The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-11
Interview with Alex. IL. SteVens-1is
Opinions on the Country.


WASHINGTON, April G, lS6G.-Proba-
bly, no man in the South, who was
closely identified with the rebellion, is
less distrusted by the loyal people than
Alexander II. Stevens Before the
elimination of that treason TO the
United States, which is declared in the
organic act of our Government to con-
sist in leVying war against them, Mr..
stephens strenuously opposed seces-
sion, and predicted what has come TO
the Southern people as a result of their
mad folly and crime. But that indie
scrlbable ignis .fatlatS Of State soyer-
eighty, popularity called State Rights,
seems TO have drawn not only Mr.. Ste
phens, but General Lee, and many
other Southern men who professed 10y
atty, into the malestrom of treason.
And TO concilia that numerous class
| of Southrons known there at that pc.
Rod as Conservatives, Mr. S. was Sc
lected IS their second executive officer
of the sonfederacy Officiating in that
capacity, he may be fairly presumed TO
at least understand the feelings and
wishes of the Southern people, a cor
rect reflex OF a large and respectable
portion of whom he was Immediately
preceding the rebelliOus outbreak
Hence, upon his arrival in this city
day or two ago had the pleasure OF
several long and interesting interview
with him, that | might Gull from his
copious and unreserved expressions OF
opinion on the various subjects now
agitating the public, such main fea-
lures as will give US "moTe light on
the great pEoblem Of Reconstruction.
He expressed 10 me
HIS yIEWs oY JOHNsoN'5 POLICY,
And thinks that the principles enuncia
/ ted by the President IN his annual mes
sage, last December, and reiterated in
various official and unofficial documents
and speeches since, are the fundamental
elements of our system of government
! This policy is acceptable TO the late in
surgents, and is, in his opinion, the
only basis of restoration which will
command the hearty co operation oi
the conservative and peace loving peo-
pie in all sections of tire country. He
thinks that all Mr. johnson has done
toward reconstruction was done under
the sanction of military law, and as
COMMANDMENT Chief of a victorious
army and navy. What the conquered
people of the South did was part and
parcel Of the terms of surrender When
they had complied with the condition;
exacted by the President, they were
entitled 10 all the rights allowed other
sections of the country; and that Con
gress had no more right TO dictate any
additional terms of surrender than the
same body would have had TO have die
tated the terms of surrender at Nicks
burg. But
WHY DO TIE REPUBLICANS PERSIST
In their attempt to keep out in Ga,
cold all these States now at peace anC
penitent2 Because they will vote with
the "strict constructionists" las they
aiNays have done, he said), and MOI
with the Pederals: and thus, by uniting
with the Northern Democrats, Their
would be formed large national party
possessing sulhcienoy Of strength an'
adhesiyenegs 90 warrant a defeat o
/ Republican Radicalism. They think
they can compel the adoption Of uni
yersal suffrage, by the enchantment o
TIE STEWART PRorosI ION
OF universal amnesty, or otherwise, theI
the negro voting with VIE Federals II
the South, there would be hope oil
longer continuance in power Ill
could see no other explanation oil the
Jealous manner with which the Bad
calls urged the title of tho late slave 4
political equality with the whites, s
new and unheard-of question, spI0nI
upon the issues of civil war. And IA,
does not think the Stewart plan oil
tickle me, Johnnie, and III tickl,
b you" would be sanctioned by singl,
Southern State. lie thought that thu
lGoRrHERNyIEw or THF QUESTION
OF secession was that the Southern
States had never gone out of the Union
and the war was prosecuted TO prevent
them from going out 1.-THE Southern
States were out of the Union, then tho
war against them was cruel and afro
cious The Presidents view, that the
functions Of these States we're merely
suspended during the rebellion, and 20
quote from Mr.. Lincoln, out Of their
proper practical relations with the
Union, he thought consistent; and on
this hypothesis, the moment the resist
ance 20 the Federal Government
ceased, the Southern States stood Just
where they did when the war began
with sll their rights as States unim-
paired, and their domestic or other re-
lations only changed in such aspects
as the amended Magma Charta desi--
mated.
Mr. stephens expressed his opinions
fully and freely on the subject Of the
RIGHTS OF NEGRoES,
And held, in emphatic language. that
their civil rights should be precisely
those Of other people, with no separate
and discriminating codes or regula-
tons
Many Of the Legislators OF Georgia had
sought his advice upon the subject Of a
black code" Of laws. designating diff
ferent and in many cases a severer
punishment for negroes committing
certain crimes, than that applied 10
whites-such as hanging for rape, while
the PenitentiAry only was given the
white man guilty Of similar ofiense.
] he opposed anY discrimination in de-