New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-14
fHE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
Talk with a Foreign Correspondent
LETTER re THE LONDON TINES.
WASHINGTON, April l6, 1866

4
In tho nsrnleYeJ and uncertain state into which
public affairs have fallen it 10 impossible for to send yoG
any Information more important valuable than the parcu
lars Of an interview which had with President Johnson ~
the Thursday last. The Presidents opinions
especially with TO the freedmen have peeh ~ WI"
fully the Radical press oil THIS country anu
his policy the Southern States has been e1poseu
IN 40 mueh u,usGabe peryerson Mr. Johnsons own
explanations on both these subjects have some weight
even with those who are embittered against him.
The President first adverted to the condition in when no
ound country his accession to Office and pointed out
since that time the Radical party which now mas
Congress hac been preparing for the issue
forced upon him. Their object manifest and was one
which their point Of vew they could scarcely be blamed
for pursuing 90 eagerly They knew perfectly well that when
the South back into Congress their day OF power would
be oyerthe Southern representatives woad stand a. unit
they would probably fall into alliance again with the Demo
cratic party the old Of Slavery end State sovereignty
would be dead and buried and the party which now ruled
would be stripped power Their talk about philanthropy
and benevoenee to the meant nothing more than de-
sire to work upon feelings Of the North that they might
DO enabled to carry everything their way 1t was re-
Of old corect The two sections OF the country were
ready 20 before the Rebellion broke ou-the one to
preserve Slavery, the other to destroy it, Each side was
willing 10 sacrifice the Government in order to gain
in Object The south struck first Rebellion subdue
Southern end Of the ne and now 1t swinging round
he always used these denote the Radical party
ready to 90 into rebellion again rather than have
their by the reinroducon Of the South
They nothing practically Of the real state OF the South
The very man drawn up the Civil Rights biwhat
war and vent out to Tennessee and ALL and bore
share Of tie troubles He stopped at home and now endeay
make bis theories square into the events OF the war; and
leg.s slate on ideas which he has TO tho test
President then went on to speak Of Slavery and the negro
said he had been brought under the shadow OF the
Institution Of Slavery He had bought and owned slaves but
% be had always been for ;sosns slavery upon any os,
question whether Slavery should be abolished or
cour.c which be ought to pursue he decided give up
slavery be abded BY that decision But the South now
were e alone and not sIaspersted They talk Of justice
"a the negro continued the Predent God knows heart
arc preparing for him ! see that end clearly enough
they gong the way for conflict Of Of, races
With the negro. How has such contest always
endcdi When the time comes there win be no struggle
enS, The very thing which said southern States
could never DO which fought these four prevent
sms Sso ou, Union The Southern are ready
20 come upon take 10y oaths and acknowledge
their but these men say they shall not Why II
they lad offered back any OF them. during the
rebellion should have turned them away on the ground
cola offered receive the whole Legislature OF Rchmond-a
ebs would have welcomed them with open
Would have have refused receive these States
| that they have fully submitted -
po,cy which have been ndustrously spread abroad
TSese men'had for some months past had the public mind
and mao AZ sS ss a
crnsrston be broken through begin
ether these States. he brought back they
sen, out 1t is like dong sa| IN addition some sums vsus
bot believe will all come out right In the end"
MI johnson then enlarged with considerable detail upon
The Of the Freedens Barssn and said that ito
being used 10 get negroes conveyed from the
S 70 ' the .Smes ". not % S the
They hired bought lands they wanted labor and they
The Trssdmens bureau compelled the negroes 70
or they stopped their subsistence allowance 1, little
conducted by Aboltionssi for the Freednens Bureau
would no, assist a Southern man in getting negroes
have taken refuge during the war gentleman
from Falkland County Virginia had been to him the presi;
negroes 20 the of Coumba for security daring the
He no. wished TO hire them but the ireeTens Barean
ing them whereas the Government railroads were placed at
.e,,c. Of other spssa In gu that D ns sd wss e
the and giving him .usco oI mat he considered the
could be desired. Ii did not accomplish the true object for
which IL was founded
Passing subject the President said that the Radical
party Congress talked to the people they had to fear
q oppression on the part Of the EIesa,ye because
he said could BE- made engine Of oppression. 1t
only negative forcct originates nothing i can only
tempted. Now stop Consider THIS thing little further
%i Gs III Opor,uay think
over IL They have passed tho Civil Rights bill and it
Of his State Then the case will DO brought to the So
preme Court and the people will soon SEQ which right
,h N Sm ne1
gushed between the principle on which the bill is PrOfessedy
but the proposed he considered Objectionable
Coneress the President further said represents tho
States the who voted for them individually all voted
election aS the mSS%' sseS S the Roman
what other object have but those
The .s.n promote. III Of ambition
do what could desire more than have gained
DO ao, value this office the spoke with great
earnsstness aud eng) except for the good which may
and DO bAwbee the Scotch say for all the
Let bat the country harmony and peace and how
done enough any snbion and feel that
S nigh .u TSs .ss wS.t have
said these words with smile" think this great position.
% SaI .s here here IL sy
ring that President" He evidently meant without
.rhsss mem he also SAID have raised the CRY mad
dog and the people seem be getting afraid They
men too icoud not expect get through without strug
gle" Yet most extraordinary he continued TO think
united again country would respected eye:
the world 1t aboring under the evils Of inflated
currency and while trade 10 restricted by the South being
kept uncetainyan element Of danger In the Stsesuch
e could not be corrected Yet there were signs that people
beginning to be alive to the truth. LOOK at PEORIA
he mentioned several other towns where meetings In
Of rssdsS policy have lately been held since the pas
ground said Mr. johnson You the damp place here
and there and you know will gradually spread Il will take
trial and difficulty fall my regret will not be for myself
will hope that will up do the work"
The President uttered these words somewhat and
but very earnest tone He continued with ANNA
tom Ny convictions firm and strong and strong
vctions great sourcehe best soureeof courage to
have fought disunion nearly all round the circle and
II called upon to complete the circle will Then could
most heartily that would that could depart in peace
Such far feel at liberty to repeat them were the re-
marks made by the President believe that have repeated
his very words In most instances but there were many Illus
atiOns which he employed which am unable to recall and
conversation OF nearly bours there must necessarily
be great deal which cannot pretend to remember with
sucent accuracy repeat That the President Is firm