Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-21

/ said that the Radical party in Congress
1 tailed to the people as If they had to fear
| some act of oppression on the part OF the
| Executive because the Civil Rights bill had
been vetoed. "But the veto power" he
said, ''could never be made an engine OF
oppression. 1t has only a negative force
1t originates nothing. It can only say
| when it sees unwise or unconstitutional
legislation attempted. Now stop. Consider
this thing little further. Pass the bill II
you will by your constitutional two-thirds
majority, but think 1t well to give you an
opportunity to think over it again. They
have passed the Civil Rights bill, and it
will not be long before judge Is arrested
for CARRYING out the laws of his State.
Then the case will be brought TO the Su-
preme Court, and the people UiH soon see
Which Iods rtght-COngreSS IN insisting upon
hdUing IL, or / in endedUOrtng &, diSsudde them
from it," Here, again, the President dis
tinguished between the principle Oh which
the bill Is professedly based, and the bill
itself; the former he was anxious TO see
carried out but the means proposed he
considered Objectionable and hazardous.
| "C0ngress," the President further said,
"represents the States, but the men who
voted for them individually, GUvoted in
my election. am like the Tribunes elect
ed by the Roman people, am to stand and
represent their interests. And what other
| object can have but to represent those in
| terests-the interests of my country! |
have no party objects to serve--no selfish
interests to promote. II were man OF
ambition, do not know what could de-
sire more than have gained. have gone
the whole giddy round, from Alderman up
wards, and do not value this Office (here
the President spoke with great earnestness
and feeling) except for the good which 1t
may enable me to do. / want but corner
of this house to live in, and | do not care a
bawbee, as the Scotch say, for all the rest.
| Let me but see the country at harmony and
| peace, aud how gladly would give up all !!
| suppose | may say that | have done
enough to satisfy any reasonable ambition,
and feel that my race is well nigh run.
These men want power; have enough, and
am Indifferent to what | have. We
think, ,"-he said these words with smile
1--WE think this is great position, with our
ideas-we are educated to do so; but | can
assure you that AIN often here twelve hours
a day without it ever occurring to Inc that
| am President" He evidently meant,
without the pride ofpower occurring to him.
| "Ihese men, he also said, "have raised
the cry of mad dog at me, and the people
seem to be getting afraid. They will un-
derstand me better by-and-by, and under
stand these men too. lcould not expect to
get through without a struggle" Yet it
was most extraordinary, he continued, to
| think OF the course which "these men "
were pursuing. By being united again the
! country would stand respected in the eyes
of the world. 1t was now labOring under
the evils of an inflated currency, aud while
trade is restricted by the South being KEEP.
! in uncertainty-an element of danger in
the State-such evils could not be corrected.
Yet there were signs that the people were
! beginning to be alive to the truth. Look
| at Peoria"-and he mentioned several other
towns where meetings in favor of the Pres
ident's policy have lately been held since
the passage of the Civil Rights bill. at is
| like water tricklihg along the ground"
said Mr.. johnson. "HOu can see the damn
places here and there, and you know that it
will gradually spread. 1t will take time;
but, after all. what good can be accomplish
ed without trial and difficulty? Ii | fail.
my regret will not be for myself. | will
hope that some one wiser will rise up to do
the work." The President uttered these
words in somewhat weary and sad, but
very earnest tone. He continued with great
examination MY convictions are great
source-the best source-Of courage to a
man. L have fought dlsunlon nearly all
around the circle, and if am called upon
to complete the circle l will. Then could
say most heartily that would that could
depart in peace"
Such, so far as l feel myself at liberty to
repeat them, were the remarks made by
the President. | believe that | have re-
peated his very words in most instances,
but there were many illustrations which
he employed which am unable to recall,
and in a conversation of nearly two hours
there must necessarily be a great deal
which l cannot pretend to remember with
sufficient accuracy to repeat. That the
President is as firm and unshaken as ever,
twas impossible to doubt after listening to
him. He relies upon the good sense of the
people to bring the present crisis to IA
vorable end but it is clear that he has no
personal objects to serve. He told one of
the most distinguished of American pollti-
clans only yesterday, as he told me on
Thursday, that he will never consent to be
a candidate tor the Presidency again. |
will only add that the President looked bet
ter in health than when | saw him some
months ago, and that he speaks with great
clearness, force, and ability, and brings to
bear on the subject upon which he is talk
ing many very suggestive aud felicitous
figures and illustrations.