The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-05
PRESIDENT JoHNs0N's POLICY.

policy OF his ADMINISTRATION, OH Tie SUI
Get of reconstruction. The writer also |
iada very interesting conversation with
IN old neigh Dor of the President, whom
be metin the crowd, at the White House,
md whose intimate knowledge of Mr..
Johnson's character and antecedents,
nad eminently qualified him to bear tes-
.imony to the worth, honesty, integrity
and patriotism of our chief magistrate.
The accountof this interview will be
read with deep interest everywhere, as
the Presidents remarks seem to afford
an index to his present and future policy,
in dealing with the late rebellious States:
AS to President Johnson's general pol
ley it will doubtless, be conservative and
energetic OF course, this will not suit
tile radicals of the class | have just refer
red to- and they have scented danger
atar off, while the.evidences are growing
more numerous of their intentions to in
augurate a general political war which
will require immediate action from those
it affects. You. need not be informed
that the President is a man of too much
shrew mess and pluck to permit these
parasites to either control his conductor
get any considerable, advantage in STRAIT
egg. -,
in company with a couple of friends |
had the pleasure of an interview with
President Johnson II few days since
The crowd of pardon office and curiosi-
ty seekers which besieged the White
House is immense. Not one-half Of
those applying can be received; but their
business can, in most cases, be transae-
ted by the heads of departments, and it
is finally either referred to, or from me-
cessity, takes that direction. 1t is quite
a marvel the Presidents health is not
permanently impaired by reason OF the
press of business ulon him, and the pro-
tracted attention which he gives to it (;
but. said an honest Tennesseean in my
hearing, " Andy is as tough as knot,
and they can't kill him." | pray the
remark may prove true, and know the
individual who made it knew of whom
he spoke for he was acquainted with the
President when he was the unassuming,
industrious mechanic, had voted for and
watched him through all his brilliant
career until now, when he had come all
the way from the neighborhood of Nash
vile to pay his respects to his old neigh
Dor. My party had some time to wait
before it would come our turn to be re-
ceived, so entered into conversation
with the honest Tennesseean, who had
saluted me at first under the misappre-
hension that was ormeracquaintance
IA mistake for which he politely apollo
gized, but which / regarded as fortunate
for / came thereby to know him, and
learned many interesting particulars con-
corning our distinguished magistrate.
Andy he said, had always been the
peoples man. He always regarded it
q right OF his constituents to have his
attention in all matters that concerned
them either as individuals or collective
ly, and neither wealth or position had
preference over the poorest or humblest
in the discharge of business, and in his
leisure hours and private life he was
lust the same.u II remember said
the Tennesseean, "that one time, when
Andy was civil Governor, l went
down to Nashville and called on him at
his office in the new State House, which
was not quite completed. 1t is line
building and then attracted. much atten-
ton, and when / had transacted my
business with Andy he walked out to
show me how 1t was progressing. FRET
ty soon there came along q lot OF New
York travellers who were looking after
sights, and these he instructed his col
ored man to show over the building
They had hardly left when there came
q crowd OF coentrymen with their
wives and children, who had come into
Nashville with their loads of truck, and
were now going to have look at the
capital. These the governor joined, and
spent nigh two hours in pointing out to
them the details of the building | was
quite tired when he had finished and
went into his office and left them. All
this time the company did not know
who their guide was, so when he had
gone they asked me who that
pleasant gentleman was. / told them
Governor Johnson, which they would
not believe until l had solemnly assured
them that such was the fact. What!
said they. 'our Governor? Then he is
the smartest man in the country -
They had never seen him before; but
now he had firm friend in every man,
whether Wing or Democrat; and the
women, they Chartered away about him
till they were out of hearing. Pretty
soon Andy joined me again, and we
walked down the street. l told him how
many complimentary things the party
had said about him; and said l, to try
him, Andy, the Wings herea6outs say
you are a demagogue. think If they
had seen you just now, they would nave
believed their statements. don't un-
derstand YOU said he. replied that
it was very singular he, should give 50
much time to showing these poor people
over the Capital, and then, too to send
his messenger with those Intelligent,
well-dressed people who came just be.
fore. | think Andy was little mao al
first, after hearing me; but we had al.
WAYS been good friends, and he don't
break with an old friend without very
good reason; SO he was only silent a
moment, and then said, Your insinua-
ton is very unjust. These poor people
are my constituents. j am but their
servant, and they have right to require
| courtesy from me, when i have leisure,
as had to-day, to attend to such mat
tiers. They had come a long, way, some
of them We're never here before, and
they wanted to see their capital, fol
it is their capital, built with theil
money. Now, it was. no more thar
my duty to show it to them. As for thu
other company with whom l sent my
messenger, why they were here merely