The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-04-26
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\. N. stephens vie.vs-Recon-
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A. II. stephens vieAvs-RecOn-
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Under the above caption, the Washing
ton correspondent of the Cincinnati Com
merciaI, gives an interesting report of the
views of Mr.. Stephens on the questions of
the day, as expressed in an Interview: 3
WAsHINaToN, April 6, 1S66.-Proba-
bly, no man in the South, who was closely
identified with the rebellion, is less dis
trusted by the loyal people, than Alexan-
der II. Stephens Before the elimination
of that treason to the United States, which
is declared in the organic Act of our Gov
ernment to consist in levying war against
them, Mr. Stephens sirenuously opposed
secession, and predicted what has come to
the Southern people rs result of their
mad folly and crime. But that indescriba-
BILE ignis fatuus of State sovereignty, popu-
larly called States rights, seems to have
drawn not only Mr.. Stephens, but General
Lee, aud many other Southern men who
professed loyalty, into the malestrom of
treason. And to ,conciliate that numerous
class of Southrons, known there at that
time rs Conservatives, MIR. s. was selected
as their second Executive officer of the
Confederacy. Officiating in that capacity,
he may be fairly presumed to at least un-
derstand the feelings and wishes of the
Southern people, a correct reflex of a large
and respectable portion of whom he was,
immediately proceeding the rebellious out
break. p-e-
Hence, upon the arrival in this city
day or two ago, had the pleasure OF sew
eral long interviews with him. that might
Gull from these copious and unreserved ex.
prcssions of opinion on the various subjects
now agitating the public, such main fea.
lures as will give US "pore light" on the
great problem of reconstruction. He ex-
pressed to me sz
HIS VIEWS ON JoHNsoN's POLICY.
and thinks the principles enunoiated by
the President in his annual message, last
December, and reiterated in various official
and unofficial documents and speeches
since, are the fundamental elements of our
system of Government. This policy is &C.
cePtable to the late insurgents, and is, in
his opinion, the only basis of restoration
which will command the hearty coop.
Grafton Of the conservative and peace
loving people in all sections of the country.
He thinks that all Mr.. Johnson has done
towards reconstruction was done under the
sanction of military law and Us commander
in-chief Of victorious army and navy.
What the conquered people of the South
did was part and parcel Of the terms of
surrender. When they had complied with
the conditions exated by the President,
they were entitled to all the rights allowed
other sections of the country, and that Con-
gress had no more right to dictate any adj
ditioal terms of surrender than the sc ne
body weuld have had to have dictated the
terms OF surrender at Vicksburg. But
WHY DO THE REPUBLICANS PERSIST
in their attempt to keep out in the cold all
these States now at peace and penitent
Because they will vote with the strict
coastructionists" Gas they always have done,
he said) and not with the Federals and
thus, by uniting with the Northern Demo
Gratis, there would be formed large ma
tlonal party, possessing sufiiciency Of
strength and adheslveness to warrant q de.
feat of Black Republican Radicalism
They think if they can compel the adop-
tion Of universal suffrage, by the enchant-
ment OF
THE STEWART PROPOSITION
Of universal amnesty, or otherwise, then,
the negro voting with tho Federa!s in the
South, there would be hope of a longer
continuance in power. He could see no
other explanation of the jealous manner in
which the Radicals urged the titles of the
late slaves to political equality with the
whites, new aud unheard of question
sprung upon the issues Of civil war. And
he does not think the Stewart plan of
"tickle me, Johnnie, and I'll tickle you"
would be sanctioned by single Southern
State. He thought the Northern view of the
question of secession was that the Southern
States had never gone out of the Union.
and tho war was prosecuted to keep them
from going out If the Southern States
we're out Of the Union, then the war against
them was cruel and atrocous. The Pres
ident's view that the functions OF these
States were merely suspended during the