Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-06
The Opinions Of President johnson.

The Opinions of President johnson.
We give below dispatch sent over the country
by the W Arlington agent of the associated press,
and which, We regret to say, appears to have
been made public by the Presidents consent, if
not at his request -
The following substance a conve rsaton which
place day between the President and shsd
The President said doubted propriey
making further amend ment TO the Constitution
one great amendment had are ady been made by which
slavery had abolished within limits of the
United states, and National guarantee thus given that
should again the land PropO
amend the Constitution becoming numer
dsrratan 81 Ioesi mar AIlIbs in his ooipon had
iendency dminh,he dignity and prestige attached the
Constitution OF the and 10 lessen the respect and con
hdence people great freedom IT,
however amendments are To be made
basis Of representation and taxation (and he
did Them at all essary al the present tne he
knew q none better than simple Proposition embraced N
voters tie basis 4" ana tne Naue OF properly
bass u direct TAXATION SUch proposition could be
embraced IN the following terms
Representatives -hll be appouoned among the sever
al which may be included within this Union, accord
representation direct upon correct
principles
subject dra' and enlistment when Il was neoes'sy TO
repel suppress rebellion que domestic violence
ALL uphold the Government and give protection,
security and value to property 1t seemed but Just mat
b defy tie incident its protection and en-
-red oud remove Congress reference
political equality Of the 1t would leave the
determine absolutely the qualifications OF their
sotss win regard 70 Color and thus the number
conferred the right of suffrage
Inc President IN . connection expressed the opinion
agitation OF the negro franchise question in the
District of Columbia, al tins time, the entering
agitation Of The throughout the STATES
aud a. Ined unealied for, and calculated TO do great
believed that would engender enmity, contention
aud between the and lead TO between
which would result inJury TO BOTH and the
determination OF the population Precedence.
lie thought should be gwen more important and urgent
matters legislation upon which was essential lof he
tofston Of the UnIon tie peace of the country and the
prosperity OF the people
This dispatch purports to give the views OF Pres
iIent Johnson to the advisability of amending
tbs constitution, and also IN respec: to the sgsia-
ton IN regard TO suffrage in the District OF Column
bi,. This publication Aas, might have been ex-
pecsed, caused considerable sensation at Washing
ton and throughout the country, and has called
!orth both praise and censure. The Democratic pa
pees give un4uslid-i prise not % much we sus-
ysct because they fully agree with It's sentiments,
as because 1t gives the Democratic party nope that
the President preparing to break with the MAJOR
Ity ofrhe Republicans thus leaving himself wholly
at the mercy Of the Democrats and they rightly
enough reckon, that, 10 that event. they will soon
compel him to agree with their notions OF polti-
"a. matters a few conservative papers, like the
New York Iimes-they can hardly truthtully be
called Repub icsn-approve Of this Presidential
utterance because they agree with 1t in principle,
though they evidently hesitate about pralsIng the
publication of it, fearing that such Napoleonc
method CT directing public opinion is SO distaste-
ful to the people, that it will solidify and strength
ell rather than weaken the radical sentiment OF
the nation, and thus defeat he very schemes 1t
w4s intended to serve. The radcals-by which
term We II can those who bslieve that all are
created equal, and that in the future of this
try the avs and constitutions should be re-
specters Of persons Of cOior-regret this publica-
zion, directing both 10 the matter and the manner
Of IT, They see in it an attempt to influence Con-
gres=ionaI action and public opinion through an
unusual channel. While they recognize fully the
right and the duty Of the President to inform Con
grsss Of facts peculiarly in his knowledge respect
ing public affairs, and to recommend any egisa-
tive action which ne may think for the common
veal, they dislike very much to get these execu-
tive views and opinions through agen! of the
dseDCi1LEU press Inc present upeiOi vi INC
French, who il supposed to have an official organ
employs that to give tone to public opinion IN his
realm, but in this country We have been 80 long
accustomed to the democratic way provided by
constitution, that the publication We are speak
ing Of was not only surprise, but it came very
near being Extensively
Ii Is not Certain however, from this declaration
of the President, what action he will take the
subjects upon which he has thus published bis
opinions. The object Of authorizing Senator
Dixon to send the country such state
ment was, doubt, TO influence Congress SO f4r
as TO defeat the legislation which the President
deprecated So far constitutional amendment IS
are concerned, Congress acts entirely independent
OF the executive, and, whatever his views may be
there can be no direct collision between the
President and Congress in respect to these
s,4endments- The legislation respecting suffrage
IN tie District must however, be submitted 70,
.nst President Johnson dlslikes either to approve
OF veto any bill ma king suffrage in the Distric
impartial and has taken this way of avoiding the
disagrees bIe necessity of acting upon such bill
4 this his purpose he will fail in it, as no fu
,urs event is more certain than that Congress vii
ASS bill abol.shing the color test in the Dis
trIct Of Columbia. We now incline t. the opin
ion that the President will sign such bill vheo
1t come TO him if be doesn't Congress will pas
over the veto by the necessary tvo-third DIS vote
We don't believe the President cares to max
that issue with Congress or the country and be
cause he doesn't care make it, he has take
his Indirect and unusual way to affect the acto
OF ihe national legislature in advance.
II Is matter OF great hope for the country tina
tae Republican Us in Congress stand so firmly to
gsiher. The vote on the constitutional amend
ment respecting suffrage, following as it did tbi
publication OF the Presidents views, is evidenc
that there is 70 be wavering among the repre-
senlatves of the people. Congress will seek u
collision with the executive, but it will do its dut
and establish JUSTICE aud if it does the peopl,
sill stand by it. They ia no humor t
De c4Ioled or trih=d With. They have crushed