The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-30
An Interesting Intervicw.-Thc President
Keiterntcs that He is the Best Friend OF
the Negroes.
Correspondence Of the Neau Pork Times.


WASHINGTON, January 24.--J. H. Harris, Presi-
dent Of the State Equal Rights League, Of North
Carolina, and delegate from that State to tho An
nual Ccnvcntion Of the National Equal Rights
League, which held it's session in this city
last week, and another colorcd man, had All
hours interview with President Johnson not
long SINCE during which that officer express,
ed himself very fully regarding the political
situation Of the country and it's relation to
tho status of. the colored race. Mr. Harris
friend is about the same age as Mr.. Johnson, and
they were raised together III Raleigh N. c. Owing
to this fact they found ready admittanco to the
presence of his Excellency, and enjoyed very Ia
vorabe opportunities Of obtaining free expressions
OF opinion from him. MIR. Johnson commenced
the interview with kind inquiries regarding his
old friends, both white and black in Raleigh, and
recalled many "reminiscences of his boyhood days
when he WAS q playmate Of ono of his colored
guests The first half hour was spent in conyersa-
tion on such subjects, after which he inquired re-
md also regarding tho protection afforded thonl BY
existing laws in his native State.
MIR. Harris replied to these inquiries by stating
that their present condition is anything but safe,
and that they will never be fully guaranteed IN
for their friends and against their enemies. To
this the President replied, that ho is as much in
favor Of qualified negro suffrage as Mr. Sumner,
or any one else of the Radical stripe; but in bis
opinion universal suffrage will effect moro harm
than good He further stated that he had always
been friend to the coored people, and still con-
tinued to bo go. He referred to his course III
Tennessee, mentioning the fact that in President
Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, Tennessee
is not included, and announced that no had
used his influence with the Legislature and
people of that State to secure the voluntary
emancipation OF their saves.. He uiso stated that
he Was one OF the first Southern men Of prom-
nence who advocated tho doctrine of negro SUI
rage publicly. In his opinion tho cOlored people
would not live ten years before becoming Convinc
ed that he is the best friend they have in public
life now WhateYer their opinion of Ills policy may
be at present, he claimed tlllt the future would
| demonstrate the soundness Of his views, and
| they would have good reason to change lller
opinions. He referred, in proof OF his state
ments regarding his friendship toward tho col
| orcl race, to gift Of $1,000 to a South Carolina
| colored school. He was much gratitied to learn
| Thai the freedmen Of the South, who knew him
personally, stM retain their old regard for him,
but was Informed that they think they have good
marked that it is not always those who make the
! londest professions Of friendship that Gre the
/ tr1ost. In connection with this statement he cit
cd tho case of Napoleon Bonapartb, who, being
elected to high position, as an advocate Of repub.
lican principles, turned Ills back on his faith and
! fastened on Ills country dosp0tism ten times
mere severe than before. Thus it will be. he said
with the Radicals of the North and the freedmen
of the South. After more conversation to the
same effect, the President dismissed his friends
| and the interview ended with expressions OF ahope
by him that before long both blacks and whites
viii move along TRANQUILITY, each race enjoying po.
litical rights in accordance with their respective
| merits. s.=='z5zg