The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-09-10
DEAN RIG H M o N D ,
One of,.e Las, Incidents of hi. Life

In the Brooklyn Eagle we find the T.
lowing incident in the life Of Mr. Rich
mond:
On the Albany boat, returning from
the Saratoga Convention, Mr.. Rich
mond and Mr.. Theodore Tilton had d
friendly political discussion, the points
of which may serve to illustrate that
shrewd mother wit which has been more
than once referred to as being eminently
characteristic of the deceased:
Mr.. Tilton-I understand, Mr.. Rich
nond, that the Democratic party sup
port with great fidelity the restoration
policy of the President, which is based
on the assertion that the States lately in
rebellion were never out of the Union
Mr.. Richmond-In the main, sir, the
Democracy, | believe, heartily support
the President. There are things which
Mr. Johnson has done which the Demo
Gratis, if in power, might, PERHAPS, not
have done But, in the main, sir, the
Presidents policy meets the approval
Of the Democratic party.
Tilton-Well, Mr.. Richmond, il tie
Democracy support the President in de
claring that the Southern States we're
never out Of the Union, how does 10 jus
tify itself in sustaining the President,
who demanded three several conditions
from those States before he would reccg
nize their State governments, or admit
that they were restored to the Union !
If the Southern States were always III
the Union, what right had Mr. Johnson
TO ask them to repudiate Their rebel
debts, to abolish slavery, or to make any
conditions hafnra a6,nittInn tho, n. a
Union they were never out of!
Richmond-Well, sir, the Demuc,atic
party accepts the situatirn as it finds it,
You iou't find fault with the Pres den,,
Mr.. 1Iit"n, tor .uakiHg those conditions,
do Won
Turou-No, sir, but | AM seeking to
find what explanation the Democratic
leaders have for occupying what seems
TO ma singular position.
Richmond-Well,s sir, well, sir You,
Republicans elected President He
offer, d certain terms 70 the South, with
the apparent approval of his party We,
Democrats were not consulted III the
matter, and we had nothing TO do with
The conditions proposed. But they were
proposed, The South accepts them. Now
WE want to compel YOU TO sustain the
President in the conditions he otfe, i to
the South, with the consent, at the time,
of the Republicans. The South has tut
6lled its part of the bargain Nov we
want you Radicals TO make good Your
part The Democratic party accepts the
situation. The South does not complain
of the terms, why should we Democrats
We accept the situation, sir, and now we
insist that there shall be no further
excuses for keeping the Union divided or
for compelling me and other citizens of
New York to sustain idle officials and
lazy negroes through the Freedmeu's Blu.
reau in South Carolina.
A Bystander-( Coming to MIR. Tilton's
assistance. well, out Mr.. Richmond,
We want some further guarantee
Richmond-Pooh. pooh! No, sir The
guarantee the leaders VI your party want
is, that they shall have power and place
They want to divert, teo, the minds OF
the people from those questions of public
policy, such as the tariff and the cuUren-
cy, ia which majority of the people are
in accord with the Democratic parry
Bystander-Mr. Richmond, d you
know that my life would not be worth
two hours purchase at the South, If
" ere to proclaim my opinions!
Richmond don't know what your
opinions are. ! am not afraid 10 60
South, and was as strongly in favor Of
licking the South when they reeelled as
ever you were.
Tlton-With your course, individu-
ally, during the war, Mr. Richmond, no
fault can be found.
A Bystau6sr-But if the rebels get
into Congress, they will make us assume
the rebel debt, Mr. Richmond.
Richmond-Make us assume it, Non.
sense; they cannot make us. Nor will
they be foolish enough to try As gen.