Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1866-08-02
Conversation with the President.

The Boston Commercial publishes the
following article, which contains some
facts for serious consideration:
A gentleman who had free CONVERSE
ton with President johnson, short time
since, informs us that he found him hope
full, in good spirits and unhesitating in the
expression Of his views. He does not an
ticipate anything like a democratic major
ity in the next House of Representatives,
though the number Of representatives Of
that party will doubtless be considerably
increased. But he does count confidently
upon the return Of a majority Of moderate
men, who will be prepared to deal with
the people Of tie South as all honorable
and high-minded nations dead with their
antagonists after having beaten and dis
armed them And in districts and States
where the republican party fail to nomi-
nate such men, he thinks democratic can
didates viii in majority Of cases be
elected over radicals.
The President is unhesitatingly of the
opinion that the only safety Of the nation
lies in a generous and expansive plan Of
Cancellation, and the longer this is delayed
the more difficult will It be to bring the
North and the South into harmony Ii
the suspicious, tyrannieal policy IS tse,long
s.rsrcl, f,osa,-a,aitess OF the So,lt, viii
afowe a. hostile IN time to the, North as,
the people of Ireland are towards England,
adding to this evil of hereditary and grow
ing animosity an ability fer revenge hum
dred 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 remu-
neration than any other class Of agricultu-
raj laborers in the country. The compe-
tition Of capitalists and land-holders will
insure good treatment 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, diminish
ing taxation, and establishing the prosper
lty Of the country on a sound and enduring
basis until representatives from all the
States are present in Congress. The idea
oflegislating for one-third of the popula-
ton of the country, and passing constitu-
tional amendments without allowing them
any voice in the matter, Or paying any at
tention to their wishes, is full Of danger
to the future peace and welfare of the ma
ton. They cannot be treated as subju-
gated people or as vassal colonies without
a germ of hatred being introduced, which
will some day Or other, though the time
may be distant, develope mischief Of the
most serious character
With regard to the basis of representa-
ten, be denounces this as a mere bugbear.
1t cannot and it will not be permanently |
kijl@d until all the States are Represented, |
and 10 increase in the number of represen-
tatlves 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-ifths provision is
VI loICC uiiuCI UlC ltSG CELSIUS. mere IS, |
therefore, ample time to settle this matter
between now and 1870, and it is unwiso to
agitate it until other matters which cannot
be delayed are settled
The President does not admit that he
has been inconsistent. He is as much op-
posed to treason and traitors as ever he {
vas, and for Furnishing them severely ,
5nt there is no streason and no traitors s
low. The enemy has fully and fairly {
surrendered and is powerless, and foe i
hus situated should be magnanimously /
reated. A generous and self-reliant war !
ior always restores his disarmed enemy c
is sword and trusts his parole of honor S
The idea of muzzling the press and ty-
hg the tongues of the people Of the South, Q
atr the manner of the suspicious tyrants G
and the Holy Inquisition of the Old I
VOID, he denounces as absurd. A people t
shotd be allowed to grumb,e who have n
suited so much, and they would be I'M r
woty the name of mon if thcy did not a
resect the brave officers who have suffered "
wit them, and honor the memory Of their Il
gaAnt dead who sleep on hundred bat i
tlelelds around their homes. y