Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-02-17
President Johnson's Talks"

4 president Johnson has had three talks
rersnllv, which show very clearly the
course he intends lophrsue. One with
delegation from Montana Territory, an
other with delegation OF negroes with
Fred Douglas as spokesman. and a third
with delegation from the Virginia Leg
islature the bearers of certain resolutions
from that body. y. ..<-i.-.s -
The Montana people came TO congrat-
ulsle him upon the lone Of his annual
message and he told them he was no
Presidential sspirsn. and that he could
afford TO DO right and would do ii, and
that lis sole object was to restore the
Union and not 10 make political combl-
uaIuns.
The negro delegation came 10 ask for
equal. Suffrage aud equal RICH. with
whlte men. He told them that while he
sympa,hized with them, he could moi
and would not recommend equal suffrage
with the while. for 10 throw two oPpo.
site races thus in conflict would lead to
W ar OF races and their exterminatiun. Be.
sides. they had gone into This war slaves
and bad come oul freedmen. while the
white men in the South had gone into il
freempn and had los, all they possessed
and that The negro ought 10 be salsh d
and 90 to work like honest whiie men and
if lley could moi find work enough in The
South TO 90 elsewhere.
The character Of HE visit OF the Vir-
ginia delegation may be gathered from the
following resolution selected from num-
Der Of others presented by Hon. John B.
Baldwin - -e .-.
1. Resolved by the General Assembly Of Vir-
GINA, That the people OF this Commonwealth,
and their representatives here assembled, cor
Orally approve Tie policy pursued by Andrew
Johnson, President OF the United States, in the
reorganization of the Union. We accept the
result of the late contest, and do not. desire 10
renew what mas been so.concluslyely determn-
ed nor do W e near to permit any one subject
to our con,rolto attempt its rene val, or to yio
late any Of our obligations 10 the United STATES
Government We mean to cooperate in the
wise, firm, and jus, policy adopted by The Pres
ident, with ali The energy and power we can
devote to that object. ''''' ~
To which President Johnson replied as fol-
lows '.
have no doubt that your intention IS to car
ry out and comply with every single principle
laid down IN the resolutions you nave submit
led know some are dhtruS!fuH but am OF
those who have confidence in we udgment-m
the integrity-in the intelligence-in The virtue
of the great mass Of the American people, and
having such confidence, | am willing TO trust
them, and thank God tina, we have not yet
reached that point where we have lost all con-
hdencs IN each other. - ..t.
nigh; make use Of home Squire and say
that ii has been hammer at ore cid Of The line
ard anvil al Other; and this great Government
the best the world ever saw, was Kept upon
the anvil 3i-d hammered before the rebellion,
and it has been hammered since he rebs,icn;
and there seems to BE- disposition 10 continue
the hainmering until the Government hail be I
destroyed. have opposed that system always,
and oppose It now. n
The Government, in the assertion Of ts pow
ers aud in the maintenance OF the pfin.IFi., -
tho Constitstio, has taken hold of ore eItro rye
and with the strong arm Of physical power has
put down The rebellion. Now, o. weswlng
around the circle of the Union, with hIed and
de et mInat,on to stand BY 1t, II we
find the counterpart or the duplicate OF the
Same spirit that played to this feeling and these
pc rsons in the South, this other extreme which
stands il the wa, must get On OF II, and tse
Government must srsRd uushaken and uninovsd
on its basis. The Government must be pre-
served.