The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-25
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND NEGRO
SUFFRAGE.

An Interesting IntervIew-The President
Reiterates that he is the Best Friend
of the NegrOes.
WASHINGTON, d. C January A.-J. a. Harris.
President of he State Equal Rights League Of
North Carolina, and delegate from that State to the
Annual Convention of the National Equal Rights
League, which held its session in this city last week,
and an nother colored man, had an hour interview
with President johnson not long since, during which
that officer expressed himself very 1ullY regarding
the political situation OF tue country aud Its rela-
ton 10 the status of the cOlored race. Mr. Harris
trend about the same age Mr.. johnson,
and they raised together in Raleigh, N. @.
Owing to this fact they found ready admIttance to
the presence of his ExcellencY, and enjoyed very
OF opinion from hIm. Mr.. johnson commenced the
interview with kind inquiries regarding his old
friends, both white and black. in Raleigh, and
called many "reminiscences of his boyhood days,
when he was playmate OF one of his colored
guests. The first half hour spent in converse.
ton on such subjects after which he inquired re-
garding the condition OF the freedmen generally,
! and also regarding the protection Afforded them by
! existing laws in his naive state.
= Mr. Harris replied to those inquiries by stating
that their present condition is thing but safe
their rights as citizens without the power to vote
for their friends and against their enemies. To
| this the President replied that he is as much in
| favor OF quali1ed negro suffrage as Mr.. Sumner,
or any one else of the radical stripe but, in his
! opinion. universal suffrage will effect more harm
than good He further stated that he had always
been friend to the colored peop e, and still con-
| tinued to be so. He refer ed 20 his course in
! Tennessee mentioning the fact that IN President
| Lrnooln's Emancipation Proclamation Tonnes
see is not included and announced that he had used
his influence with the Legislature and people of that
state to secure the voluntary emancipation of their
slaves. de also stated that he one of the first
| Southern men OF prominence who advocated the
doctrine OF negro suffrage publicly. In his opinion
the Coored people would not live ten years before
becoming convinced that he IS the best friend thew
have in public life now. Whatever their opinion Of
his policy NAV be at present, he claimed that the
future would demonstrate the soundness of his
and they would have good reason to change their
| opinions. He referred, in proof of his state
ments regarding his friendship towards the colOred
race, to gift OF $1,000 to a South Carolina colored
school He was much gratIfed to learn that the
freedmen OF the South, who knew him personally
still retain their old regard for him, but was in
formed that they think they have good reason for
dislikinR him politically now. He remarked
that it is not always those who mako the
| loudest professions of friendship that are
| the truest In connection with this state
| ment he cited the case of Napoleon BOnaparte
who, being elected to high position, as an advo-
cate OF republican principles, turned his back on
his faith. and fastened on his country despOtis
ten times more severe than before Thus it will be
he sad with the radicals of the North and the freed
men of the South. After more conversation to the
same effect the President dismissed his friends and
the interview ended with expressions of hope bV
| him that before long both blacks and whites will
move along TRANQUILITY, each enjoying political
rights in accordance with their respective merits-
| N, y, Times,