The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-16
Gossip from Washington.

The newspaper go>sips at Washington
have more reliable intelligence from the
White House The Boston Daily Adver-
li-rr'S special teiceraphs to that paper
what purport, to be a conversation be-
tween an eminent republican in the house
OF representatives and President johnson.
The President having reatiirmed what he
said to the rolorcd men as to his regard
for their race and the impossibility and in
expcdicncy OF forcing colored suffrage
npon tie South, the representative told
him that some Of his friends feared he was
preparing to % over to the democracy.
THE President smiled and answered
that if the party which opposed his cleo
ton INDUCED III any great expcctions on
that score, they We're likely to be disap-
pointed. He might differ with individu-
al> OF what was called the Union party
Il, 10 the means to be used, but he consd-
cred himself in General accord with that
party. a. Il whole, iii the ends to be reach
ed. He WAS not a party man, and he
meant to sink the partisan i'll the patriot
But 80 far a. he understood the sentiments
OF the Union party, he was in general
accord with it."
The representative then inquired as to
ihe distribution OF Offices
"'l'hc President remarked that he was
the ,rr>ant OF the whole people, but he
couj.! not entirely forget by what party
he hal been placed in his present position,
AMI supported III the administration of
the duties intru>tcd to him. He proposed
10 FIGHT his battles within the lines of the
parry which elected him to Office. He
might differ with some OF his friends, and
he should feel wholly at liberty so to DIFF
fer, and to state the ground Of his contra
~ belief or opinion but lie considered
himself identified with the great Union
party, and had N desire or intention of
bcing found outside He intended to ex-
rrriSc his own judgment, but was ready
to Weld il when he found it was not sus-
tanned by the Judgment OF the people.
lie had 10 sympathies with those who
opposed tn war for the Union, and while
he hoped tie whole country would APP
prove the cndcayor to restore the Union.
ne could not forget that some men favored
and some opposed the cuusc OF the Union
when ii was III peril.
Very different from the above is the
spirit and temper Of the President as indi-
Gated lv his address to a delegation from
the Virginia !. stature. The President
con@ratulates his visitors on the present
au>pieIouS condition of affairs, as evidenc-
ed by their mission. He maintains that
loyalty is an essential ingredient in repre-
scntation, and that that, together with the
other constitutional conditions. having
been complied with, representation should
be resumed. lie refers to .'cxtreme men"
North and South, and says the govern
mcnt has been kept on the anvil. and
hammert! during and since the rebel
lion. and that there seems TO be a dis
position to continue the l:ammering until
the government Is destroyed" He op-
poses that system. Gne extreme has
been crushed during the rebellion, and o.
The other he says: "This extreme which
stands in the way must oct ont of it,
Referring TO this interview of the Pres
ldent with the delegation above alluded to
the Boston Journals special at Washing
ton apprehends an immediate break be-
tween the President and Congress, and
tclograpIl> as follows:
President ,John>on'S speech Yesterday 70
the \lrglnians contained nothing not AL
ready known to those familiar with his
opinions He has again and AGAIN de-
cIarcd That tie radicals of Massachusetts
were equally responsible with the radicals
Of South Carolina for the rebellion. and
he Is equally confident that the former
Viii be conquered in The national councils
a. the latter We're conquered on bloody
battle fields
While the President was addressing tho
NTglnlan> at the White House. General
NlIllan>. Il representative from the Pitts
burg district OF Pennsylvania, was deI;v-
ermg long speech III the house, arraien-
lng him Is beng essentially dictator.
whose edIct> Congress will never register,
Such peace As hi policy would secure
would b. Virtually Il defeat. The speech
was very severe, and the attention with
which 1t was listened to shows that the
mouse Is not disposed to adopt Il concilia-
tory policy. In fact it is scarcely possible
but that Il direct conflict of opiuion be-
tween the pre,l lent and CONGRESS is at
hand.
Hon. J. 5 Morrill, has ciyen y dinner