New-York tribune., 1867-07-29
4 TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT.
THE RECONSTRUCTION BILI-THE NEGRO oUEs-
TION-ABOUT IMPEACHMENT-THE PRESI-
DENT AND POLITICAL PARTIES-GEN. GRANT
THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

are, think OF sufficient interest 10 eue them 70 the
dignity of printers ink The first subject mentioned was
the Reconstruction Bi and the speeches made in both
Houses IN which the Radicals asserted that the last
contained threat the part Of the President not
carry the into execution. These men," said
DIr. johnson, aluding TO Boutwell, in the House,
and Sumner and Howard in the Senate are not
fools enough to believe any such thing They know very
well that there language in the message capable
being tortured into any such meaning They know bet
ter than that but they thought they could make
capital by pretending to put such construction for
the benefit Of great many who won't read the message
at ALL but will take their word for its contents. neither
said. meant TO say, that wouldn't execute the bill;
said meant to say that Of any law passed by
Congress My opinion Of that and the other
Reconstruction bills Is that. if there is any Con
stitution left in this cOuntry-n there is any Of
1t still remaining-they are clearly in viola
mon Oh IT, think that's as clear as any proposition In
sttutonaty OF bills but don't think there
bill was sent to for my approval could give my
approval so sent it back with my objections, stating
vetoed 1t that won't execute iti II they have dis
regarded the Constitution in passing it. as think they
have it's reason why should disregard it by not
executing bill passed in the mode prescribed by the
Constitution by the required two thirds majority bin
may be vetoed either the ground of expedency or
on the ground Of consttuonality. I'm either event it
becomes az much law after it has been passed by
tnirds majority over the veto as If 1t had received the
Oi thS EXeeuuve so OF course there Is nothing
~ I3r me 10 90 bu 10 execute that bill until is either
repealed or modified by Congress, set aside by
4
done good deal better IT, instead Of twisting false con
sructiOn out OF sentence Of that message they
u0t approving the bill"
On This subject OF the negro question the President
said that so far from settling. the legislation OF
Cngess you'd but naugurate in real earnest the ques
itsef o1t 20 peaceful solution If they had alone
but they had given II a forced growth by the hasty
condition the South and the result could not be good
The people OF the North, he thought would this before
long, and there would be reaction These men, said
he whO insist much on negro equality never had any
real love for the There always was more of what
they call negro equality IN the south IMAM IN the North
tbgt B there has always been less feeling against The
gro there than IN the North, and there Is less to-day If
they would only let the southern people alone There IS
summon, or insiaDeSwha has he ever done for the ne
TeRct for their beneft IN any way never nave ana
ltey always bringing such things here asking for
LIS l., s siS S 1o Oi A., W ~ Ii ~ & i sr,ner vey aye
Bent Then again. last New Years day had public re-
Sth R the W white fRs they mixed in the crowd and they
were well treated as anybody else sumner had re
him. and guess he wouldn't have treated them very
well 4 they had called And yet ne - VII IN nave % Rot4g R
ana any man who doubts whether this would be expedi
en OF the past condition Of the negroes and
their lack Of opportunity 10 nj themselves Tor what ne
wants TO do with them, he denounces Rebel and
traitor according to his notion"
Mr.. johnson said he could hardly tell what to think Of
the action OF the House the question of Impeachment
first ordering the report to 9e made and then refusing
eoOd-naturedy aud as one who, though deeply inter
essted. not very fearful Of results 1t would be
al The trouble they had gone to- They even examined
my private banking account, to hnd out about some
many years Whenever got any money put into them
Come got while was mechanic; Ihey were the ohy
things saved out OF the all the rest OF my property
that could be carried off, lost He spoke OF the action
Uf House ordering the arrest Of Lafayette Baker
for not answering summons from the Judiciary Com
mtee, and wondered what more they expected him to
baying got possession OF letter written by me 70 JEFF
Davis during the waT while was IN NaShNlle talnk
Be says he got il through Jim Br0wnoW No" tne IaeI
h. wrote letter 10 JEFF Davis before during OF
Ence the DAVIS and never agreed very we'll ana
teyer liked each other II you look IN Ire Gtoof yO9I
hnd this from debate Detweenus on bill Of DaNlss Tor
trst because thought in it something like the D.
