Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-01


We printed yesterday morning the report
of recent conversation between the Presi-
dent and distinguished Senator of the e.
s. The President expressed his views and
convictions in regard to the proper course 10
be pursued in the present condition Of the
conntry-which were: First, that there is no
need Of further amendment to the consti-
tuition. He reasoned correctly in saying
that the numerous propositions made TO this
end tend to diminish fhe dignity and pres
tige attached to the constitution of the
country, and to lessen the respect and conf
dence Of the people in their great charter of
freedom Second, that ifan amendment was
necessary, which he did not believe, chang
ing the basis Of representation, it should be
short and specific, resting on the number Of
qualified voters in each State This would
remove from Congress all issues in relation
10 the political equality of the races, and
leave the States to determine absolutely the
qualification of their voters in regard to
color. Third, that the agitation of the ne
gro franchise question in the District OF Co
lumbia at this time was unwise, ill-timed,
uncaIled-for and calculatedto do great harm.
he believed it would engender enmity and
strife between the two races, which would
result in great injury to both, and the GER
tain determination Of the negro population.
These views are not the off-hand ex-
pressions Of mere impression, bat embody
the deliberate convictions and matured
Judgment Of one who has been all his life
an acute observer and profound thinker
upon our system of government, and the
habits and dispositions of our people. They
are full of significance and forecaste, pos
sible condition of affairs abhoTent to every
patriotic sentiment Andrew johnson does
not utter such language merely to hear him.
self talk, but because he feels that there Is
need of warning, of pause and reflection
before the wild schemes of fanatics shall en-
gulf both races in common misery or bring
total ruin to the inferior. lie sees and
knows that the old relations Of amity and
union among the States must be restored,
at least as to political rights, before any real
progress can be made in the elevation and
prosperity Of either race. He is'contribu-
ting all in his power as the chief Executive
of the country TO produce this result He
IS laboring night and day to save the land
from the destruction which its enemies in
Congress threaten to bring upon it.
4 In contrast with these exalted aims we
have the acts and speeches of Summer, Ste
vens and their rabid followers. In discuss
ing the bill confirming the Freedmens Blu
reau, the other day, Senator Wilson, of
Massachusetts, used these remarkable ex-
prcssions -
tell the Senator that know we shall
carry them [the Radical measures--negro
suffrage, constitutional amendments, Freed
mems Bureau Bill, &c.l. "Ciop is not dead,
and we live, and standing upon the eternal
principles of His justice, with a Christian
nation behind M, and with Cops commands
ever ringing in our ears, we shall march to
victory over all opposition" With the
Constitution in the one hand and the Bible
in the other, we have moved right for
ward and achieved what we fought for We
accepted civil war rather than betray the
cause of Con and the people. Wehare some
thing more 10 do, and zoe mean to DO Il, and If
anybody doubts IL let him undertake 10 arrest II.
TEL the Senator uCe were born 10 do Il. GoD
Almighty raised us up at his age to do this 'cog,
and ,re wH do it.'
Thus are the American people greeted
from either Of Pennsylvania avenue. The
President points us the road to peace, repose,
and happiness--Congress points
us the road to contention, strife, misery and
ruin.