Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-24

hardly necessary To say that he Is Intense Rad,
cal but exhibits in all his writings disposition To
! see things AS they are, and not as he would have
Them Besides, lie has the requisite force and keen
ness of intellect to state accurately what the Pres
dent did saw while superficial minds seek to infer
from the phraseology ideas TO square with their
I own.
These expressions of the policy of the President are
not new TO us. All and singular of them have been
stated from time to time in these columns during the
past year. Even If We had not the warrant OF au-
thority for such versions, other could be gath
cred from the very numerous addresses OF the Pres-
dent TO various delegations of politicians during the
past year:
The President and COngresS---Authentc State
ments from " ritIen Records Of " hat the Pre-
sident says.
Especial correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazettel
WASHINGTON, January II.
have not been swift to rush into print with garbed
| statements of what the President SAID to senator
smith and Representative Jones, las retailed by them
on the ayenue concerning his relations to Congress-
and the existing differences OF policy. | have
thought it more respectful at once to the President
and TO my readers ~ say nOthlhS I'LL cOuIu SPEAK
| advsedly.
But 1t is well that the country should understand
precisely how the President does talk, aud how the
! representatives OF the people talk 10 him. II Il
breach between them widening the country should
know who widens II; if Il disposition to concatc Is
shown-who shows it; if an indifference to conse-
quences-who manliests that. ! have therefore
taken pains to procure correct accounts oil several
| recent interviews with the President. Careful
| minutes OF some were made ut the tlne and am
! writing with these before me.
| WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN
SUGGESTED.
! In one case several members, popularity known as
Radicals said to the President that II he would be
| satisfied with constitutional amendments. DasIng
| representation voters. making all men equal be-
lore the law, excepting in the matter OF suffrage re-
pudating rebel debt, and guaranteeing national Oh
| lIgatons, they would make an effort to BRING the
pirtv IN Congress To an adjustment OF the recon-
struction question that basis and would even 20
TO the length of admitting Tennessee in advance of
all the utuer States aud OF the general adoption OF
this policy by the south, if she would individually
/ agree To these amendments.
| Without entering into any serious consideration
of their subjeCt-matter, the President SAID that he
had objections on general grounds to any cOnstitu-
| touul amendments. lie had once been in favor of
some himself, and was on the record IN their favor;
| but these were changed times and the tendency
too great toward unsettlng the foundation of things
| These frequent amendments were calculated 10
weaken the force and solemn sanction of the Con-
sttution and make its provisions like the work OF
| town meetings. As to any propositions Tor liking
| the payment OF the rebel debt unconstitutional he
| considered them unnecessary, and doubted their
prOpriety. The southern people were III no danger
of ever wanting 10 pay those debts. The objections
IN the South to their payment would every year
grow stronger and stronger How would 1t loon -
| provide by u constitutional amendment that the
United States debt should not bc repudated! Yet
tins would be more improper than tine other
| Furthermore, there gross inconsistency in the
proposed mode of securing these constitutional
amendments. They were to be proposed by 4 Con- .
grc,s from which the South was excluded. Then
the rebel States who were unit TO be represented IN
Congress- were to be considered fit to rdtity
stItutional amendment. Ii they were expected as
States 10 act upon the question oi rayng tlctil,
they should bc permitted through their representa-
tves IN Congress TO act also IN proposing Them In
effect, he did not think II right Ia demand the adOp-
| ton of any constitutional amendment as condition
oil admitting Southern members to Congress, be.
cdUyc those SiGtcS rerc in HOW and entitled 10 all
the rights IF States.
LEGAL GUARANTEES SUGGESTED.
| Perhaps the most generally accepted plan OF re-
organization involves constitutional amendments
But there are Others in Congress who prefer TO regu
! late the whole subject by law. Among these are
the most who wish to meet suarely the rugged issue
oil negro sullIagc. Ia the last Congress Mr.. Winter
! Davis came very near carrying through such law.