sguratOn OF the Secess war and then was opposed
rary Of War. and I knew where all the new appoint
Eeus would come FROM and what KIND o. men ~ tney De
HUNTED all sorts of authorities against MS PROPOSE
op and especially the writings OF Washington, Where
e militia h spoSen OF as the great army the COnstu
fn tbo1gbt fSat was beautiful and truthful idea"
then said 10 the President that han DteI asSeItsd
tat he was intimate with Wilkes Booth at Nashville
&c replied that he had never seen Wilkes Booth at ne
Of Booth might have called upon nm aI te ne
Capitol in Nashville as great many Pers0s % , G % I.S
DDudu't remember H. IL had been std tlat Booh
tsyed az the theater in Nashville while he was Prov
"a he never went To the theater while ne was
ttIst s,cb charges AS this should be made against
Congress- and that there is no edress ior me r
o making the accus have had an opportunity 10
ove H. and have failed TO show the slightest oundatlOh
Long after am dsd t ana b6t gof dreadful e crime 6y
usn making prepared speeches N Congress 1iat VIII VIII
history The accusation viii be quoted; but there WI
; no retraetOn TO offset IT, Sometimes thlnk abOat
bis very seriously, and often wonder II the people
sally believe what these men have said
The President expressed the fear that the WORK OF re-
F0ring the Union would suffer from the comDnsuonss
rf plans for the next Presidency aeduy IN sa'e d "a
tFnation. far as he was concerned he sara ne n,
sanbon for another term ana was nG sD nt su pr
NJ nomination want all the friends can ger 70
keyy -" come from Before / sent my first mes
we TO Congress, told all the. KepuDllcsis WHO VINO
nd get the States back into the Union and re re-
.Sore harmony and good feeling between the Two
or,1d frfxef "A
sed name never to ask office and never 70 hold one
llain told them then what think now-tlat , a5,He
Tom the higher considerations Of patriotism ana puDnc
.y IA a mere QUESTION Of party eXpelency thy ougH,
hdo this said 10 them that the ooan WaS & wlIppbb KY b
softer OF their selection, and were rad{ 20 aSGePt
b situation IN good faith and that u ane With
bsm could be assured Of twenty years OF p0Hel t WIN
= south ts friends toid tne o. ma s e ~ s9y whether
ATTENDS or enemies OF the dorilneh parry ~ h the
Essrbtcan nsrtv eould have conquered them by the
narse 1 suggested. That was clear 10 my ninu 'n'"
Concerning the Democratic party OF the North, he said
hne Democrats very reasonable others !esf , i
raaonabIe in their demands Of him. Some wanted MN
. give All The Offices TO Democrats Others didn't 9sk
yting Of the kind some insiste9& LON on M f MA tsken
cOnet and doing every thing 20 sun then ~ d't Enow
~ the advice that's been given TO me- oot % ~ A0% en
vi cons ~ and Law down plan which they think will
b great deal OF good They'll 20 ont and III VIII con"
lam alvays iad 10 get advice but men get mad at
because don't take It, They don't appear 70 nhaI M
Rue point with them sometimes They are out
as were, and can't be expected 70 & see a na s ,t at
nsbseanse won't et them take charge gf me- ana aS
~ Sn3e oes 1rSe Of nv anybody intend TO do what's
hzht AS nearly can get at H. ana VOL Shs aIt M
bease SYeSSbody and its trying its all very Wen
bget advice aud am thankfn iOr u aIMh ~. S M.
Possibility for acting upon 1t falls upon me- 80 nuS' u"
eaRDg of Presidential candidates and asprsnts ran S
gGen Grant's Testimony before the Judiciary Commit