Maryland free press., 1866-06-14
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.


Gov. ". l., SuARKEY, .JuckSon, .Mss:-T am
pra,iicd 70 ste that you have organized your con-
rcnticn without difficulty | hope that without
delay your convention will amend your State
constitution. aboishing slavery and denying to
all future legislation the power TO lcgSlatc tina,
there is property in man: also that they adopt the
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States aholiShng slavery. lfyou could extend
i .e e ii C franchise to all persons of color who
can read the Constitution of the United States in
English and write their nam, 5, and to all per-
SOUS of color who own real estate valued at not
less than two hundred and fifty dollars, and pay
taxes thereon, you would completely disarm the
adversary and set an example the other States
will follow. This you eau do with perfect safety.
and thus place the Southern States, in reference
:to free persons of color upon the same basis with
the free States. | hope and trust your conven-
tion will do this, and as Il consequence the radi-
cnls, who are wild upon negro franchise will be
completely toilcd i'll their attempt to keep the
Southern States from renewing their relations to
the Union, by not accepting their Senators and
Representatives. (Signel)
ANDREW JOHNSON,
President Of the United States.
Mark we'll the date, August Is, 1865.
At the time of its being written it was
published very generally in the Radical
newspapers, and read by Radical readers
without one word of dissent. Even now
they republish it and take no exception to
the sentiments therein contained, because
it is in accordance with the feelings of their
own hearts-bccause it contains and sug-
gcsts the doctrines which they now ad-
vocate and would fain see enforced through
out the land. The object they hope to at
tain in thus resurrecting;this letter is tc
attach to the supporters of President John.
son the odium of endorsing the doctrins il
contains. which they would willingly shift
from their own shoulders, now that they
have become unpopular with the people.
But should be remembered that at the
time of its being written, August, 1865,
that Mr.. johnson was their President, that
they endorsed him and all his acts, this
very letter among the rest. Since that
time Mr.. johnson has changed his views
and repudiated the doctrines advanced by
him during season of bitter political cx.
,citement, and for this he has in turn been
rcpudiated by the Radicals who then sup
ported and endorsed him and his acts.
1t should be further remembered that
the present friends of President Johnson
have never professed to endorse all hi,
acts. They endorse only the Regenerated
Andrew Johnson-the Andrew johnson
as born aae~, and as opposed to the policy
ofCongress as now expressed. With what
he heretofore may have done--may have
been, or may have said, they have moth,
ing to do. 1t is with his present policy
that they affiliate, and that is most certain.
ly in favor of a speedy restoration of the
Union and in opposition to negro equality
and negro suffrage, and that is the reason
why the Radicals SO bitterly denouncc and
oppose him. If he ever did favor negro suf-
frage it was when he was claimed by the
Radicals as their President, and as soon as
he cha'ged his opinion on his point Mry
deserted him,