The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-06-26

bhCEeu COuCert gwen III uOuOE Ol tho
Convention, will deter until my next
and last. ANoLo SAXON.
An interview OF n southern Editor
with Old Thad.-He Comes Away
DisKusfed. lt
From use Union Springs (Aftss.l Times.
L visited Lancaster, and in the fore.
noon of Friday, the sd inst, obtained
an audience. Mr.. Stevens was in his
fine library, quite feeble physically,
but intellectually more vigorous,
prompt and lucid than is usual in men
seventy-four years old. He is tai, and
has the bones of a large man, but is
now very thin in flesh. The face and
beard are both Rood-the eyes uncer-.
tain; the mouth, with its thin, closed
lips, and the strong jaw, tells the secret
of the bitterness and love of despotic
power and revenge that fills his heart
and keeps the man alive. Upon first
entering the room by door which
gave me a full view OF the man, there
was something so like a smile on his
face, that thought his heart and his
speeches, his conscience and his words,
were not in harmony. This soon fit
ted, and from that time to the close OF
the interview, the whole conntenanCe
from the grand arched forehead to
the hard chin-was the very ideal of
cold, pitilesS intellect. 1 told him who
L was, the views L entertained, and re-
Quested that he would say nothing to
me which he desired kept a secret. AS
he had been talking a great deal and
was quite exhausted, 1 was forced 70
question rapidly and confine myself to
leading topics, The most of the con-
yersation was heard by a gentleman
who called with me, and who can
youch for its correctness, which Is al
most verbal. 4
told him had come to hear from
him, whom / regarded as the great
head and master of the party, just
what his party demanded and where
their demands would stop-upon what
terms and at what probable time his
party would recognize the Southern
States as equal members of the Govern
ment-and to ask his Interpretation Of
the present measures of reconstruction.
Then, prefacing the question with the
remark that 1t was an indelicate one to
put to gentleman, asked:
"Do you pursue your harsh policy as
a party measure for the purpose of in
timidation
He angwered at once, 81 do nothing
merely for party purposes. ] regard
my proposed action as equitable, and
resting upon principles of law"
"Rut, Mr.. Stevens, by what provi-
sion OF the Constitution are you war
ranted in perverting a war made to re-
solve doubtful question, and the right
itself 10 make which was doubtful, into
an excuse for going beyond its pnrpos-
es, in treating the defeated SO harshly
as you propose 4' -.l-5 t
1.-THE Constitution does not enter into
thequestion-has nothing to do with it
at all. You made an issue of war. The
North-whether wisely or nnwisely 1t
is no use now TO .inquire-aceepted the
issue and conquered you. BY thou
sand acts which some of my party seem
now to forget, the Government recOg-
nized you as a belligerent nation, and
your defeat left you no rights underthe
Constitution nor any claim to be treated
by its provisions. While you were
belligerents l regarded you also as
great criminals, who had forfeited all
rights of person as well as of property.
1 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, re-
gard it as matter of the simplest eqni-
ty 10 punish you by fines at least suf-
fcient to indemnify loyal men for the
damage sustained at your hands,"
"Wiu you persist in your confisca-
ton measure, Mr.. Stevens, will you
be satisfied with no less 2"
uNo, sir. Anything less would be
unjust to those wronged by your
crime" H-t ." f
"Will you be able to bring yourparty
to your supportf
III do. not know. We had hard
work TO secure the passage of the Mill
tary Bill, but 1 shall take care of my
self and devote all of my strength and
ability to pushing on this measure of
"Weil, MI. Stevens, there are good
men in the South, honest men, who
took an oath OF loyalty to the United
States Government in good faith, upon
the assurance that they would be treat
ed as citizens, The unsettled condition
of politics bears hardly upon them.
Lands are yalueless, and industry dis
couraged. If you-and say you, be-
cause You are your party-intend to
perfect the proposed confiscation, do 1t
quickly. Do not torment the South by
delay and deception. Bring Wilson
home, and don't let him tell any more
lies to honest people. Let the issue be
distinct and well understood. You are
consistent and have been frank, at
least" t, rr .a-s- go rl lH,l- til
Mr.. Stevens now complained OF be-
ing overworked. begged him to an
swer one or:two more questions.
"Would you be pleased to see. organ
lied in Alabama government similar
to that OF Tennessee under such men
sorry 70 say we have among us, Mill.
Safold for instaDce?p .4 Elfn -
He replied hesitatingly; 'It is not a
matter OF men at all; it would depend
upon circumstances and principles.
We would inquire whether You had a
/ here interrupted, feeling that he was
dodging, and asked the following ques-
"suppose, Sir, Alabama should or
ganize a government enfranchising the
negro, providing for his education and
giving ample guarantees for his protec-
tion before the courts and in society,
and under that government should
send good men, who could take the
Test Oath, to Congress, would you adj
NIT her to representationT
Without a moments pause, he an
swered with strong emphasis, IS No, Sir, !"
and thus closed the interview.
YmrroRs AT THE WORLDS FAIE.-A
Ietter-writer from Paris says the
Worlds Fair has not thus far been a
great financial success. he adds:
son Sundays alone, when the labor
ing classes flock there, the grounds are
crowded; but on week days, visitors
have SO far hid too much elbow-ToOm
for the financial success OF the great en-.
terprise! Ths highest number or WISH
tors on any one day, up to the present