Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-01
WHO CONerITUTE TIRE UNION


10 deceive the masses OF the people into
support Of their candidates. But their
claim is a false and inconsistent one There
cannot be two Union parties. This, if not
seli-evident, has been imply demonstrated at
Washington since the meeting of Congress
Up TO that time, after the war closed, there
was but one party ia the country The
struggles Of aspirants for Office rivaled each
other in their unequiyocal Endorsement Of
the Presidents recor struotion policy. 1t
was so in New YORK and Pennsylvania.
and other States last summer and fall. But
when THAD. STEVENS arose in the House,
at the beginning Of the session, and an
nounced a new policy, and new exposition
Of the political situation, the groundwork
was laid for what has since occurred, and
for what is to follow. The President has
not veered from the course which be
marked out at the beginning, and
he IS now confronted by the enc
mics Of his policy. The choice between
the two is a patriotic adherence to the Con-
stitution, and a reckless indifference to con-
stitutional restraint. The object Of the one
is to sustain and perpetuate the Republic,
and Of the other to remodel its construc-
ton, and adapt it to the progressive notions
Of modern hate and ianaticism. Between
the two an intelligent people cannot long
hesitate to decide.
1t is little singular, however, that the
Radicals should claim, par excellence, to be
the champions Of the Union when it is evil
dent to all men, that they are delaying the
restoration for which they so insincerely
plead, and seek TO degrade the Chief Execu-
tive in the eyes of the American people by
| calling him such bad names as rebel, traitor,
| coppperhead, &c. This is precisely the
system Of tactics displayed in the canvass in
| Connecticut which will end in the election
Of tomorrow. They have had, in that
State, the effrontery TO claim the Presi-
dent as favoring the Radical ticket. This
led to an interview between the President
and Messrs. A. +. Burr. and c. NJ NIGER
SOIL, of which the appended report is given
by the latter, and in which the question as
to who constitute the Union party is fully
answered by the President. They say;
The undersigned were introduced to Pres
ident johnson on Friday evening, the 23d
| inst, by General Rousseau, a member Of
| Congress from Kentucky, and a personal
| friend of the President, who had previously
assured us that the President in view Of the
success of his restoration policy, so vital to
| the welfare of the Uuion, desired the cleo
ton of the Hon. James +. English, of Con-
necticut. General Rousseau remained
with us during our interview with the Pres
ident.
| We stated TO the President that we had
called to ascertain beyond question or doubt
tie position which he took in late CONVEX.
sation with General Hawley and Messrs.
| Owen and Griswold of Connecticut, report
of which had been published, and which we
believed did not fully represent the Presi
dents sentiments as expressed upon that &C.
easion.
He said he had no views to conceal; that
the present crisis demanded frank avowals,
and he had publicly avowed them. He
hoped no deception would be practised upon
the people.
We read to him the dispatch of Messrs.
Owen and Griswold to the Republican meet
ing in Hartford. He expressed surprised
the gentlemen had omitted an essential part
of his remarks He said he did stand upon
the principles of the baltimore platform,
the object of which was TO restore the Union;
aud that was his object now. He did desire
the success Of the Union party.
We then said, 1t is claimed in Connecti-
cut that when you say you desire the success
Of" the Union party " you desire the election
of General Hawley, "a the party that sup
ports him calls itself :" the Union patty"
lie replied that he meant by the Union
party, at this time, the party which supports his
Union restoration policy, ioLour they may be,
and no other He did not consider those rho
opposed has policy as belonging 10 he Union
party. There should be 70 misrepresenta-
ton in this matter; he considered that the
welfare Of the Union depended upon the
success of his restoration policy.
The President then remarked, that Messrs.
Owen and Griswold should have reported
him as saying that he was the friend of those
who supported his policy, and the opponent
of those who oppose it. The question, said
he, Of my restoration policy as nor ae para
mount question, and all 'cho oppose IL are my OPP
pOnents.
We assured the President that if those
gentlemen had so telegraphed his remarks
we should not have been here this evening
The President then said: "THe principles O
my restoration policy are fundamental. No man
can approve Of my policy and that Of Congress
at The same time That Is impossible In Net
Hampshire Il Icas claimed that both policie
,ocre approved, which, Of course, could not be
bat after The election u DdS claimed that Rad
zeal victory had been dchieucd:' He trusted III,
people tuOuld no; nor be deceiUet.
awe then handed the President the resig
nation of Postmaster Cleveland. He took
the letter. read it over carefully, and re
marked, i this morning read in the Hteilt
genoer Mr.. Cleveland's speech at Hartford
IL is a good speech. He takes the right
ground" He then read Mr.. Clevelanti
letter again, and in our presence signed upOr
the back of ii his approval Of Mr.. ca
course, and calling his secretary, requested
him TO put it in an official envelope and t
direct il to Mr.. Cleveland, which having
been done, the President returned it to VI
unsealed.
Our interview was exceedingly pleasant
and entirely satisfactory 10 us, and we so ex
pressed ourselves to the President on taking
leave of him.