The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-31
A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT.


TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NEGRO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS GREE
LEY-AsHLEY-THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, &C.
| Correspondence Cincinnati Commercially
WASHINGTON July22, 1867.-The following items,
from conversation with the President since the
adjournment of Congress, are, think, of sufficient
interest to entite them to the dignity of printers
ink. The first subject mentioned was
| TILE RECONSTRUCTION BILL,
And the speeches made in both Houses, in which
the Radicals asserted that tho last veto contained
threat on the part of the President not to carry
the measure into execution. "Thcsc men," said
Mr. Johnson, alluding to Boutwell,, in the House,
and Sumner and Howard in tho Senate, "are not
fools enough to believe any such thing. They
know very well that there is no language in the
message capable of being tortured into any such
meaning. They know better than that; but they
thought they could make some capital by pretend
ing to put such construction on it, for the benefit
of o great many who won't read the message at all,
but will take their word for its contents neither
said, nor meant to say that wouldn't execute
that bill never sad nor meant to say that OF
any law passed by Congress. Ny opinion of that
and the other Reconstruction Bills is that, if there
is any Constitution left in this country-f there is
any of it still remaining-they are clearly n.yola-
ton of it. think that as clear as any prbposi-
| ton in mathematics can be. There may be doubts
as to the constitutonality of some bills, but
don't think there can be any as to these and ospe-
cially the last one. Well, that bill was sent to me
| for my approval. I couldn't give my approval so
sent it back with my objections, stating why I
couldn't sign it. Does that prove, because We
| toed it. that won't execute it2 II they have dis
regarded the Constitution in passing it, think
they haye it's no reason why should disregard it
by not executing bill passed in the mode pre-
scribed by the Constitution, by the required two
thirds majority. A bill may be vetoed either on
the ground Of expediency or on the ground Of con-
stitutionality. In either event it becomes much
| a law after it has been passed by two-thirds ma
ority over tho veto, as if it had received the OPP
proval Of the Executive. So, Of course, there is
nothing left for mo to do but to execute that bill
until it is either repealed or modified by Congress,
or set aside by competent judicial tribunal l
think these men would have done good deal bot
tor il, instead Of twisting false construction out
Of a sentence or two of that message they had
answered some of tho reasons which assigned
for not approving the biI.'
| THE NEaRo QUESTION.
| On this subject the President said that so far
from settling, the recent legislation Of Congress
of equality Of the tworaces; II might have worked
itself out to peaceful solution if they had let it
the hsst1 I 81 the hesrdf dfoeed growth BY
to his present condition in the South and the re-
suit could not be good. The people of the North,
he thought, would see this before long. and there
would be o reaction. "Ihese men," said he, ''who
insist so much on negro equality, never had any
what they call negro equality in tho South than
| in the North; that s, there has always bccn less
feeling against the negro there than in the North
and there is less to-day, if they would only lot
instance, what has he ever done for the negroes
Have you ever seen his namo to u subscription
paper for their benefit in any way2 never have,
and they are always bringing such things here,
asking for this, that and tho other, to help tho
poor and needy among the colored folks. don't
believe Sumner ever gave cent. Then again.
last New Years day. we had public reception at
| the White House. Tho negroes came along with
the white folks they mixed in the crowd, and they
were as well treated as anybody else. Sumner had
a reception that day, but didn't hear of any ne
groes calling on him. and guess he wouldn't have
treated them very well if they had called. Andyet
he will have nothing now but that the entire
machinery of the ten States in the South shall bo
put into the hands Of these negroes, and any man
who doubts whether this would be expedicnt in
view of the past condition of the negroes and their
| lack of opportunity to fit themselves for what he
wants to do with them, he denounces as rebel
and traitor, according to his notion"
| ABOUT IMPEACHMENT.
Mr.. johnson said he could hardly tell what to
think of the action Of the House on the question
| of impeachment-frst ordering tho report to be
made, and then refusing to let Mr.. Wilson make it.
