Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-24
The President of the United States. - '''''"


have lust returned from IN interview with Presi-
dent Johnson in which he talked for an hour on the
mer was as cordial and his conversation free is in
1853: when met him daily in Nashville.
when first knew him.
remarked that the people Of the North were anx-
lo that the process OF reconstruction should be thor
ough ami they wished to support him in the arduous
work. but their ideas were confused by the conflicting
reports constantly circulated, and especially by the
present position Of the Democratic party Ii is in
dusriously circulated in the Democratic Clubs that
ne was going over to them. He laughingly replied
Major, nave you never known n man who for many
years had differed from your views because you were
IN advance of him, claim them as his own when he
came up to your stand point -
replied, have often. He said. So have l. and
went on; the Democratic party finds its old position
untenable and coming 70 ours if it has come mp to
our position, am glad Of it. You and | need no
preparation for this conversations we can talk freely
on this subject, for the thoughts are familiar to us;
we can be perfectly frank with each other lie then
Union which is whole and indivisible
individuals tried to carry them out. but did not
succeed IS man may try to cut his throat and be
cut his throat because he tried to do it.
lndiydnals mny commit treason. and be punished
ana large number OF individuals may constitute Il
rcbelllo and be punished as traitors Some States
tried to get out the Union, and We opposed it. hon
eSty, because we believed it to be wrong and we
have succeeded in putting down the Rebellion The
power OF those persons who made the attempt has
been crushed, and now we want to reconstruct the
State Governments and have the power to do it. The
ground, and they must be taken up and adapted to
the progress of events: this cannot be done in Il mo-
mcnt We are making very rapid progress, 50 rapid
sometimes cannot realize 1t; 1t appears like dream
We must not be in too much of hurry; it is better
to let them reconstruct themselves than TO force them
to it, for if they go wrong, the power is in our hands
and can check them ut any stage to the end, and
oblige them to correct their errors we must be pa
lent with them. ! did not expect TO keen out all
who were excluded from the amnesty, even large
number OF them but intended they should sue for
pardon, and realize the cnonity Of the crime they
had committed.
You could not have broached the subject of equal
suffrage, at the North, seven years ago, and must
remember that the changes at the South have been
more rapid, and they have been obliged TO accept
more unpalatable truth than the North has; must
give them time TO digest part for cannot expect
such large affairs will be cOmprehended and dgested
at once. We must give them time to understand
their new position.
have nothing TO conceal in these matters. and
have desire willingness to take indirect courses
to obtain what want
Our Government is a grand and lofty structure; in
searching Tor Its foundation we ind 1t rests on the
broad basis of popular rights. The elective franchise
Is not natural but political right. | am opposed
10 giving the States too much power. and also to
great consolidation OF power in the Central Govern
mcnt.
If intcrfercd with the vote in the Rebel States
TO dictate that the negro shall vote, might do the
same thing for my own purposes in Pennsylvania
Our only safety lies in allowing each State to control
the right Of voting by its own laws and we have the
power to control the Rebel States if they go wrong.
If they rebel we have the army, and can control
them by it., and if necessary, by legislation also If
the General Government controls the right TO vote In
the States 1t may eStab sh such rules as will restrict
the vote to small number of persons, and thus
ate central despotisml
My position here is different from what it would be
There l should try to introduce negro suffrage
gradually; first those.who had served in the army;
those who could read and write and perhaps Il pro-
per qualification for Others say S.UO or S20O.
It would not do to let the negroes have universal
suffrage now; il would breed a war of races.
There Il time in the Southern States when the
slaves of large owners looked down upon nou-Slavc-
owners because they did not own slaves: the large,
the number OF slaves their masters owned, the lroudeI
they were, anu ths has produced hostility between
the mass Of the whites and the negroes The Ourages
are mostly from nOn-Slavchulimg whites against the
whites.
The negro will vote with the late master. whom he
does not hate, rather than with the nOn-SlavcholdnG
white, whom he does hate. Universal suffrage would
create another war; not against us, but Il war oi
races.
Another thing. This Government is the frcest and
best the earth, and feel sure is destined last;
bu, to secure this, we must elevate and purify the
ballot. | for many, years contended at the South
that slavery was political weakness hut others said
II was political strength; they thought we gained
We lost two-ffths.
If We had no slaves, we should have had twelve
Representatives more, according to the then ratio OF
representation. Congress appOrtions representation
by States, not districts and the State apporons by
districts
Many years ago | NOV ed in the Legislature that
the apportionment of Representatives to Congress, i'll
Tennessee. should be by qualified voters.
The apporonment is now fixed until 1872: before
that time might change the basis Of representation
from population to qualified voters. North well as
South and, in due of time the States, iritho
reqHrt to color, might extend the elective franchise
to all who possessed certain mental. moral, such
other qualifications. might be determined by al
enlightened public judgment.
BoSToN Oct. is, 1850.
The above report was returned to me by President
johnson with the following Endorsement.
GEORGE l.. STEARNs.
| HAVE READ THE WITHIN COMMUNICATION AND FIND
IT SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT.
HAVE MADE SOME VERBAL ALTERATIONS.
lSirnpnL A. j.