Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-03-01

them without their will 1t is o; funda-
mental point in my creed that the will of
the people must be obeyed when fairly ex-
pressed. Is there anything wrong or unfair
in that :" F
Mr. DOUGLASS, smiling-"A great deal
wrong, Mr.. President, with all respect"
The PRESIDENT. The people must de-
termine that for themselves l do not want
to be engaged in work that will commence
a war of races, In each community, if
man demeans himself well, and shows that
the new state Of affairs will operate well, he
will be protected in all his rights, and given
every possible advantage by that community.
When they have been reconciled socially
and politically to certain things, then will
this new order of affairs work tremendously,
but, forced upon the people before they are
prepared for it, it will be resisted and work
inharmoniously. l feel a conviction that
forcing that matter upon the people, upon
the community, will result in the injury Of
both races and the ruin of one or the other.
God knows | have no desire but for the good
of the whole human race would it were so
that all you advocate could be done in the
twinkling Of an eye; but it is not in the ma
ture of things, and do not pretend to be
wiser than Providence or stronger than the
laws Of nature. e.
"Let us now seek to discover the laws
governing this question: There is a'great
law controlling it; let us endeavor to find
out what that law is, and conform our action
to it; all the details will then properly ad
just themselves and work we'll in the end.
God knows that anything can DO in the
mighty process by which the great end is to
be reached, anything I can do to elevate the
races, to soften and ameliorate their condi-
ton, will do and to be able to do so is
the sincere desire of my heart. | am glad
to have met and thank you for the compli-
ments you have paid me-" krg
Mr.. DAYTON have to return you our
thanks, MIR. President, for so kindly grant
ing us this interview. We did not come
here expecting to argue this question with
your excelleney, but simply to state what
were our views and wishes in the premises.
If we were. disposed to argue the question,
and you would grant us permission, of
course we would endeavor to controvert
some Of the points you have assumed"
Mr.. DOWNING. Mr.. Douglas, | take it
that the president, by his kind expressions
and his very full treatment of the subject,
must have contemplated some reply to the
we certainly do not concur, and say this
with due respect" .a f#
THE PREsIDENT-ssI thought you expected
me to indicate to some extent what my views
were on the subject touched in your state
ment." a
Mr.. DowNING-siWe are very happy i'm
deed to have heard Them" TTf1f1
Mr.. DoUGLAss-"If the president will
ill r
words in reply"
simply to indicate whats my views are as
supposed you expected me to favor your adj
dress" asl atr
Mr.. DoUGLAss-"My own impression is
that the very thing your excellency would
avoid in southern states can only be avoided
by the very measure that we propose, and
would state to my brother delegates that
because perceive The President has taken
strong ground in favor of d given policy,
and distressing my own ability to remove
any Of those impressions which he has ex-
pressed, thought we had better end this in
terview with the expression of thanks, ad-
dressing the President and if your excel
lency will be pleased to hear, would like to
say word or two in regard to that one mat
ltT VI Lie VI bHc DlGChS stS
a means of preventing everything which
your ezcelleney seems to apprehend, that is,
a conflict of races"
THE PRESIDENT" repeat merely want
to indicate my views in reply to your adj
dress, and not to enter into any general
controversy, and I could not well do so I'M
der the circumstances. Your statement was
q very frank one, and thought it was due
to Won to meet it in the same spirit -
Nh. DoUeGAss-s. Thank YOU SIR"
The PREs1DrNr-I think you will find SO