Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-01-03
The President on the situation.

NlcWS vi puollS aualiS' ahN III "hiNh ~
would appear he had abandoned "my
policy" and was altogether different
individual from the pompous autocrat
who was the head and tail of Philadel-
phia Convention No. l, and who :swung
around the circle" from Washington to
Chicago and return on his memorable
raid.
Though it seems strange that the
American people should look with inter-
est for the position of one whose views
are so remote from their own upon ques-
tions of national importance, he, never
theless, is our chief magistrate, and as
such, of course, his views upon those
topics, are looked for with interest.
The conversation alluded to occurred
between Representative Eggleston of
Ohio and the President, the former call
ing upon the latter at the executive
mansion, and in the course Of which Mr..
johnson expressed the hope that, as the
Constitutional amendment had been
adopted by Congress, some guarantee
would be given the Southern States that
upon it's ratification by them they
would be re-admitted to the Union. Mr.
Eggleston replied that all the guarantee
which the South could ask for might be
implied from the manner in which Con-
gress treated Tennessee, by promptly ad-
mitting her. as soon as the legislature of
that State had ratified the amendment,
adding that he believed the Republican
party would be unit in favoring the
admission OF all the lately rebellious
States as soon as they complied with the
terms which We're exacted from Tennes-
see. The President said he hoped this
might prove true, but feared there would
be strong opposition to such policy
from the extreme radical wing of the
party. 1t was useless now, he admitted,
to discuss the propriety or improperly
of the conditions laid down for the &C
ceptance OF the South in the measure
alluded to, as they had been agreed upon
as the terms Of Congress for the recon.
struCdon Of the South, and all he would
now ask was that, as Congress bad
offered restoration upon the basis of the
amendment that body should strictly
adhere to its terms. He concluded by
expressing regret that so few members
of Congress called upon him, alleging
that no possible harm could result from
an interchange Of views between him
self and the representatives of the peo-
pie; on he contrary much good might
be the consequence of such interviews,
and now hat the reconstruction quarrel
had been settled, as most people believed,
there was certainly no reason why Rep
resentatives and Senator's should so sed-
ulously avoid him.
The position taken by the President In
this interview with Representative Egg
gleston, we believe, no honest minded
Republican will find fault with. If he
cannot favor the provisions of the Con-
sttutional amendment, let him not
place himself as stumbling. block in
the way Of its acceptance by the South,
or should he wish to atone for past er-
rors, letlAim throw off the yoke under
which he has bowed himself to rebels
and slayOcrsts, and bodily assert him
self as q Champion of the doctrine that
"traitors hall take back seats in the
work of reconstruction. His past con-
duct has MT been such as to inspire Re.
publican congressman with desire to
personally associate with HIM or consult
his views upon measures of govern
mental polly. The man whose official
acts give th lie to his professions-as
4 in the case Of his vetoes Of the Civil
Rights and Ereedmen's Bureau sills,--
; cannot expe& to make hosts of friends
in the party which he endeasors to vii.
ify, unless tie party is composed of that
class of mer which we are happy to
state are scane in the ranks of Republi.
can Congresmen. Andrew johnson
already begils to feel the torrents O.
the lost, and le feels, too, that loathed
=, by honest me-, and traitorous to the
= party which eected him to office, there
is little hope hr him, unless he should
. again became reconcied to its teach
: ings.
:. U E. G. Santon, President of tn,