Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-02-02
President JOhns0n's Views.

We publish below aconyegsation, reported
. have taken place between President > ohm
son, and dist::sss y,s,leu senator, on the
18th ult. from which the Presidents views
can be, to some extent, surmised.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S-The following is
the substance Of conversation took place to-
day between the President and q distin-
guishca Senator:
The President said that he doubted the
property at this time of making any further
amendments to the Constitution One great
amendment had already been made, by which
slavery had forever been abolished within
the limits Of the United States, and ma
tional guarantee thus given that that insti-
tuition should never again exist in the land.
Propositions to amend the Constitution
were becoming as numerous as preambles
and resolutions at town meetings, called to
consider the most ordinary questions connec-
ted with the administration Of loyal affairs.
All this, in his opinion, had tendency to
diminish the dignity and prestige attached
to the Constitution of the country, and to
lessen the respect and confidence of the people
in their great charter Of freedom.
If, however, amendments are TO be made
to the Constitution, changing the basis of
representation and taxation, (and he did not
deem them at all necessary at the present
time, he knew of none better than simple
proposition, embraced in a few lines, making,
in each State, the number of qualified voters
the basis Of representation, and the value of
property the basis Of direct taxation. Such
proposition could be embraced in the follow
ing terms: Representation shall be appor-
toned among the several States, which may
be include within this Union, according to
the number Of qualified voters in each State.
Direct taxes shall be apportioned among the
several States, which may be included within
this Union, according to the value of all
taxable property in each State.
An amendment of this kind would, in his
opinion: nrl::ec the basis Of representation
and direct taxation upon correct principles.
The qualified voters were for the most part
men who were subject to draft and enlist
ment when it was necessary to repel invasion,
suppress rebellion and quell domestic violence
and instruction. They risk their lives,
shed their blood and peril their all to uphold
the Government, and give protection and
security and value to property It seemed
but just that property should compensate
for the benefits thus conferred, by defraying
the expenses incident to its protection and
enjoyment. Such an amendment, the Pres
ident also suggested, would remove from
Congress all issues in reference to the politi-
cal equality of the races. 1t would leave
the States to determine, absolutely, the quail
fcations Of their own voters with regard to
color; and thus the number of representatives
to which they would be entitled in Congress
would depend upon the number upon which
they conferred the aight of suffrage.
The President, in his connection. ex-
pressed the opinion that the agitation of the
negro franchise question i'll the District of
Columbia, at this time, was the mere enter
ing wedge to the agitation of the question
throughout the States; and was ill-timed,
uncalled for and calculated to do great harm.
He believed that it would cngender enluity,
contention and strife between the two races.
and lead to a war between them, which
would result in great injury to both, and the
certain extinction of the negro population.
Precedence, he thought, should be given to
more important and urgent matters, legisla-
ton upon which was essential for the rcsto-
ration Of the Union, the peace Of the country
and the prosperity Of the people.