The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-20
Interview with tho Presidenrt.


Interview with tho President.
The Washington correspondent oi
the Boston Post had O conversation
with the President on Friday. MIR.
johnson spoke freely concerning the
purpose and effect of his recent pro-
clamation; and it is evident that he
does not intend to take any violent
measures, but will leave the question
of constitutionaity and right of suf-
frage to be decided by the courts.
The late rumors of q coup detat, and
of military usurpation of dictato-
rial power, are only intended for the
injury of the President and the bene-
fit of the radicals. They appear to
have no truthful basis whatever.
The correspondent of the Post says
The Presidents late proolamstions
having given rise to much specula-
ton as to their purpose and practical
bearing upon the country, it may be
interesting to know what the author
himself thinks and says regarding
them. In social conversation to-
day, | ventured to inquire of his
Excellency his views of the procla-
nation declaring the supremacy of
the Constitution, and his special
object in publishing the same. I
admitted that the purpose was patent
on the face of the document, but
that many persons professed not to
be able to comprehend its practical
bearing. He replied that there were
now two parties in the country-one
acting within constitutional limits,
the other openly processing to act
outsHAt of tho Constitution. His
purpose was to call the attention of
each and every officer and employee
Of the Government TO this fact, that
he might clearly understand his duty,
and, understanding. perform it. Our
Constitution, he said, was the citadel
II our free dom, the wall which en-
Sirons and protects ua all. But an
other purpose which he had in view
was, to assure the country that the
authority of the Federal Judicie~y
would be unfinchingly maintai j
in all the States. q l4
I called the Presidents attention
to the correspondence published to-
day between Gen. Ord and Col. Gill
bert, in which the latter claims that
Gen. Ord and his subordinates were
not the servants, but rather the mas
tiers, of the people. He replied that
! it was but one of the legitimate fruits
Of the radical teachings of the day,
that public officers were not bound
by their oaths. but might act "out-
side of the constitution" this very
case, he said, illustrated the necessi-
4 ty for his proclamation. Col. Gilbert
Neems to have lost sight Of the fact
)that ours was a constitutional Gov
Narnment, and that he was bound to
A~espect the law. When q military
officer could thus forget that the
people were the sovereign and could
Fbssume that he was one of their mas.
{fers, the President said he thought it
$}vas high time that attention should
Pe specially called to the require
4 S3nents of the constitution and the
2trne principles of our Government.
lie spoke in flattering terms of Gen.
Ord, and heartily approved the noble
rebuke which the General admins
tered to Col. Gilbert.
inquired what he thought would
be the practical effect of the amnesty
proclamation. He promptly replied,
ito restore the parties to all their
rights--to place them precisely where
they were before the war The suf-
rage question was one to be deter
mined by the courts, and not by the
executive branch of the Govern
ment." In allnding to the future,
1e said he had no idea what Con
gress would do, but that he believed
he people wonld take care that thei,
government was not subverted and
lestroYed. So far as ha wns con.