EIsasna sl.ssskEs :
There was . time in the Southern States
when the Slaves oflarge owners looked dewn
upon non slave-owners because they did not
own slaves; the larger the number Of slaves
their masters OWNED, the roqder they were,
and this has produced hosdlIty between he