Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-02-01
The Presidents Views i'm Regard 10
denomination,
Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Ca.
zotte.
WAsHINGroN, Jan. II, 1866.


have not been swift to rush into
print with garbled statements of what
the President said to Senator Smith and
Representative Jones, las retailed by
them on the avenues, concerning his re
latiOns to Congress, and the existing
differences OF policy. have thought it
more respectful at once to the President
and to my readers to say nothing until
| could speak adVisedly
But it is well that the country should
understand precisely how the President
does talk, and how the representatives
of the people to him. Ii a breach be
tween them is widening, the country
should know who wideus it; if a dispo-
sitiOn to COnCiiate Is shown, who shows
it, if an indifference 70 consequence is
shown, who mauifests that have
therefore taken pains to procure correct
accounts Of several recent interviews
with the President. Careful minutes OF
some were made a the time, and | am
writing with these before me.
WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
HAVE BEEN sUGGPsTEp,
IN one case several menbers. popular
~ known as Radicals, said to the Presi-
dent that II he would be satisfied with
constitutional amendments. basiug rep
TesCntatiOn on voters, making all men
equal before the law, excepting 10 the
matter OF suffrage, repudiating rebel
debts, and guaranteeing national obi
cations, they would make an effort to
bring the party in Congress to an ad-
iustment of the reconstruction question
on that basis and would even 20 to the
length OF admitting Tennessee in ad-
vance of all the other States and OF the
general adoption Of this policy by the
South, if she would individually agree
to these amendments.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS OF CuNsTITU-
TGONAL AMENDMENTS.
Without entering into any serious
consideration of their subject matter,
the President said that he had objections
on general grounds to any constitution
al amendments. He had once been in
favor of some himself, and was on the
record in their favor; but these were
changed times, and the tendency of war
is too great toward unsettling the foun-
datiOn of things. These frequent amend
ments were calculated to weaken the
force and solemn sanction Of the con-
stitutiOn, and make its provisions like
the work of town meetings. AS to any
propositions for making the payment of
the rebel debt unconstitutional he con
sidered them unnecessary, and doubted
their prepriety. The Southern people
nf
pay those debts, The objections in the
South to their payment would every
year grow stronger and stronger, How
would 1t look to provide by a constitu
tlonai amendment that the United States
debts should not be repudiated? Yet
this would be no more proper than the
other. Furthermore there was gross
inconsistency in the proposed mode of
securing these constitutional amend
ments. They were to be proposed by
Congress from which the South was ex-
cluded. Then the rebel States, who
mere unit to be represented in Congress,
were to be considered fit TO ratiry con.
amendment If they were
go States to act upon the cues.
lion Of rati(ying them, they should be
permitted, through their representatives
q Congress, to act also in preparing
hem, In effect, he did not think II
light 70 demand the adoption Of anv
amendment a. Condi.
ion OF admitting Southern members 20
congress because those States were in
loW and entitled TO all the rights of
states.
LEGAL 0UARAETEEs sUGoESTRp.
Perhaps the most generally accepted |
IIan of reorganization involves consti. |
utional amendments. But there are |
'thers In Congress who prefer 70 regu-
ate the whole subject by law. Among |
hese are the most who wish to meet |
the rugged issues of negro suf
rage. In the last Congress, Mr, Winter
'avis came very near carrying through
UGH law. Substantially the same
MEASURE is now before Congress again.
nd is known as Ashley's bill. Numer,
us congressman have urged this upon
he Presidents attention, and more have
ressed the general policy OF providing
y law than by constitutional amend
1ent the guarantees which the entire
'nton party with exceptions too insig-
meant TO mentton) agree in consider
1g essential to any safe organization,
20 such suggestions the President has
9piied that he considered Mr.. Asblev's
leasure simply a bill for the dissoiu.
on of the Union. He had risked his
va life and property to preserve the
mon. The people of the country
'ood and had stood upon the position ,
lat the rebellion was to be put down
nd tho States thereby kept in the {
MON. Mr.. Ashley's bill now proposed !
turn them out and prescribe con. /
Itions for their return.
lie thought the true course for the
mon party to pursue was with omen =
ms and cordial hands" TO welcome
lese States intoa participation in the
1vernment. Thus we would have
Iem as the friends OF the Union marty
40 not make them its enemies nv slam, c
Ing the door in their faces. Z
iE pREsIDBET's srArEaEEr or Brs owx /
yHROpF on