The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-17
The Presidents Political Position.

The Presidents Political Position.
The following is the substance of a
conversation which took place yester-
day morning, between the President
and distinguished Representative,
concerning the Presidents speech of
Wednesday to the negro delegation
which called on him:
The Representative said some per
sons felt, and others would probably,
for personal or factious ends, endea-
3vor to show that the President was
taking sides against the co1ored peo-
aple, or was at least less favorably dis
posed toward them than be had been.
The President responded that no
one could fairly and truthfully do
that. He was now what he had al
ways been, the friend of the poor
and the lowly. He had never broken
faith with anybody, and if his past
course and his former language were
not sufficient guarantee that he
meant well toward the colored peo-
aple, and would endeavor to secure to
them fair chance, nothing he could
say or do now would give any such
;yuaa guarantee: an He tho%ghs 5utl4 that it was
believe 1n;st tt!!re91 making
: by some who call themselves the
negro's special friends, to force mi
versal suffrage upon the States was
wise or judicious. He thought it
tended to embitter feelings, while our
effort should be to cultivate calmness
8 ind confidence. He believed it would
! result in great injury to the prospects
aof the colored people. He did not
know whether Mr.. Douglass and his
q Friends expected him to talk to them
8bnt he thought it best to take the op-
4portunlty to state his views. He
would repeat that he was, if he knew
his own heart, the colored mans
& friend. He had great faith in the
Hpeople, and would endeavor to carry
4out their will
The Representative then said that
Z some persons might take or profess
10 take the Presidents speech as al
Hlndication that he was at variance
1 with his party friends, and that some
#others might endeavor to found upon
) it the charge that he was preparing
&to go over.
The President smiled, and answer
led that if the party which opposed
q his election indulged in any great ex
$pectations on that score, they were
#hkely to be disappointed. He might
q liffer with individuals of what wa.
Scalled the Union party as to the
$means to be used, but he considered
himself in general accord with tha
8party as whole, in the ends to be
#reac.led. He was not party man
s. and he meant to sink the partisan il
#the patriot. But, so far rs he under
Sstood the sentiments of the Unior
@party, he was in general accord will
The Representative finally, aftel
#further conversation, said something
4 about the distribution of Offices
: about executive patronage.
The President remarked that he
Awas the servant Of the whole people
%bnt he could not entirely forget by
: what party he had been placed in hi:
5present position, and supported il
8the administration of the duties en-
#trusted to him. He proposed to figh
@hls battles within the lines of Tho
#party which elected him to Office
#He might differ with some of hi.
friends, and he should feel wholly a
Aliberty to so differ, and to state the
aground of his contrary belief o,
#opinion; but he considered himself
8ldentlfied with the great Union party
aand had no desire or intention O.
'abeing found outside. He intended
ITO exercise his own Judgment, bu,
q was ready to yield it when he founc
a't was not sustained by the judgmen,
BOT the people. He had no sympathy
with those who opposed the war fol
s5the Union, and while he hoped the
awhole country would approve. the ell
#deavor to restore the Union, he coulc
Snot forget that some men favored anc
asome opposed the cause Of the Unior
swhen it was in pe,il. Washinqto,
AZ February 81 Correspondence Of Ms
q Boston Adcertiser.
q A NATIONAL CONVENTION PROPOSED
Git has occurred to us that if the peo