New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-21
9qtu Orleans 9atlg Grtstent,
MONDAY MORNING. MAY q. 1866.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AVp HIS POLICY.

oA ule aeInlnlplom&Lc reserve winch usually marks
the conduct Of high officials. President Johnson's
policy is well understood in this country. Here it
asks for support; not explanation. 1t has been
developed with sufficient cearness, in the general
course of the Executive, in his messages to Con
gress and in his speeches to his fellow citizens to
be thoroughly comprehended on all sides. If he
IS not understood now, the faultisnot his. But the
President Of the United States occupies position
towards the civilized world which seems to render
proper, if not necessary, some explanation of his
course, indicating that decent respect for the
opinions of mankind" which is assumed to have
guided the deputies of the colonies in making their
famous "declaration.n
At this day, a far greater interest is taken in the
affairs of the United States than when the country
was passing through the struggles of precarious
infancy. Statesmen, politicians and journalists
look towards America for example or warning
Parties appeal to the United States as a sort of
crucial test of their theories If Mr. Bright speaks
for REFORM America is held up illustration Of
the strength, and energy, and benefcient influence
of Republican institutions. If Mr.. Disraeli, or Mr.
Lowe denounces liberalism in England, America is
pointed out as a conspicuous example of the des
potism Of Republican majorities. The President
seems fully to appreciate the importance of his
position President of the United States, not only
esoterically as to public opinion at home, but exc
tericay as to general sentiment abroad. He
knows very well that the ramifcations of our poll
tics are not understood in Europe.
He perceives that his change of party position
may be misconstrued by foreigners who know him
only as the elected chief of the Republican Or,
ganization. His attitude towards that organiza-'
tion is the inevitable sequence of his previous
course, and of the policy announced by him be-
fore either of the great parties had developed
their intentions towards the conquered South.
This fact is thoroughly comprehended here that,
while it meets with appreciation on one side, and
a natural disappointment on the other, it eXcites
no surprise whatever. In Europe the case is diff
ferent. instruction as to the elementary facts is
required in order to clear away the obscurities
which darken the subject to foreign eyes. 1t is
not astonishing, therefore, that the President
should have spoken fully, freely, and minutey
to the correspondent of the London Times. 1t is
not strange that in sach a conversation he should
have entered into particulars which might be
necessary for an English comprehension, but
which he might consider entirely superfuous for
an American.
As we have already said, the Presidents views
are so well known here, and his policy SO weIl
understood, that an exposition for purposes Of
instruction is quite unnecessary. But it may be
interesting to our readers to see in what manner
he presented these subjects for the consideration
Of the English mind We shall, therefore, make a
Frief summary of the contents of the letter IN
the Times descriptive Of tile interview.
The President commenced BY charging directly
that the object Of the radicals is to maintain their
power; that they fear the inevitable alliance of
the South with the Northern Democracy, and the
consequent loss of their present control "Ther
talk Of philanthropy and regard for the negro
meant nothing more than a desire to work on the
feelings of the North, so that they might be en-
abled to carry everything their own way" The
Southern rebellion" has been crushed. The
radicals now almost ready to rebel rather than
suffer the loss of their supremacy by the rentro-
ducton of the South.
Making use of the argunlettu1H dG honlni.
| nenl the President said
The very man who had drawn up the civil rights
bill, what are his means of Judging? left him in
the Senate during the war, and went ont to Ten
nessee and saw it all, and bore my share of the
troubles. He stopped at home and now endeavors
to make his theories square into the events of the
war, and egislate on ideas which he has never put
to the test.
The South, he thought would treat the negro
with kindness, if not eXasperated by northern
interference. IF a contest of races arise it will be
all over with the blacks. It will end as such con,
tests always have ended. In regard to the anon.
| alous position now occupied by the Southern
States ne said
| Now then, what do we find The very thing
which we said these Southern States could never
| 10, which we fought these four years 10 prevent
| them doing, these men affirm that they have
actually done-namely, been out Of the Union
| The Southern otatGs are ready to come back upon
oar terms, take loyal Oatls aad acknowledge their
allegiance, but these men say they shall not.
| Why, if they had offered 10 come back, or any OF
| them, during the rebellion, should we have turned
| them away on the ground thar they had placed
| themselves cut OF the Union Dir. Lincoln offered
| to receive the whole Legislature of Richmond
rebei legislature, aud would have welcomed them
with open armS. Would he have refused to
receive these States now that they have fully
submitted?
Speaking of the freedmen'9 bureau he remarked
that its machinery is now beiug used to convey
negroes from the North back toy the South by the
very men who assert that the lives Of the freed
men are not safe in the South, The freedmen's
bureau compelled The negEoes to- go or stopped
their ratons,
A gentleman from Fauquier county, Virginia
had been to him, the President sa id, oEly a few
days ago, saying thathe had sent ZOO negroes t.
The District (Ut COlumbia) for seeur ity during tl
war. de now wished to hire tham ,bnt the freed
mems bureau interposed obstacles ' and woult
give no help in transporting them; whereas tn
government railroads wery placed at the service
OF other spectators. in all that he Said it wa
evident that the President approved son " plan to-
protecting the negro aud giving him su ceor, bu
that he considered the administration of ae freed
mems bureau was not all that could be desired
1t did not accomplish the true object for which
was founded.
Passing to the subject of the civil rights bill
| the President said
Now stop. Consider this thing a little furt ter
Pass the bill if you will by your constitutional tn
thirds majority, but think it well to give you l
opportunity to think over it again. They have
passed the civil rights bill and it will not be long
before judge is arERsted for carrying out the
laws of his State. TheH the case will be brought
to the Supreme Court and the people will soon see
which was right-COngress in insisting upon hav.
ing it or in endeaVoriug to dissuade them from
it.
The rest of the recital we prefer to give in the
words of the correspondent:
am like the Tribunes elected by the Roman
people, am to stand andrepresentt their interests.
And what other object can have but to represent
lnose nterests-the interests of my country? |
nave no party objects to seryenO selfish interests
10 promote. If were man of ambitisu do not
hiiO" What could desire more than IhaYe gained.
nave nave gone the whole giddy round, from Alderman
! Ip"aTHJ ana DO net value this office, (here the
tEeSiathb spoke with great earnestuess and feel
iing} except Tor the good which it may enable me