The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-08-07
Interview with the Presidcnt.

MACK, the correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial, has has an
other interview with the President.
We extract from his letter the follow
ing, giving the Presidents views as
to political parties:
The President expressed the fear
that the work of restoring the Union
would suffer from the combinations
and plans for the next Presidency,
already in state of formation. AS
FAR as he was concerned, he said, he
had no ambition for another term,
and was not, and never had been, a
candidate for reelection. 81 am not
seeking any nomination; but I want
all the friends I can get to help me
save the country, and I don't care
what party they come from. Before
l sent my first message to Congress,
l told all the Republicans who called
upon me that if they would 90 to
work and get the States back into
the Union, and restore harmony and
good feeling between the two sec
lions, would give them bond in
any sum they could name never to
ask for an Office and never to hold
one again. 1 told them then what
| think now-that, aside from the
higher considerations of patriotism
and public duty, as mere question
OF party expediency, they ought to
do this. I said to them that the South
was whipped; that the people felt
they had been put down by the
arbiter of their own selection, and
were ready to accept the situation
III good faith; and that if the Re
publican party of the North would
deal fairly and generously with them,
1t could be assured Of twenty years
OF power with the Sonth-its friends.
L told them that these States must
come back somehow, and it was
for them to say whether rs friends
or as enemies Of the dominant party
OF the North. If there were any
rebels in the South, the Republican
party could have conquered them by
the course 1 suggested. That was
clear to my mind then, and it is more
so now"
Concerning the Democratic party
OF tho North, he said some Demo
Gratis were very reasonable, others
very unreasonable, in their DOMAIN DIS
OF him. Some wanted him to give all
the offices to Democrats; others
didn't ask anything of the kind.
Some insisted on his changing his
Cabinet and doing everything to suit
them. eff 1 had taken all the advice
that's been given to me, l don't
know where L should have been by
this time. One set of men will come
in and lay down plan, which they
think will do great deal of good.
They'll go out, and in will come
another set, equally confident in an
entirely different plan. 1 am always
glad to get advice, but some men
get mad at me because I don't take
it. They don't appear to understand
how difficult it is for me to sec things
from the same standpoint with them
sometimes. They are outside, as it
were, and can't be expected to see
all the bearings as do. But they'll
come here and storm and fret ut me
because 1 won't let them take charge
of me, and do the whole business.
Now, while I am here, I don't intend
to be taken charge of by anybody.
L intend to do what's right, as nearly
as 1 can get ut it, and l won't shirk
the consequences that may arise
from that course. I can't please
everybody, and it's no use trying.
It's all very we'll to get advice, and
am thankful for it always, but the
responsibility for acting upon it falls
upon me, so 1 must be the indge."