The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-07-31
PRESIDENT JOHNSON ON THE PO-
IITICAL SITUATION.
From the Boston Evening Commercial

From the Boston Evening Commercial
gentleman who had a free conversation
with President johnson, short tune since, IN
form, ms that he found him hopeful, in good
shirts and uphesitatng in the expression of his
views He does not anticipate anything IKE
democratic majority 10 the next house OF hep-
resentatiyes, though the number or representa-
tives of that party will doubtless be consioera-
bly increased But he does count confidently
on the return off majority OF moderate men,
gbo will be prepared to deal with the people OF
the South as all honorable and high-minded
nations deal with their antagonists after having
beaten and disarmed them. And in districts
and States where the republican party fail to
nominate such men he thinks democratic candi
dates will be likely 10 a majority of cases to be
elected over radicals
The President is unhestatinely of the opin-
ion that the only safety Of the uatlGn 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 har-
mony. Ii the suspicious, tyrannlcal policy IS
too long pursued, the population of the South
will become hostile in time to the North as
the people Of Ireland towards England, add:
ing to this evil of hereditary and growing ami
mostly an ability for revenge a hundted fold
greater than Ireland possesses.
In regard to the blacks, the President says
they will find work enough, aud for many years
to come probably better remuneration than any
other class of agricultural laburers in the cOun
try The competition Of capitalists and land
owners 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 hume
rous to enter into serious rivalry With the white
laborers.
The President is confident that nothing can
be safely and permanently done In regard to
restoring the currency, diminishing taxation and
establishing the prosperity Of the country on
sound and enduring basis until Representatives
from all the States are present in Congress-
The idea Of lceislating for one third of the
population of the country, and passing constitu
tional amendments without allowing them any
voice in the matter, paying any attention 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 intro
duced, 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 representation,
he denounced this a mere bugbear 1t can
not and it will not be permanently settled until
all the CtateS are represented, ahu ho ihciedoe
in the numbers Of Representatives 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-ffths pro
vision is in force under the last census. There
is, therefore, ample time to settle this matter
between now and 1870, and it is unwise TO
agitate it until other matters which cannot be
delayed are settled.
The President does not admit that he has
been Inconsistent. He is much opposed to
treason and traitors ever he was, and for pun
ishing them severely. But there is treason
and no traitors now. The enemy has fully and
fairly surrendered. and is powcrIess and foe
thus situated should be magnanimocsly treated
a generous and selfreiant warrior always
stores his disarmed enemy his sword and trusts
his parole Of honor
The idea of muzzling the press and tying the
tongues of the people Of the South, after the
manner of the suspicious tyrants and the holy
Inquistion of the Old World, he denounces as
absurd. a people should be allowed to grum-
bic who have suffered SO much, and they would
be unworthy the name of men if they did not
respect the brave men who have suffered with
them, and honor the memory of their gallant
dead who sleep a hundred battle fields
around their homes