Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-07-04
INTERVIEW WITH OLD THAD.

MIR. Drake, one of the editors OF the Union
Springs (Ala, Times, who is now travelling in the
Northern States, had an interview few days since
with Thaddeus Stevens at his home:
visited Lancaster, and obtained an audience.
Radicals have good deal to say about the close
relationship some of the former slaves bear to their
masters and their masters friends. They tell
southern people that numbers among their servie
class are too yellow to be white, and too white to
be black. They must stop this. It is horribly
unkind to their great leader and master. In the
city of Lancaster, Penn, in the godly North, nigh
unto the pure city of Philadelphia, Thaddeus Ste
vens has for years lived in open adultery with a
mulatto woman who he seduced from her husband,
a full-blooded negro. This mulatto manages his
households both in Lancaster and at Washington,
receives or rejects his visitors at will, speaks of
MIR. Stevens and herself as 'we, and in all things
comforts herself as if she enjoyed the rights Of
lawful wife.
I told him had come to hear from him, whom
I regarded as the great head and master of his
party, Just what his party demanded, and where
their demands would stop; upon what terms and
at what probable time his party would recognize
the Southern States as equal members ofthe Gov
ernment and to ask his Interpretation Of the pres
enit measure Reconstruction. Then prefacing the
question with the remark that it was an indelcate
one to put to gentleman, asked:
''Do you pursue your harsh policy as party
measure for the purpose of intimidation"
He answered at once ''I do nothing merely for
party purposes. regard my proposed action as
equitable, and resting upon principles oflaw"
'.But, Mr.. Stevens, by what provision Of the
Constitution are you warranted in perverting war
made to resolve doubtful question, and the right
itself to make which was doubtful, into an excuse
for going beyond its purpose, in treating the de-
feated so harshly as you propose?
'The Constitution does not enter into the ques-
tion-has nothing to do with it at all. You made
an issue of war. The North-whether wisely or
unwisely it is no use now to inquire accepted the
issue and conquered you. By a thousand acts,
which some of my party seem now to forget, the
Government recognized you as beLigerent nation,
and your defeat left you no rights under the Con-
stituton nor any claim to be treated by its provis
IONS While you were belligerents, [ regarded you
also as great criminals who had forfeited all rights
of person as well as property. 1 propose to deal
with you entirely by the laws ofw and though
not caring to have those laws executed to the full
extent of hanging the poor devils I regard it as
a matter of the simple = equity to punish you by
fines at least sufficient to indemnify loyal men for
the damage sustained at your hands. ;"
evil you persist in your confscation measure,
Mr.. Stevens will you be satisfied with no lessT'
"No, sir! Anything less would be unjust to
those wronged by your crime"
"Will you be able to bring your party to your
support?'
s'I do not know-we had hard work to secure
the passage of the military bill-but I shall take
care of myself, and devote all Of my strength and
ability on this measure ofjustice."
"Weu, Mr.. Stevens, there are good men in the
South-honest men, who took an oath of loyalty
to the United United States Government in good
faith upon the assurance that they would be trea-
ted as citizens. The unsettled condition Of poll
tics bears hardly upon them. Lands are value
less, aad industry is discouraged fyou-and I
say you because you are your party-intend to per-
feet the proposed con6scation, do it quickly. Do
not torment the South by delay and deception
Bring Wilson home, and don't let him tell any
more lies to honest people. Let the issue be dis
tinct and well understood. You are consistent,
and have been frank, at least. %
Mr.. s. now complained Of being overworked I