Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-06-30
The President Visited by South
Carolina Delegation.

"Plain Talk" By tie PreSident-South
Carolina wiH accept the Presidents
Conditions.
WASHINGTON, June a. The South
Carolina delegation had an interview with
the President this afternoon by appoint
ment. The President said it was his
intention to talk plainly, SO there might
be no misunderstanding therefore it
were better they should look each other
full in the face, and not initiate the ancient
augurs, who, when they met one another,
would smile at their success in deceiving
the people. He said if this Union was
to be preserved, it must be on the princi-
pie of fraternity, both the Northern and
Southern States maintaining certain re-
lations 20 the Government. A State can
not 90 out of the Union, and therefore
none Of them having gone out, we must
deal with the question of restoration, and
not reconstruction. He suspected he
was better State rights man than some
of those now present.
Mr.. Holmes-You always so claimed
to be. (Laughter.)
The President replied that he always
thought that slavery could not be sustain
ed outside of the Constitution of the
United States, and that wherever the ex-
pertinent was made it would be lost
Whether it could or could not, he was
for the Union, and if slavery set itself up
to control the Government, the Govern
ment must triumph and slavery PERISH
The institution of slavery made the issue,
and we might as well meet it, like wise,
patriotic and honest men. All Institutions
must be subordinate to the Government,
and slavery has given way. He could
not, if he would, remand it to its former
status. He knew that some whom he
now addressed looked upon him as peo-
Plies man and a radical, but however I'M
pleasant it might be to them, he had no
hesitation in saying that before and after
he entered public life be was opposed to
monopolies, and perpetuities and entails.
For this he used to be denounced as a
demagogue. We had a monopoly South
in slaves. Though he had bought and
held slaves, he had never sold one.
From Magma Charta we bad derived
our ideas of freedom of speech, liberty Of
the press and unreasonable searches chat
private property should not be taken for
public uses without just compensation
He had These notions fixed in his mind
and was therefore opposed to class legis-
lation. Being providentialy brought to
bis present condition, he intended to exert
the power aud influence of the Govern
ment so as to place in power the popular
heart Of this nation. lie proceeded on
the principa that the great masses are not
the mushrooms about a stump which wet
weather supplies. He believed that this
nation was sent on a great mission, to
afford an example of freedom and sub
stantial happiness to all the powers of
earth,
The Constitution of the United States,
in speaking of persons to be chosen as
representatives in Congress, says that
the electors in each State shall have the
qualification requisite for electors of the
most numerous branch of the Legislature.
Here we fad resting place. This was
the point at which the rebellion COM
menced. All the States in the Union,
we're moving in harmony, but portion Of
them rebelbd and to some extent sus-
pended and paralyzed the operations of
their governments,
There IS a constitutional obligation
resting upon the United States Govern
ment to put down rebellion, suppress To-
aurrection and to repel invasion, The
slaves went into the war slaves and come
out freemdn of color. The friction of
the rebellion has rubbed out the nature
and character of slavery.
The loyal men, who were compelled to
bow and submit to the rebellion, should,
now that the rebellion is ended, stand
equal to loyal men everywhere hence
the wish of restoration and the trying to
get back the States to the point in which
they formerly moved in perfect harmony,
He did not intend to serve any particular
claim or interest. He would say to the
delegation that slavery is gone as an insti-
tuition. There was no hope that the peo-
pie of South Carolina would be admitted
into the Senate or the House of Repre-
sentatives until they had afforded evidence
by their conduct of this truth.
The policy, now that this rebellion is
suppressed, is not to restore the State
government through military rule, but
by the people. While the war has eman-
cipated the slaves it has emancipated a
larger number Of white men.
10 would talk plain, as the delegation
bad said that was what they desired
He could go to men who had owned
fifty or a hundred slaves and who did
not care as much for the poor white man
as they did for the negro. Those who
own the land have the capital to employ
help, and therefore some of our NORTH
ern friends are deceived when they, living
afar off, think they can exercise great
er control over the freedmen than the
Southern men, who have been reared
where the institution of slavery has pre-
vailed. Now, he did not want the late
Shareholders to control the negro vote
against white men. L e each State
judge of the depository of its own politi-
cal power. He was for emancipation
He was for emancipating the white man
as well as the black.
Mr.. Holmes asked SIS that not alto
gether accomplished ?"
The President replied that he did not
think the question fully settled. The
question rs to whether the black man