Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-14
Interview OF ssSOuthern Loyalisfs'
vs. with Thad. Stevens. # 5i

S with Thad. Stevens. 5
Yesterdayafternoor, delegation Of GHSouth-
ern ]oyaists, composed Of white and colored
men from Virginia, North Carolina, and
South, Calolina, called upon NJ, Thaddeus
Stevens, at Shis residence on Capitol Hill, for
the purpose Of paying their=respecss.te him..
and of obtaining .thes benefit Of his views in
regard to reconstruction. : The names, Of the
members are, as follows: Col, G. b. Moss and
Mr.. WardwelT, fwhite;1 Rev: Fields Cook and
George. gFayemap. (colored, land GEOIK6E
TUCKER, "ot Virginia, Gilbert Pillsbury
and e. w. M. Mackey, Of South Carolina, b.
". Reynolds and VIM Henderson, OF North
Carolina, and James H. Harris and A. II.
Galloway (colored,) Of the same State.
The delegation was introduced respectively
and separately to Mr.. Stevens, who received
them IN his chamber in an informal manner,
and conversation ensued with free inter
change of views that appeared to be highly
satisfactory to all parties -, :,
MIR. Stevens in reply to the regret or one OF
the delegates that.impeachment had failed said
it was only an evidence of the fckleness OF
public opinion. If the committee had confined
themselves to acts Of usurpation merely, and
presented their report year ago, he thought
there we're not ten Republican members who
would not have voted tor it. 1t was the opln-
ion of some that Chief Magistrate could only
be impeacbed for indictable offences but he
considered that.ihere was scarcely an lndictabIe
offence for which he could be impeached Ii
a high official is guilty ofwrong, or has violat-
ed his trust, he: should be removed for the
safety of the country. A delegate from Vir-
GINA said that the effect of the refusal Of the
House to favor impeachment would operate
very seriously on the work of reconstruction in
the South
Mr.. Stevens said it would not fail to be 9TH
erwise. He then inquired as to the condition
of affairs in North Carolina e.
Harris, colored delegate, replied that he
thought they would get along very well, and
that the whi'e loyaits, the bone and SNOW OF
the laboring casses 0! the State, were not as
much frightened about the question OF negro
suffrage as the northern men were.
Stevens inquired whether Gov. Holden was
radical enough
Harris said he was the lile-blood of tbs Re-
publican ,rty in that State.
A delegate fiom Virpina said that S ate was
in very critical condition, and unless Congress
speedily adopted some measures for their relief,
the sufernss OF the colored people aud the
white UnlOnlStS would be terrible. ..'-
Mr. Stevens said he was intavor Of repeaIlng
thai Ja,t o. the law Of reconstruction which
requires maj rity of the registered votes.
The de egate replied that he thought that
would be we'll, and inquired whether a law
could not be passed by which the conventions
could make provisional government take pos
session ct the State governments immediately,
and then if they defeated their constitutions
they could sill be living under loyal govern
ments. as.s~.s. .. .r,.. ,-..a
Mr.. Stevens said he had bill drawn up. il
which he had TWO or three provisions which
he thought might be beneficial. The one is
that bare majority shall affirm or reject the
which have been excluded shall be represented
in your first Congress by being voted for on Il
general ticket, or elected as Congressman at
large, as they would not have time 10 take a
census of this part Of the population. He
proposes still further, as soon as their constitu-
tioniis formed by the delegates. and ready to
be submitted to Congress, that that convention
shall as 40 independent body have power to
establish State governments in lieu Of the dis
trct commanders.
The delegation 10 a body said that such legis:
Iation would be attended with the best results
in the entire South, and would make an i'm
meDse difference in the popular vote.
Mr. Stevens inquired whether the old mIs
ters ard Deightors Of the colored people were
able 10 seduce them from proper discharge OF
their duty. - Is '.l
Harris said, speaking for North Carolina,
that there was but one means by which they
could possibly be made to do such wrong, and
that means, he felt positive, they intended to
resort to. The colored people of his State
were fully educated and acquainted with the
importance OF their duty at the polls.
At the same time, they were entirely depend
cnt upon their former mas: erS for their daily
bread. These masters now hoped to succeed
by threatening to turn the c0lored people out
Of employment, to drive them from their farms,
and to take from them the means Of gaining
an honest livelihood; and as last resort, to
staree them out But the colored people had
learned ny Instinct that their permanent sal va
ton depends upon the success of the Repubi
can party They are very well informed: and
he felt confident they would endure great prl-
vations rather than be betrayed by their former
oprressOrs. ,g.s.... ~ -.lt
Rev Mr.. Cook, coored, of Richmond, Va,
said the remarks of Mr. Harris were equally ap
plicable to his own section Their opponents
were determined to make every ffortto defeat
the rati6cat on Of The constitution, but they
hoped to be able TO carry It, notwithstanding
the efforts Of their enemies "
/ A white delegate said som, light hundred
men had already been turned out of employ
ment in Richmond on account of their votes at
the late electi1n and referred to the heroism
they had manifested for their cours'. Their
Union Leagues had bf en- broken up in Lynch
burg by the authorities on the most trifing
proyocations - a.. +...
Mr. Stevers expressed the hope that the
whole Southern vote would be cast for. the Re-
publican party, so as to gain the ascendency
and elect the next President for if this were
ciously begun, might be triumphanty compile
ted :.4a, RI. .--.-.
After some further remarks the delegation
retired, much pleased with their interview
Wash. Chronicle ""'-.- ~.