White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-11-09
INTERVIEW WITH MR.. JOHNSON.


MEDFoRD, Mass, Oct. 8.
Ny DEAR SIR IL was so much i'm
pressed with our conversation of last
Tuesday, that l returned Immediately to
my room and wrote down such of the
points made as I could rememb Der. and.
having pondered them all the way home,
am to day more than ever convinced that,
if corrected by you and returned to me,
for either public or private nee. it will go
far to promote good understanding be-
tween you and our leading men.
1t will also unite the public mind in
favor of your plan. SO far, at least. as
you would carry it out without modifca-
tion.
You are aware that do not associate
much with men in political life, but rath-
er with those who. representing the sd
vanced moral sense of the country, earn
estly labor for the good of our people.
without hope Of or even desire for Office
or other immediate reward. The latter
class desire earnestly to understand yonr
plans. and. if possible. support your ad-
ministration.
I think the publication Of your pro-
cess of reconstruction, with the reasons
for your faith in it. will commend itself
to their candid judgment. and. as 1 told
you. inspire our whole Northern people
with. confidence in your administration.
The report is meagre and unsatisfscto-
ry, but l think it conveys. for the most
part. the spirit of our conversation. -
Therefore, slthongh the whole tenor of
your words led me to believe it was not
intended to be be kept private. l have re-
Trained from answering the specific inqui
ries Of snxious friends. whom met on
my way home. lest I might. in some
way. leave q wrong impression on their
minds.
Truly your friend, e'
fft.a GEORGE L. SrEARNs.
To the President of the United States.
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS.
WAsH1NaroN. Oct. 3-1I4 P. NJ.
have Just returned from an intervisw
with President johnson, in which be
talked for an hour on the process of re-.
construction OF rebel States. His man
ner was as cordial. and his conversation
as free, as in 1868, when met him daily
in Nashville. go
His conntenance is heal,by-even more
so than when first knew him.
1 remarked that the people Of the South
were anxious that the process of recon-
struction should be thorough. and they
wished to support him in the arduous
work; but their ideas were confused BY
the conflicting reports constantly circula-
ted. and especially BY the present posi-.
tion Of the Democratic party. 1t is in
dustriously circulated in the Democratic
clubs that he was going over to them.
He laughiogly replied. "M.jor. have you
never known . man Who. for many years
had differed from your views because you
were in advance of him. claim them as
his own when be came up to your stand
point ?''
I replied 81 have often" He said
$50 have l." and went ou-"Ths Dem
ocrstic party finds it's old position unten-
able. and is coming to ours. II it has
come up to our position. I am glad Of it.
You and / need no preparation for this
conversation: We can freely talk on this
subject. for the thoughts are familiar to
Us; we can be perfectly frank with each
other" He then commenced with say
ing that the States are. in the Union.
which is whole and indivisible.
Individuals tried 10 carry them out,
but did not succeed. % man may try to
cut his throat and be prevented BY The
bystsnders, and you cannot say be cut
bis throat because hs trisd to do it.
; individuals msy commit treason. and
be punished. and . large number oil
individuals NAV constitnta n rshS3l;on