The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-28
A Convcrsntson with President John

A Coaaversntaon with President John
l.: A gentleman who had q free con-
versation with President johnson, q
short time since, informs us that he
found him hopeful, in good spirits,
and unhesitating in the expression of
his views. He does not anticipate
anything ike Democratic majority
in the next House Of Representatives,
though the number of Representatives
of that party will doubtless be con-
siderably increased. But he does
count confidently on the return of q
majority of moderate men, who will
be prepared to deals with the people
Of the South, as all honorable and
hlgh-minded nations deal with their
antagonists after having beaten and
disarmed them. And ia districts and
States where the Republican party
foil to nominate such men, he thinkg
Democratic candidates will be likely,
in ma iority of cases, te be elected
over radicals.
The President is unhesitatinoly of
the opinion that the only safety of
the nation lies in generous and ex-
pausive plan Of conciliation, and the
longer this is delayed the more
difficult will it be to bring the North
and the South in harmony. If the
suspicious, tyraunical policy is too
long pursued, the population of the
South viii become as hostile In time
to the North, as the people of Ire
land are towards England. adding to
this evil of hereditary and growing
animosaty an ability for revenge
hundred-fold greater that Ireland
possesses.
In regard to the blacks, the presi-
dent says they will find work enough,
and for many years to come probably
better remuneration than any other
class of agricultural laborers in the
country. The competition of capi-
tallsts and landowners will insure
good treatment and good pay from
the plaHters- That there will be much
disorder is to be expected; but there
w1u be no more than there would be
at the North, were the number of
black laborers sufficiently numerous
to enter into serious rivalry with the
white laborers.
The President is confident that
nothing can be safely and perma-
nently done in regard to restoring the
currency, diminishing taxation, and
establishing the prosperity of the
country on sound and enduring
basis, until representatives from ali
the States, are present in Congress.
The idea of legislating for one-third
of the population of the country.
and passing constitutional amend
ments without allowing them any
voice in the matter, or paving any
attention to their wishes, IS full Of
danger to the future peace and vel
fare of the nation. they cannot be
treated as subjugated people or as
vassal colonies, without a germ of
hatred being introduced which will
some day or other, though the time
may be distant, develop mischief of
the most serious character.
With regard to the basis of repre-
sentation, he denounces this as mere
bugbear. It cannot and it will not
be permanently settled until all the
States are represented, and no
increase in the numbers of represen-
tatlves IN consequence of the emanci-
patton of the slaves can in any event
occur until the census of 1870 is
taken, until which time, of course,
the three-ffths provision is in force
under the last census. There is,
therefore, ample time to settle this
matter between now and 1870, and it
Is unwise to agitate it until other
matters which cannot be delayed are
settled.
The President does not admit that
he has been inconsistent. He is as
much opposed to treason and traitors
as ever he was, and for Furnishing
them severely. But there is no
treason and no traitors now. The
enemy has fully and fairly surrender
, ed, and is powerless; and foe thus
situated should be magnanlmously
treated. A generous and self-reliant
warrior, always restores his disarmed
enemy his sword, and trusts his
parole of honor.
The idea of muzzing the press and
tying the tongues OF tho people of
the South, after the manner of the
suspicious tyrants and the Holy
Inquisition of the Old World, he
denounces rs absurd. A people
should be allowed to grumble who
have suffered so much; and they
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