The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-02-14

| them without their will 1t Is o funda-
mental point in my creed that the will Of
the people must be obcycd when fairly ex-
pressed. Is thcrc anything wrong or unfair
in that {"
Mn. DoUuLAss, smiling-"A great deal
wrong, Mr. President, with all respect"
The PREsIDyNT--" The people must de-
termine that for themselves. do not want
to be engaged In work that will commence
war Of races. In each community, if a
man demcans himself WE'LL and shows that
the new state Of affairs will operate well, he
will be protected in oil his rights, and given
every possible advantage by that community.
When they have been reconcilcd socially
and politically to certain things, then will
this new order Of affairs work harmoniously,
but, forced upon the people before they are
prepared for it, it will be resisted and work
inharmoniously. ! feel conviction that
forcing that matter upon the people, upon
the community, will result in the injury Of
both races and the ruin Of one or the other.
God knows have no desire but for the good
Of the whole human race would it were so
that all you advocate could be done in the
twinkling of an eye; but it is not in the ma
turc Of things, and / do not pretend to be
wiser than Providence or stronger than the
laws Of nature. Mt
Let US now seek to discover the laws
governing this question. There is great
law controlling it let us endeavor to find
out what that law is, and conform our action
to it all the details will then properly adj
just themselves and work well in the end.
God knows that anything can do in the
mighty process by which the great end is to
be reached, anything can do to elevate the
races, to soften and amelorate their condi-
tion, | will do; and to be able to do so is
the sincere desire of my heart. am glad
to have met and thank you for the compli-
ments you have paid me-"
Mr.. DAYToS-"l have to return you our
thanks, Mr.. President, for 90 kindly grant
ing US this Interview. We did not come
here expecting to argue this question with
your excellency, but simply to state what
were our VI ews and wishes in the premises.
If we were disposed to argue the question,
and you would grant ny permission, Of
course we would endeavor to controvert
some of the points you have assumed"
Mn. DOWNING" Mr.. Douglas, l take it
that the president, by his kind expressions
and his very full treatment Of the subject,
must have contemplated some reply to the
views which he has advanced and in which
we certainly do not concur, and say this
with due respect"
THE PREsIDRNr-"I thought you expected
me to indicate to some extent what my views
were on the subject touched in your state
ment."
Mr.. DowNlNG-siWe arc very happy in
deed to have heard them"
Mr.. DoUGLAss-"If the president will
allow me would like to say one or two
words in reply
THE PRESIDENT" I have done is
simply to indicate WHAT my views are as
supposed you expected me to favor your ad
DRESS"
Mr.. DOUGLASS" My own impression is
that the very thing your excellency would
avoid in southern states can only be avoided
by the very measure that we propose, and
would state to my brother delegates that
because perceive the President has taken
strong ground in favor of = given policy,
and distrusting my own ability to remove
any Of those impressions which he has ex-
pressed, Thought we had better end this in
terview with the expression of thanks, Tad
dressing the President and if your excel
lency will be pleased TO hear, would like to
say word or two in regard to that one mat
ter Of the enfranchisement of the blacks as
means of preventing everything which
your excellency seems to apprehend, that is,
q conflict of races
The PREsIpENr-ss repeat merely want
to Indicate my views in reply to your ad-
dress, and not to enter into any general
controversy, and could not well do so I'M
der the circumstances. Your statement was
a very frank one, and thought it was due
to you to meet it in tho same spirit"
Mn. DOUGLASS" Thank you SIR
THE PREslDENT-I think you will find so
far as the south is concerned that it will