The national Republican., 1866-07-28

House and sent in his card TO THE PRssI.
DENT, determined TO take his chances in that
quarter. He soon secured an interview,
which Is described as follows: 81
in about half an hour Mr.. Randolph was po.
lItsly shown, not into the ordinary reception
room, but into the Prseidents library, where he
met the President, who kindly opened the inter
view BY inquiring, What isi your grisvance?'
naturally supposing that Mr.. Randolph had come
on some personal matter. Mr.. Randolph said:
"'Mr President our eolorsd schools In Louis.
ana, since the suspension Of the military tax, and
the return Of property held BY the Freedmsn's Blu.
reau TO its owners, have gone down, and to-day we
have not one tsnth Of the pupils saehsrs schools
We had year ago. Ny mission 10 to sndsavor to
the freedmen Of Louisana, and 10 yRssSrs volun.
tary assistance TO establish school Of high grade
In New Orleans, where colored children may be
taught and colored men and women may be pre-
pared to become teachers Of our people
81 Mr.. johnson. That, cir, Is laudabls object,
for the more . man knows tho better are his
chances Of being good and useful member Of So
ciety. Tho colored man, like the white, needs
education and the sooner he receives II the better
will II be for all concerned II the profsssed friends
Of the colored people woulddevote more attention
to the work Of education, and less to politics, IL
would bs greatly to the benefit Of your race.
have been accused Of being inimical to the true in
terests Of the colored people but this 10 not true.
I am one Of their best friends; and time, which
have owned slaves, (but never sold one) and never
liberated them. II I had they would not regard
me with the Affection and respect they do to this
day.,
once one Of your slaves, and he tells me Of your
kind treatment to him and his fellows. was glad
to hear that from such testimony; for had been
led to believe, from some whom now begin to
think use the negro question political one that
yoa were not friend Of the oolored people
"Mr. johnson. You will And, sir that those
who try TO ride the negro into political power and
use him a. hobby. are not the mon to stand BY
him whep he wants useful friends. once said
would be the Moses Of your people and lead them
on TO hbsrty-liberty they now have and the re-
sponsibility in . large degree 10 now placed upon
your people to make the best use Of this newly
acquired position. How must you do thar Not BY
sitting down In idlsness no, sir. Liberty means
the manly assumption Of all the responsibilities de-
volving upon good ctissns, the nsoessity Of labor
apd the enjoyment Of the fuits Of labor to foster
education morality, virtue, sslfrespsct, sslfrsli-
"Mr. Randolph. heartily orse with you, Mr..
President, and come here to-day TO ask your in
fuenos and the use Of your name to assist me in
my desire to do what can to elevate my people.
M, johnson. or course; certainly. Let me sec
your paper. TAr Pressdsnt took IL, read IT. and ap.
pended his signature, and then continued: am
aware that great abuses have existed In the South
ern States since the close Of the war and that in
some instances violence has been used toward the
recently emancipstsd slaves earnestly regret and
deprecats this state Of things, but the abuses
alluded to follow In the wake Of all great civil
connections and revolutions. It cannot be
expected that men who have for four years
been made familiar with the blood and carnage
Of war, who have suffered the loss Of prop.
erty, and In so many instances reduced from
affluencs TO poverty, can at once assume the calm
demeanor and action Of those citizens Of the
try whose worldly possessions have not been de-
stroyed, and whose political hopes have not been
blasted and the worst view Of this subject affords
no parallel In violence to similar outrages that
have followed all civil connections, always
less In magnitude than ours. But do mot be-
isve that this to.bsrsgrsttsd state Of things will
last long. Why Because capital and labor are
mutually dspsndsnt upon each other; they are con-
trolling pows1 In the State and must act harmoni.
ousiy together slss chaos reigns. Now, the freed.
men from the labor part Of the South-thsy are at
perfect liberty 10 60 where they please on the wide
domain Of the United States; II they leave the
South, what then' Why their places will be sup.
Piled by immigration, or the land will lie idle, and
capital must ind new channels elsewhere than the
South. Meanwhile, constant loss to both parties
is going on 1t is therefore the policy and interest
Of both capital and labor 10 make the best possible
terms with sach other for it is the interest Of the
freedman 10 stay at home and get the best possible
pay for his services, and for the planter capi-
talist to treat him that bs will have induce
ment to smigrate. but remain and become useful a.
. laborsr; and, believe me- the freedmen, who arc
better understood South than they can DO at tho
North, will eventually have but little cause Of COM
plant account Of the treatment by their former
masters, provided their educational interests are
properly secured"