The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-03-24
TOrc About the Presidents
Position.

WASHINGTON, February 27th.-Governor Cox.
OF Ohio, after an interview with the President.
reduced the conversation To writing, and read it
last evening to the OHIO delegation. The Presi-
dent said his policy had simply aimed at the
earliest possible restoration Of peace on the basis
Of loyalty. No Congressional policy had ever
been adopted. and therefore when he entered into
Office he was Obliged to adopt one Of his own.
Congress had no just ground of complaint that
he had done 50. He was satisfied that no long
continuance of military government could be
tolerated, and that the whole country would de-
mand IA restoration of the civil government. and
not 10 i've it To the lately rebel States would be
an admission Of the future of the administration
and Of the party which carried through the war.
The proper system Of IacIGcatjon should he the
one which tended everywhere to stimulate 10y
atty, rather than impose direct external force.
Thus, in the case Of the Freeeman's Bureau, he
was not against the Bureau, in toto, for he was
still using 1t, and might continue to DO 80 for
more than a year yet. He would say to the
South 81 will put an end TO it Just as soon as
you make 1t unnecessary for the protection of
the freedmen - thus hope would stimulate them
10 do right, while they are not discouraged by
the idea that there Is no end to what they regard
Il military government. In precisely the same
way he had acted in regard To the civil affairs
generally in that section. He had imposed the
following conditions, namely The amendment
to the State Constitutions excluding slavery the
acceptance Of the same amendment to the Con-
stitution Of the United States the reputation
of the rebel debt and the admission of the freed
men TO various rights. To stimulate them to
accept these conditions, being such as using his
best judgment. and in the absence Of any Con-
gres>ional plan, he thought the nearest right of
any he could frame, and he engaged that on their
acceptance. with the evidence of good faith. he
would permit them u rcOrganiZe their State
Governments. and as far a. the Executive acts
could do 1t, would restore them to their position
in the Onion. They had 50 far accepted the
conditions that he required. and the experiment
proved successful. There was now but one re-
spect in which those States DO not exercise full
rights, and that was representation in Congress.
In this he advanced some principal stimulation
to be applied. He would admit only such repre-
sentatiyes az are in fact loyal, and giving salts
factory evidence. He did not ask to be the Judge
Of the election and qualification of the members
of Congress or their loyalty. Congress was Its
own Judge, and he had no dream of interfering
with its constitutional rights. His whole heart
was with true men who carried the country
through the war. and he earnestly desired tie
maintenance of a cordial and perfect understand
ing with them. This sentiment he regarded a.
entirely consistent with the determined opposition
to the obstruction policy Of those Extremists who,
as he believed, would keep the country in chaos
till absolute ruin might come upon "a. !