The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-08-02
A Conversation with President
Johnson.

From the Boston Evening Commercial.
a gentleman who had free conversa-
tion with President johnson, short time
since, informs us that he found him hopes
ful, IN good spirits, and unhesitating in the
expression of his views. He does not ans
tlcipate anything like democratic majori-
ty 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 majority of moderate
men, who will be prepared to deal with the
people of the south as all honorable high
minded nations deal with their antagonists
after having beaten and disarmed them
And IN districts and States where the re-
publican party fail to nominate such men
he thinks democratic candidates will be
likely in majority of cases to be elected
over radical.
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 viii it be to bring the
north and the south into harmony If the
suspicious, 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 toward England
adding to this evil of hereditary and grow
ing animosity an ability for revenge a
hundred fold greater than Ireland posses
ses.
Ia regard to the blacks, The President
says they viii find work enough, and for
many years to come probably better remu-
ncration than any other class of agricultur-
al lab9rcrs in the country The compe,
tition of capitalists and land owners will
insure good treatment and good pay from
the planters. That there will be much
disorder is expected; but there will be no
more than there would be at the north
were the number Of black laborcrs sufli-
ciently numerous to enter into serious ri
yalry with the white laborers.
The President is confident that nothing
can be safe and permanently done in re-
gard to restoring the currency, dimishing
taxation and establishing the prosperity of
the country on sound and enduring basis
until the Representatives from all the
States are present in Congress. The idea
of legislating for one-third of the popula.
ton of the country, and passing consttu-
tonal amendments without allowing them
any voice in TIE matter, or paying any at
tention to their wishes, is full of danger to
the future peace and welfare of the nation
They cannot be treated as subjugated
people, or as vassal colonies without 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 representa-
ton, he denounced this as mere bugbcar
1t cannot and will not be permanently
settled unit! all the States are represented,
and no increase in the number of repre-
sentatiyes in consequence of the emancpa
tiOn Of the slaves can in any event occur
until the census of 1870 is taken, until
which time of course the three -fifths pro-
vision is in force under the last census
There is, therefore, ample time to settle |
this matter between now and 1870, aud it |
is unwise to agitate it until other matters
which cannot be delayed are sctlled.
The President does not admit that he |
has been inconsistent. He is as mush op-
posed to treason and traitors as ever he |
was. and for furnishing them severely. But
there is no treason and no traitors now
The enemy has fully and fairly surrendcr>
ed and is powerless, and foe thus situated
should be magnanimously treated. y
gentleman and self>rcliant warrior always /
restores his disarmcd enemy his sword and
trusts his parole Of honor.
The idea of muzzing the press and ty-
ING the tongues of the people of the south,
after the manner of the suspicious tyrant',
he denounced as absurd. A people should
be allowed to grumb!e who have suffered SO
much, and they would be unworthy the
name of men if they did not respect the
brave officers who have suffered with thcm,
and honor the memory Of their gallant
dead who sleep on a hundred battle fields
around their homes.
MAMMOTH BARBECUE.-Greatp prcOar.