The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-07-10

With me, and who can vOueh Tor It's {
correctness, which is almost verbal. t,
| told him I had come to hear from G
him, whom I regarded as the great
head and master Of his party, just what a
his party demanded and where their n
demands would stop; upon what terms t
and at what probable time his party III
would recognize the Southern States as c
equal members of the government, and a
to ask his Interpretation OF the present
measure of reconstruction. Then pre-
facing the question with the remark
that it was an indicate one to put to
gentleman, asked:
SsDo you pursue your harsh policy as
a party measure for the purpose OF in
timidation 80.
He answered at once: III do nothing
merely for party purposes. | regard
my proposed action as equitable, ana
resting upon principles Of law"
"Bnt 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 it's purposes,
| in treating the defeated SO harshly as
you proposes" = q
"The Constitution does not enter in
to- the question-has nothing. at all TO
do with it. You made an issue Of war.
The North-whether wisely or unwlse-
lly it is no use now to inquire -accept-
ed the issue and conquered you. BY a
thousand acts, which some Of my party
seem now to forget, the government re-
cognized you as q belligerent nation,
and your defeat left you no rig hts un-
der the Constitution, nor any claim to
!, be treated by Its provisions. While
, YOU were beligerents I Regarded you
also as great criminals, who had for
feited all rights Of person as we'll as
property. / propose to deal with you
' entirely by the laws Of war, and though
not caring to have those laws executed
: to the full extent Of hanging the poor
{ devils, regard it as a matter OF the
simplest equity to punish you by fines
at least sufficient to indemnify loyal
men for the damage sustained at your
h hands"
"Will you persist in your eonffsca-
Is ton measure, Mr.. Stevens-wiu you DC
!. satisfied with no lessa"
y aNo, sir! Anything less would bt
i. unjust to those wronged by you1
le crime.n s., ;,sy. ~,
lie ty to your supports" . "a. ): :.
,t ~ do not know-we had a hard TIM
re to secure the passage of the militarI,
u Lbill-but I shall take care Of myself
or and devote all Of my strength ant
Is ability on this measure of justice"
BY AWell, Mr.. Stevens, there are goo
men in the South; honest men. VIII
az took an oath of loyalty to the Unite
n States government in good faith, up
&c. on the assurance that they would b
treated as citizens. The unsettled cor
Ter dition Of politics bears hardly upo
OF them. Lands are valueless, and indus
in try is discouraged. # you--and ga
srs YOU, because you are your party5.lI
on tend to perfect the proposed confisc'
ton, do it quickly. Do not torrnel
pa the South by delay and deception.
me Bring Wilson homeland don't let nj
xl- tell any more lies to honest people,.
60, Let the issue be distinct and well u
md derstood. You are consistent and ha'
are been frank, at least"
Mr.. S. now complained of being owe
worked. ! begged him to answer o
,s or two more questions.
lay aWould you be pleased to see org:a,
On, lied in Alabama a government SINH
teq TO that of Tennessee, under such M
! as BfDwnlow, "a few Of which, II
: ave . sorry to say, we have among rs-Ml
70 Stafford, for instancef" ~,
, s 70 He replied hesitatingly: ut is not
'i"' matter of men at all; it would dope
mon circumstances and principles:
w" in would enquire whether you had Sta
III andLZs ~ ~
at I here interrupted, feeling that
The was lodging, anu askeu the 1oiio"
a . ad sN ssdppose, sir, Alabama should
aaa oanize q government enfranchising
ma, negro, providing for his education,
49, giving ample guarantees for his prot
900 ton before the courts and in socl'
and under that government sho
send good ineh,. who could take
Or 0test OATH" to Congress, would you
the init her to representation ~
i, of Without d moments pause; ne
" it swered with strong emphasis;
they sir" and thus closed inc llheefsi'e"''