Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-23
llao Hsresialeaa's 1Nlervlew with
the London rismes' Correspond.
eni..N1r. JOhnson's Position sss
stated by Himself.

'EAo rreslaloaa's 1salervlew with
the London risnes' CorrcspOna.
cnt..N1r. JOhnson's Position Ms
stated by l1lmsell.
The American correspondent Of the Lon.
don Times gives the following account Of
an interview with the President 81, the 10th
OF January:
II il some months since | last saw the
President, and ! was anxious 70 ascertain
his opinions upon the state Of the country
and the events Of the last few months. Mr..
johnson was good enough to give me an i'll
terview this afternoon 81 the White House,
and he expressed 10 me the views which
shall, with his sanction, cndeavor 10 repeat
10 you.
The Prcsidcn, said that the light in which
he regarded public siinirs at the present
moment was that n minority in the country
was seeking TO impose its views on the ma
ority. That the minority knew the scale
would be turned against them il he full
number OF the States were represented IN
Congress, aud hence they w,r nilexiblc in
their determination 10 keep them out II
once the people could be brought to under.
stand that the fundamental principles of the
Government were at stake, aud not mcic
questions Of party supremacy, there would
be hope that Justice would he done. In the
elections last autumn false issues were in
troduced, and upon them the people pro
nounced Judgment They were told that if
the Southern States were vcadmit;cd, tho
national interest would be imperilled, and
they did not stop 90 consiicr whether this
wAa true or not. They forgo; the weakness
to which the South had been reduced, and
never considered that II would still be- un-
avo,dabe that it should obey the North, the
stroncr power Inc power with available
force az its back.
But, continued the President. it is impos>
sibc tina, the question should rest here
Little BY little che Southern States had been
brought back into n proper Sction with the
general machinery Of the Government. =
The Government and the States hal grs9u.
alp approached each other law and con
sututcd authority resumed their sway. and
everything was completed except tho I'D
mission Of Representatives OF those States
into Congress. but here Congr's, inter-
POSED, and il said, You are not States at
all. and Won shall net bc represented
From thai momcat it began to pull.to peicea
fabric tho Gov rnmen' ]; be- IN 10 wipe
out the S,ato~, from which alone Il derived
is cxis,ancc The States hai brought
Congress into existence and nov Congress
propose to destroy the States. Ii proposed
IT, abolish the original and elementary prin
ple OF It's being. 1t was o. il the creature
turned round upon the Creator and attempt
cd to destroy him. But suppose these
States. with their lawfully appointed Gov
etn rs and administrators, refused to obey
thi summons 20 depart out of life altogcth
er? Suppose they said. I'VE are within
the scope Of the Constitution: We are obey.
ing the laws the Government recognizes
us by the intiictl0n Of taxes and the ap>
pointmcnt Of public officers. and no Con-
gress can decree our dissolution ?" Could
the Government deny or repuidate this arr
gumom?
lisit came before the courts, and they
substantia,s II, what would remain 10 Con-
gress but che exercise Of force in order to
carry out its views! Thus the country
would be in another revolution; toward that
oil the proceedings Of Congress in relation
10 the South were tending. The executive
Government we're endsa voring to ful6ll what
vac the supreme Law Of the land-the
Constitution. There was . time when
men considered the Constitution FIRST when
they framed laws. Now they occasionally
mention il in an incidental manner. Some
one on looking around discovered the COM
stl,ution with much the same sense Of as>
Constituent, apparently, that . man who
yes watching the stars might experience
when he discovered new planet. Hut the
Consultation Uoo On The aide Of the Execu-
tive; Law was on ito side, and reason and
justice The people would. eventually. per.
eeive that il was interposiug to preserve the
very basis Of this republican Government,
although their attention might be diverted
from il now.
There is" answered the President, "no
answer 10 this argument-no attsmp. is
made to answer il, except ty the use Of ar>
bitrary power. You feel some sometimes az
il you were following up a principle straight
to its source. and had got . tight grip upon
il, and u is exactly so in this case
The Constitution, the Presider, further
said, had been solemnly 70 .cived when the
people went into federation. Formerly,
when a measure WAS INTRODUCED, the first
question asked vas. lis il Constitutional 2
and the next, us il expedicnt ?" Now,
Congress only asked, us it expedicnt -
But, in the judgmen. Of the Executive, what
vas unconstitutional could not be expsdient
The Constitution did, indeed. provide fo-
its own enlargement or amendment, and il
vas competent for the people to change il
according TO the method prescribed. But
now the majority Of the people were voices
less on the question; they had no opportu>
nity 20 make themselves heard.
The President presidently referred to the
alleged ahuse which had bssn committed Of
sbe sppsintlag power. lie said that .hors
was great misconception abroad a. to the
COED whieh the Executive might do for Is.
self, OF the harm Which Il might do others,
BY the bestowal Of Offices. Suppose for in
stance that these was pest to 10 given
away there were sure 10 be twenty appli>
cants for It, and when it was beloved all
that the President had done was TO make
one lukswarn friend and nineteen enemies.
The friend was silenced, for AFTER he had res
ceived the appointment he had 10 make
favor with the Senate in order to get con-
hrmed The mau was - likely as not 10
snrow over the President altogether. There
we great outcsy because the men who
we're actually in power had filed oil ike osi-
~ WIN their friends and supporters, and
s"ey o'o not want to see them removed.
W. seeeed 70 ~ Nhesoeensd impsach>
0ens ~ Fsssidsnt ssad, With . smile:
pa seoesasesa Ola Wssld iaoaa. IL.
rived from 4asns Charts, "a 10 down.
i ward. rsspsssiae the right Of the accused