Ho referred TO the subject good naturally, and as
| one, VINO, CnOuBQ ueepy mtere>Geu, WaS HOU fcIs
fearful of results. 1t would be strange, he said if
they couldn't mako case out, after all the trouble
| they had gone to. "They even examined my pri-
vate banking account, to find about some bonds
that had. 1 have had those bonds for good
many years. Whenever Igot any money l put it
into them. Some got while was mechanic.
They were tho only things saved ont Of the war;
all the rest of my property that could be carried
| off, I lost" He spoke Of the action OF the
House in ordering the arrest OF Lafayette c.
| II. f, From
the Judiciary Committee, and wondered what
more they expected him to swear to. II I'm
derstand," said no, "that he testified to having
got possession of letter written by mo to jeff.
Davis, during the war, while was i'll Nashville.
think he says he got it through Jim Brownlow
Now tho fact is, I never wrote letter to jeff:
Davis, before, during, or since the war. Davis and
| never agreed very well, and ncvor liked each
other. Ifyou'll look in the Globe you'll find this
from debate between us on bill of Davis for the
| increase OF the regular army was opposed to the
bill; first, because I thought saw in it something
| like the Inauguration of tho secession war, and
then, was opposed to big standing army al
ways. Davis had just been Secretary of War, and
come from, and what kind of men they'd be. |
hunted up all sorts OF authorities against his pro-
position, and especially the writings Of Washing
| ion, where the militia is spoken of as the great
army of the Constitution. | thought that was a
beautiful apd truthful idea"
| I then said to tho President that it had been
asserted that he was intimate with Wilkes Booth
| at Nashville. He replied that he had never seen
Wilkes Booth that he was aware of. Booth might
have called upon him at the Capitol in Nashville,
as great many persons did, but he could not re-
| member it. 1t had been said that Booth played
at the theatre, in Nashville, while lo was Provs-
| ional Governor, but he had no recollection Of it,
and he never went to the theatre while he was
Provisional Governor. :" 1t is very hard" said he,
ssthat such charges as this should be made against
| maj in HnnurnSa and that tharr ia fDT
me- after those making the accusation have had
an opportunity to prove it, aud have failed to show
the slightest foundation for it. Long alter am
dead and gone, people will sec where 1 have been
| charged with that dreadful crime by men making
prepared speeches in Congress. That will be his
tory, The accusation will be quoted but there
will be no retraction to offset it, Sometimes
think about this very seriously and often wonder
if the people really believe what these men have
said"
THE CAUSE OF MR. AsuLEYs DISLIKE.
Referring to the member from Toledo, and re.
plying to question as to what was the primal
cause of that gcntlcman's anger toward the adj
ministration, Mr.. Johnson related the following
interesting circumstance Soon after my acces.
sion-(I think it was the day after the assasaina
ton of Mr.. LincOln-not much later at all events J.
Mr.. Ashley called on me and said that he had made
q bargain with Mr.. Arson Herrick, of New York. {;
Democratic member of tho Thirty-cight Congress
that ii ho would vote for the constitutional amend
ment aboishing slavery, he ashley would get tho
appointment of Internal Revenue Collector for lis
(Herrick's) brother. Ashley said Herrick had per
formed his part of the bargain, and now lie mus
have the collootorship for his brother, accord
ing to agreement. He seemed to be yer.
dominecring, just as it he had right t(
say what he waited, and have it done
forthwith. WELL said |, 4 don't know
about that I am glad the amendment WAS pass
cd by Congress- because there seem to be some
doubts as to the validity Of the emancipation pro
clamation, and this will settle the question in tht
right way. don't know whether am to take th'
Presidency cum onere, as they say when You bu,
farm-with all the impcdimeats. nd0rSc, ant
shall carry out tho measures and policy OF Mr.
Lircoln's administration, but can't be q party t.
any such bargain with Mr.. Hcrrlck or anybod
else. II there is vacancy, and Mr.. lIcrrck'
brother is recommended by the Secretary of thu
Treasury AZ Il competent person to till it, l vii
make the appointment. But won't turn anybod
else out, or appoint all incompetent man. to pa
| for q vote in Cnn.rcss.' AsllcN mnL rnII mull