Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-08-03
A Conversation with President Johnson.

A Conversation with President Johnson.
We find the following in the Boston Com
mercial. It contains some facts for serious
consideration among thinking men:
A gentleman who had a free conversation
with President johnson, short time since,
informs us that he found him hopeful, in
good spirits and unhesitating in the express
sion Of his views Ie does not anticipate
anything like democratic majority in the
next House of Representatives, though the
number of representatives of that party will
doubtless be considerably increased But he
does count confidently on the return of ma
jority of moderate men, who will be prepar-
ed to deal with the people of the South as all
honorable and high minded nations deal with
their antagonists after having beaten and dis
armed them. And in districts and States
where the republican party fail to nominate
such men he thinks democratic candidates
will be likely in majority of cases to be
voted over radicals.
The President is unhesitatingly Of the
opinion that the only safety of the nation lies
in generous and expansive plan of concili-
alton, and the longer this is delayed the
more difficult will it be to bring the North
and the South into harmony If the suspi-
cious, tyrannical policy is too long pursued,
the population of the South will become as
hostile in time to the North as the people of
Ireland are towards England. adding to this
evil Of hereditary and growing luminosity an
| ability for revenge a hundred fold greater
than ireland possesses.
In regard to the blacks, the President says
they will find work enough, and for many
years to come probably better remuneration
than any other class of agricultural laborers
in the country The competition of capital
lists and land owners will insure good treat
ment and good pay from the planters That
there will be much disorder is to be expected
but there will be no more than there would
| be at the North were the number of black
laborers sufficiently numerous to enter into
serious rivalry with the white laborers.
The President is confident that nothing
can be safely and permanently done in re-
gard to restoring the currency, diminishing
taxation, and establishing the prosperity Of
the country on a sound and enduring basis
until representatives from all the States are
present in Congress The idea of legislating
for one third of the population of the country,
and passing constitutional amendments with
out allowing them any voice in the matter,
or paying any attention to their wishes, is
full Of danger to the future peace and welfare
of the nation. They cannot be treated as a
subjugated people or as vassal colonies with
out a germ of hatred being introduced,
which will some day or other, though the
time may be distant, develop mischief Of the
most serious character
With regard to the basis of representation
he denounces this as a mere buebear. Il
cannot and will not be permanently settled
until all the States are represented, and nc
increase in The number Of representatives in
consequence Of the emancipation of the slaves
can in any event occur until the census Of
! 1870 is taken, until which time Of course
the .three-ffths provision is in force under the
last census. There is, therefore, ample time
to settle this matter between now and 1870
and it is unwise to agitate it until other mat.
tiers which cannot be delayed are settled.
The President does not admit that he has
been inconsistent. He is as much opposed
| TO treason anu traitors as ever ne was, anC
for Furnishing them severely. But there il
no treason ard no traitors now. The enemy
has fully and fairly surrendered and is pow.
erless, and foe thus situated should be mag
unanimously treated. A generous and self
reliant warrior always restores his disarmee
enemy his sword and trusts his parole o
honor.
The idea Of muzzling the press and tying
the tongues of the people of the South, aftel
the manner of the suspicious tyrants and tn
Holy Inquistion Of the Old World. he de
nounces as absurd. A people should be al
lowed to grumble who have suffered so much
and they would be unworthy the name o
men if they did not respect the brave officer
who have suffered with them, and honor the
memory of their gallant dead who sleep on :