The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-18
Things in Washington.

MEssRs STEVENS AND BUFFERS VIEWS ON IAPEAcE-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., coNFIscATroN AND DIS
FRANcHIsEMENT.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Herald writes under date Of Friday last:
A deputation Of Loyal Leaguers, composed OF
members from Virginia and North and South Car
ollna to the number Of eleven, more than one-halt
OF whom were col red, called on Thaddeus Ste
yens to-day and had a long conversation with
him. Mr.. Stevens SAID IN reference TO lmpeacn-
ment. Twelve months ago the measure should
lave been Lut n force and the President removed.
A great mistake had been made in the whole mat
ter, owing to the general ignorance OF the term
impeachment as interpreted by American law 1t
meant properly prevention OF wrong doing by the
removal of the cause. 1t was based on political
grounds not criminal, and medltated no punish
rnent, as tie letter OF the English law prescrloes
The testimony for the greater part was wholly
irrelevant, and should have been confined to
proving the detriment to thu countrys inter
ests Of the Presidential policy. VI Mr: WILSON'S
arguments he entertalns but poor opinion, ana
considers he knows less Of American than he does
OF English law. Talking OF reconstruction, he
said was about to introduce bill into Congress
to provide that u'ajorlty OF registered votes are
not necessary to ratify the new constitutions; to
authorlzs loyal provisional government ror eacn
State, giving the governors the appointing OF Oh
fcers and also giving them power 10 make requ!-
provide that the two-ifths of the colored people
wno had no Congression i representation ornerly
shall be entitlel to elect Congress zen at large
FROM the different States. His views on contsca-
tion were rendered IN auegory, as If man came
in his house and stole portion OF his property he
should fine him 10 the amount Of what was stolen.
Tie rebels cost this Government considerable
amount, besides stealing property not their OVID,
and he should be satisfied to sea them obliged
to make due restitution. He inquired partic-
ulary OF the co ored delegates the number
OF persons in their respective sections who
owned large estates and their present ma
terial prosperity. He had no hesitation IN
reasserting that they were acting outside OF the
constitution in many respects. 1t had become TOO
old-fashioned tor the requirements OF this pro- |
eressve age; and in fact, alter the lapse OF every
Generation the constitution should be remodelled |
TO keep pace with the advancement OF ideas. " |
Senator Wilson and others OF that class he said |
they were tender.hearted set or fellows, who
were trying to lay up few shekels ID q ;ayen
Tender-hearted was the term he heard some peo-
pie apply to tlem, but he would rather designate
such tenderness softening OF the brain. One OF
the dele lates informed him that the colored folk
in the South were accustomed ed to oter up prayers
for his restoration to health and strength; to
which he replied that lie placed more reliance on
the efficacy Of their prayers than those OF good
many white people at the North.
Alter leaving Mr.. Stevens the deputatlon pro-
ceeded BY appointment to hold an interview with
General Butler, who recelved them very cordially.
Being asked what class OF persons he thought
|
General REPLIED the rule should be that every man
who held place Of trust under the Government,
a-d gave his assent or assistance to taae State
out of the Union, should be disfranchised because
he betral ed his tru t. He did not think disfran-
chisement was punishment but rather as a
means Of preventing the recurrence OF rebel
lion. He was opposed singing out certain
men for Acknowledgement because they held
high rank IN the rebel service, as MAJOR
or Brgadier-Genera might be less treitorous
in his instincts than a Captain or Colonel.
Thsre Was one thing which he noticed did
not occur to the mind Of any one in any
of their conventions down South. provision
should be made that no one belonging to the |
class es dlsfranchised should be G member OF any
chartered corporation and If the fact OF such
person being member OF chartered company
were made bar to any suit brought by that COM
pany in court, these corporations would be kept in
loyal hands. The fuence Of these corporations
had not been properly estimated. II they would
let him run their ban 8, insurance offices and rail-
road concerns, he indiffeI ent as to who ruled
their votes, for he would rule the State. These
men who are not allowed tn right Of voting should
not certainly have bank charters and other prlyi-
leges heaped upon them. By passing such law
as he rggested, the General continued, these
meE would be excluded from railroad companies,
and they (the colored people would be able to ride
In the cas- and get EN- vloymeht in hundred posi-
tons on the railroads.
a colo-ed member Of the deputation. named
Halne1 Of North Carolina, compl,' med thIt the
Associated Press in the South bs' haen for a long
time in the habit Of msren- esenting and SANDER
ing .he oscks KS ana ,ai white people, and also
Snrt1 rarona sna' Ae United States soders IN
zen yen. Grap' in four places on the railroad lines
tbs Ley were least needed for the protecuon Oh
colored people.
General Butler suggested no solution OF these
troubles.
luton would be to put all the State offices IN the
hands Of loyal men. |
Ganeral Butler replied that he should introduce
such bill INTO Congress and endeavor 70 put IL
through. The Senate, he said, was slightly con-
servatve, but while it cannot be got to move 1or-
ward much it cannot be got to take step Dack-
wards. There was no danger, he thought, OF tnere
being any reaction on the question OF mannooo
suffiCge He believed there was great mlscon-
ception in the North about the numbers or the
colored peoule in the South, and in place OF four,
he was satisfied there were seven millions tnere.
When the last census was taken slavery s9isteo,
and on each slave tax was levied, SO that 1T was
profitable ~ the Shareholders to understate the
number Of their chattels. Allowing one voter TO
every seven Of the colored population ne caIculat
ed from the number registered that the total men,
women and children must be about what no stat
ed. Everything predicted OF the negroes, ne con-
tended, had been falsifed by the results. Now
they say they are going to rise; but as they are
atop Of the heap no occasion exists lot them 70
rise.
Before leaving the North and South Carolina
members of the deputation extended an invitation
to the General to come and visit their conventions,
after he gets through with the one now in session
at Richmond whitner he intends to start some
day next week.
There is no question that but two other men,
Thaddeus Stevens and Ben Wade, share in an
equal measure with Butler, the favor and admira-
ton OF the Southern negroes. Few nights ago,
at colored meeting in Richmond, Bitter was de-
clared the choice Tor President and Ben Wade for
Vice-President. The General intends to make an
extensive tour Of the South, and put down sys-
TEN of political wires that may disconcert the bes!
laid schemes in regard to the Presidency at this
side OF the Potomac. General Butler contemplates
8 mission in the South that will startle good
many members Of his party. He aims in fact, at
becoming the leader Of the entire colored race.
Things in New York.