Substantially the same measure rs now before Con-
| gTeSs again, aud is known aS ASheys bill. Numcf
Gus Congressman have urged this upon the PIesi-
dents attention, land more have pressed the general
policy OF providing rather 10y law than by cOnstitu-
tiOnal amendment the guarantees which the entire
Union party with exceptions too insignificant " he
mcntionedl agree in considering essential to any safe
/ organization,
To such suggestions the President has replied that
| he considered Mr.. AShcy's measure simply bill for
the dissolution of the Union. lie had risked his
life and property to preserve the Union. The people
Of the country stood and had stood, upon the posi-
! ton that the rebellion was 10 he put down and the
States thereby kept IN the Union. Mr.. ASheys blll
now proposed to turn them out and prescribe condi-
| tiuns for their return.
He thought the true course for the Union party TO
pursue was " ruth open arms and COrdiGt hGHdS 10
irele0mc these States into participation IA The DOR
cramcRt. Thus we would have them as the friends
of the Union party, and not make them lis enemies
| by samming the door in their faces.
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT OF HIS own THEORY
OF RECONSTRUCTION.
In such connections the President has more than
| once stated his own theory OF reconstruction IN
words much more explicit than have found their
way into the public documents.
During the rebellion the loyal Government had in
a sense been oyerthrOwn. 1t therefore the duty
of the United States and of the President, during
this time to do all in their power to to these
States republican governments. This became eSpc-
cally his own duty, one charged with seeing that
! the laws were executed. HIS orr GcsioE ~ pre-
ScribiHg terms upon whjrh 1heSc States should be
recognised, in so far az he hat prescribed any, not
! in harmORy nth Hcr forms Of State government, Or
| in so far as Il seemed 10 imply that they rOud not
be recognised as States uRicsS they complied ,cih
his conditions, ~ realty and rGS meant 10 be
only GdcjSOry. lie lad hot intended that his own
requirements should be considered as conditions PEE
cedeut which the Executive, or any branch, or all
branches Of the Government had any right to exact,
before these States should be entitled to recognition
| rs States in the Union.
In fact these States entitled to be represented
in Congress all through the rebellion lndced there
lrGS greater reason for their being then represented
than there iraS at other times. Congress had re-
peatedly dealt with them States during the rebel
! lion. Members from Virginia, for example, were
| admitted Direct taxes appOrtiOned among
them Just rs among the other States. The 9th Sec
ton of the of the 18th of June 1862 in its latter
clauses recognized the same principle.
The rebel states are, therefore, aOU ia the Union.
! un a.
! democratic more in harmony with the spirit OF our
Institutions than they ever were before If Con-
gress would only look out there now, it would see
legislators, Governors, State officers of all grades
members of Congress all elected by the people
courts IN session, taxes being collected, mails being
| carried. Surely, these made States in the Union, If
| they ever were ~ IT,
or THE ADMISSION OF SOUTHERN MEMBERS or
CONGRESS.
In numerous interviews, the President has stated
to different gentlemen, in substantially the same
| language his views concerning the admission Of
| rebel Congressman. In OF the minutes before
me find memorandum TO this cnect
lie repeatedly alluded to its being the prerogative
and constitutional duty of each House to Judge oil
the merits of each claimants election by ITSELF
This also was the wise way OF keeping bad men out
! Of Congress, who might not through personal dis
qualification, be entitled to seats. But was grossly
wrong To exclude States because of objections to in
dividuals. Each claimants case should rest On AMI
be decided according to his invidual merits.
| Representation in Congress was but Of the
rights OF states under the Constitution. Exclusion
from Congress does not therefore prevent these rebel
States from enjoying and exercising other c0nstitu.
tional rights over which Congress in spite OF its de-
! NAL of their rights, has control.
THE PRESIDENT on PARTY POLICY
In the same line of conversation, the President,
few days ago, SAID 10 certain Representatives that
the South had travelled great way in short time
They had freed the slaves They had provided that
no future legislation should ensave Them. They
had recognized certain civil rights of the late slaves
| They had adopted the constitutional amendment
! prohibiting slavery.
Under such circumstances the public sentiment of
the country would Later insure their rccog-
milton by Congress For himself, he would feel a !
personal pride in having this accomplished by the
| same Union party which had carried the country
through the war. Such party, with such history
ought 10 finish its work by bringing back all these
States into their true relations a fully restored
Union.
Recently certain prominent men of Massachusetts
in a conversation with him. had disclosed fear that
our party aScendency might be endangered if tho
South should come ill., and should act Jas il always
used to act as unit, Yet how many members
were there To he let in from the rebel States Only
81. But the House has now over 200 In this the