Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-29

! in which we are engaged IL past, / trust,
know, we shall have better state Of things,
aud shall all rejoice that honest labor reaps
| the fruit of its own industry, aud that every
man has fair chance in the race OF life.'
1t had been my privilege to pass an hour
IN close and friendly intercourse with Mr..
johnson 10 the snte.roern to the Executive
chamber, in the early part of the month of
April last, on the occasion Of the last call
was permitted to make on Abraham Lincoln.
Daring that interview he reiepred very
kindly to my speech in favor Of universal
suffrage, and requested another copy, say
ing he had misod the one he had read
with 81 much pleasure, and wished it that
he might refer to some Of the authorities
cited. When next saw him he wac Pres
ident OF the United States but had not
taken up his abode in the Executive man
sion. Having arrived 10 Washington in
thc evening, | delayed my call upon him
TIL the next morning, and having heard that
Senator Sumner had had protracted inter
view with him that day. with Gen. CAN'T.
OF Arkansas, l went to his room, where
found Carl Schurz fresh from North Carolina
and the surrender Of Johnson's army. He
had, as you remember, commanded divi-
ful march through the eneiny's country, and
was still in commission. Senator Sumner
detailed the points the President and he had
discussed, and we parte1 with mutual con
gratulations that the presidential office was
in the hands Of one who abhorred treason,
was determined to punish traitors. and who,
being familiar with the Ignorance and deg
radiation Of the poor whites of the South,
knew how grievously they had been misled,
and was. therefore, capable OF pardoniug
them. We were gratified to- be assured
that he did not differ from US upon the ne.
oessty OF availing ourselves, in the reorgaDi-
cation Of the South, Of the political power
of the loyal people Of that section, without
regard to lineage or past prejudices, as we
have availed ourselves of their military
power 10 the extreme exigency OF the coun-
try.
JUDGE KELLEY's INTERVIEW WITH TUE
PRESIDENT.
Accompanied by General CAN'T, waited
upon President: j ohnson the next morning
at his residence 10 the mansion of the
Hon Samuel Hooper, of Massachusetts,. -
Our interview was satisfactory, but chiefly so
in this: That thetpoint on which the Pres
ident was most clear was, that there must
be no haste in the work of reconstruction;
tnaL Lltle was OuT dD1tol any, lHht tuONS
people having overthrown their govern
meut must be permitted to feel the want of
government, and to suffer from its want;
that they must be brought to comprehend
the true foundations ofjust government. -
1t was in his judgment--for the question
of the possiblit, of called session of Con
gress was incidentally touched sn--fortu-
nate that Congress did not meet at an ear
! her day, for 10 the intarin we would ha abba
to ascertain the true spirit of the people of
| the South; they would discover and appre-
cate the just demands of those who had
maintained the Government, and we would
all be better able to Judge how far the newly
emancipated citizens could be trusted with
political power.
Oar intercourse was not disagrceable to
the President, tor, remarking that the time
had come when he ought to be in the room
which he occupied as an Executive chamber
"A room in the Treasury-he suggested
that we.should precede him. and say to his
messenger that he had directed US to come
and await him. We did SO and ia few
minutes he Joined US. Our conversation
soon closed, and as we departed from the
Presidential presence, General Schurz was
ushered 10. There was great anxiety at
that time to ascertain the Presidents views
continued kindness of my constituents had
given me some prominence before the coun
try [ was then, as | am very proud to be
to.day, known as radical, and on returning
to the hotel was surrounded by number of
the intelligent gentlemen who represent the
newspaper press of the country at its capital,
and whose anxiety and laborious efforts to
sift and compare statements and rumors,
that they may truly inform the readers OF
the respective journals with which they com
municate, is too lightly esteemed. They
would gladly have learned from me all the
points discussed, and the precise shade OF
the Presidents opinion. But the time at
my disposal was TO brief for that. | could
only say that the interview had been entirely
satisfactory to me. One of the gentlemen
said to me that it would give great deal of
information to many people if would per:
NIT them to say very briefly what | had
said to them, and drawing his pencil wrote:
Judge Kelley, of PENNSYLVANIA, had pro
tracted interview with the President to-day,
and is entirely satisfied with his views and
purposes which was read the next day by
the readers of all the papers with which the
Associated Press communicates.
The next day was giving an elaborate
report of the conversation to some members
OF tue Union League vi CnlS oity, uihuIIs
whom | remember were Messrs Geo. Ii
Boxer, Lindley Smith and Thomas Webster
Some of my hearers evidently doubted thai
there o)uld be such entire coincidence be
tween my,well known views and those of th'
President as l represented Happily. Gen
Schurz arrived at the moment, and | with
drew from the conversation by saying
General, be good enough to confirm or con
tradict some statements have just mad
by letting these gentlemen know the Pres
ident's expressed opinions on certain points
for your interview with him was few miu
utes later than mine" He did so, and con
frmed my allegations at all points.
: JUDGE KELLEY SUPPORTING THE PREsIDEN
r had other interviews with Mr. johnson
| and had no reason to doubt his frankness o
: his candor, You may, therefore, readl
!. imagine the amazement with which | rea
: of the appointment ofa provisional governo
4 for North Carolina and the terms ofthe proc
0 lamation accompanying the appointment
!. passed the first week of June in Boston
Q in attendance upon the anniversary meet
d ings. two or three of which was to ad
# dress. The North. Carolina movement o.
!. casioned the friends of the Government i