The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-14
The Presidents! Position-A Free Conversation
Concerning his Speech to the Colored Men.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Boston Adyertser.l
WASHINGTON, February 8, is.

WASHINGTON, February 8, 1866.
The following is the substance of CONVEX
sation which took place yesterday morning
between the President and q distinguished
representative, concerning the Presidents
speech of Wednesday to the negro delegation
which called on him.
The Representative said some persons felt,
and others would probably, for personal or
factious ends, endeavor to show, that the Presl-
dent was taking sides against the colored PEG,
pie, or was, at least, less fayorably disposed
toward them than he had been.
The President responded that no one could
fairly and tIuthfuy do that HE was 81 t%
poor and the lowly. He had never broken
faith with anybody, and If his past course
and his former language were not sufilclent
guarantee that he meant we'll toward the
colored people, and would endeayor to secure
10 them fair chance, nothing he could say or
do now would give any such guarantee lie
thought, however, that it was best to speak
plainly, and he did not believe that the effort
now making by some who call themselves the
negroes special friends to force universal
suffrage upon the States was wise or judicious.
He thought it tended to embitter feelings,
while our effort should be TO cultivate calm
ness and confidence. He believed it would
result in great injury to the prospects of the
coIored people. He did not know whether
Mr. Douglass and his friends expected him TO
talk to them, but he thought 1t best TO take the
opportunity to state his views. lie would
the colored mans friend. He had great faith
in the people, and would endeayor 70 carry OUT
their will.
The Representative then said that some per-
sons might take, or profess to take, the Presi-
dents speech as an indication that he was at
variance with his party friends, and that some
others might endeavor TO found upon IL the
charge that he was preparing to go over
The President smiled, and answered that II
the party which opposed his election INDUCED
in any great expectations on that score, they
were likely to be disappointed. He might diff
fer with individuals of what was called the
Union party as to the means TO be used, but
he considered himself in general accord with
that party, as a whole, in the. ends 10 pe
reached. He was not party man, and ne
meant to sink the partisan in the patriot. but
SO far as he understood the sentiments OF the
Union party he was in general accord with IL.
The Representative finally, after further
conversation, said something about the distri-
button Of off1ces-about Executive patronage.
The President remarked that he was the ser.
Want of the whole people, but he couid not
entirely forget by what party ne mad been
placed in his present position and supported
I'm the administration of the duties entrusted
to him. He proposed TO fight his battles WITHIN
the lines of the party which elected him 10
Office. He might differ with some OF his friends,
and he should feel wholly at liberty to so diff
fer. and to state the ground of his contrary
belief or opinion; but he considered himself
identified with the great Union party, ana mao
no desire or intention OF being FOUND OUTSIDE:
He intended to exercise his own Judgment, pui
was ready to yield IL when ne founa II was mo- NO.
had M sympathies with those who opposed
the war for the Union. and while he hoped the
whole country would approve the enoeavor 10
restore the Union, he could not forget tnnl
some men favored and some opposed the cause
of the Union when 1t was In peril.