Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-07-04
Interview with Old Thad.

MI. Drake, one OF the editors OF the I'm
ion Springs Times, who is now travelling
in the northern States, had and interview
few days since with Thaddeus Stevens at
his home. We copy:
visited Lancaster, and obtained an
audience. Radicals have good deal to
say about the close relationships some of the
former slaves bear to their masters and
their masters friends They tell southern
people that numbers among their seryile
class are too yellow to BE white, and too
white to be black. They must stop this.
1t is horribly unkind to their great leader
and master. In the city Of Lancaster
Penn, in the godly North, nigh unto the
pure city of Philadelphia, Thaddeus Ste
vens has for years lived in open adultery
with mulatto woman whom he seduced
from her husband, a full blooded negro
This mulatto manages his households both
in Lancaster and at Washington, receives
rejects his visitors at will, speaks of Mr.
Stevens and herself as if ''we,'' and in all
things comforts herself as if she enjoyed
the rights of lawful wife.
[ told him had come to hear from him,
whom [ regarded as the great head and
master of his party, just what his party
demanded, and where their demands would
stop; upon what terms and at what proba-
bic time his party would recognize the
southern States as equal members of the
Government, and to ask his Interpretation
of the present measure of reconstruction.
Then prefacing the question with the re-
mark that it was an indicate one to put
to gentleman, asked:
''Do you pursue your harsh policy as a
party measure for the purpose of intimida-
ton ?"
He answered at once: II do nothing
merely for party purposes. [ regard my
proposed action as eqtable, and resting
upon principles of law"
''But, Mr. Stevens, by what provision
Of the Constitution are you warranted in
perverting war made to resolve a doubt
full question, and the right itself to make
which was doubtful, into an excuse for go
ing beyond its purposes, in treating the de-
feated so harshly as you propose p
1.-The Constitution does not enter into
the uestion-has nothing to do with it at
all. You made an issue Of war. The
North-whetber wisely or unwisely it is
no usenow to inquire-accepted the issue
and conquered you. By thousand acts,
which some Of my party seem now to for
get, the Government recognized you a
belligerent nation, and your defeat left you
no rights under the Constitution nor any
claim to be treated by its provisions.
While you were belligerents, regarded
you also as great criminals, who had for
feited all rights of person as we'll as pro-
perty. I propose to deal with yon entire
ly by the laws executed to the full extent
of hanging the poor devils, regarded il!
as matter of the simplest equity to pun
ish you by fines at least sufficient to in
demnify loyal men for damage sustained
at your hands"
"Will you persist in your confscation
measure, Mr. Stevens-will you be satisf-
ed with no less %
s'No, sir Anything less would be un-
just to those wronged by your crime"
"Will you be able to bring your party
to Jour support =
Il do not know-we had hard work to
secure the passage of the military bill
but | shall take care of myself, and devote
all of my strength and ability on this mea-
sure of justice"
"Well, Mr. 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 as
surance that they would be treated as cit
liens. The unsettled condition of politics
bears hardly upon them. Lands are val
ueless, and industry is discouraged. If
you-and | say you because you are your
party-intend to perfect the proposed con-
fscation, do it 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 we'll understood. You are
consistent, and have been frank, at
least"
Mr. S. now complained Of being over
worked | begged him to answer one or
two more questions.
would you be pleased to see organic
ed in Alabama a government similar to
that of Tennessee, under such men as
Brownlow, few of which I am sorry to
say we have among us-Milt. Stafford FORM
stance p
He replied hesitatingly: 1T is not a
matter of men at all !; it would depend up
on circumstances and principles. We
would inquire whether you had State,
and"
There interrupted, feeling that he was
lodging, and asked the following question;
Suppose, sir, Alabama should organ
ize government enfranchising the negro,
providing for his education, and giving
ample guarantees for his protection before
the courts and in society, and under that
government should send good men, who
could take the test oath,' to Congress,
would you admit her to representation Z"
Without moments pause he answered
with strong emphasis ono, sir; and thus
closed the interview.
An old miser, who was notorious for
self denial, was one day asked why he was