Year: 1865




WAsHisarOs, June ~, 1905


A delegation from South Carolina, consisting Of the
following persons had this afternoon inter
view by appointment with the Presdent:Judge Frost
Isaac T. Holiness Geo W. williams, w. H. Giiet, J. A.
sternmeyer, Frederick Richards, WIN. whsley, Jas H.
Taylor, r. H Gill and Joseph A. Yates


Tho President said that Il was his intention to talk
plainly, there might bo misunderstanding. There.
fore better they should look each other full in
the face and not initiate the ancient angures, who,
when they met another, could smile at their
success in deceving the people He said II this Union
was to be preserved u must be on tho principle
Of fraternity, both the Northern and Southern
States maintaining certain relations 70 tho government
A State cannot 60 out OF the Union and therefore,
none Of them having gone out, must deal with the
question Of restoration and not reconstructon He sus
pscted that he better State rights man than some
Of those now present


Mr. HoLMHs--You always claimed 10 be. uAughter.)


The President replied that he always thought that
slavery could not be sustained outside Of the constitution
Of the United States and that whenever the experiment
was made 1t would be lost Whether n could or could
not he for the Union and slavery set iscf up to
control the government the government must triumph
and slavery perish. The institution Of slavery made
the issue, and might as well meet II like
wise and patriotic and honest men. All institu
tions must be subordinate 10 tho government, and
savsTy has given way. He could not II he would re-
mand TO is former status He knew that some whom
he now addressed looked upon him q great peoples
and radical. But, however unpleasant II might
Be to them he had no hesitation saying that before
and after he entered public life he opposed 70 mo-
nopoes and perpetnes and entails For this he used to
be denounced as q demagogue. We had monopoly
South slaves Though he had bought and held slaves he
had mover sold one From Magma Charta we had de-
rived ideas Of freedom Of speech, liberty OF the
press and unreasonable searches and that private pro
perty should not be taken for public uses without just
compensation He had these notions nxed in his mind
and therefore opposed to class legislation Being pro-
vdenaly brought his present condition, he intended
70 exert the power and influence Of the government
20 place In power the popular heart OF this nation
He proceeded the principle that the great masses are
not the mushrooms about o stump which wet weather
supplies He believed that this nation was sent on
great misson-to afford an example Of freedom and sub
stansial happiness all the Powers Of shc earth. The
constitution Of the United States in speaking Of persons
70 be chosen - Representatives in Congress, says
that the electors in each State shall have she
qualifications requisite for electors Of The most nume.
rous branch Of the State Legslature Here We nnd
resting place. This the point st which the rebellion
commenced All the States In the Union, moving
in harmony; but portion OF them rebelled, and TO
some sItsnt suspended and paralyzed tho opera
tions Of their governmental There sons'itu
tional obligation resting upon the United States
government 10 put down rebellion, suppress insurec
tion and TO repel invasion The slaves went into the
war a slaves and out free men OF color The frc
ton Of tho rebellion has rubbed out the nature and
character OF slavery. The loyal men who were com
PEELED TO bow and submit 70 the rebellion
should now that the rebellion is ended stsnd equal


Sl.s xpoln NJ rssfov
and the trying 70 get back the States 70 the point at
which they formerly moved in perfect harmony. He
did no. intend TO serve any particular clique or interest
He would say TO the delegation that slavery 10 gone ~
an institution There was no hope that Tho people OF
eouth Carolina could be admitted into the Senate or the
House OF Representatives until they bad Afforded
evidence by their conduct of this truth The policy now
that the rebellion Ia suppressed 10 not 10 restore the
State through military rule but by tho peo
ple While the war has cmancpatsd slaves
IL has smAncipsted Q larger number Of white
men He would talk plain, the delegation
had said that what they desired He could 60 70 men
who had owned nfty 4 hundred slaves, and who
did not much for the white man a. they did
for the negro Those who the land have the capital
70 employ help and therefore some Of our Northern
friends are deceived when they living sfsr on think
they can exercise q greater control over the
freedmen than the Southern men who have been
reared where the insttaton Of slavery has prevailed
Now he did the late Shareholders to control the
negro votes against white let each State judge
Of the depository Of its political power lie for
emancipation. lie for emsncpatins the white man
" we'll az the black


Mr. HoLxrs ssksd:--Is not that altogether accom-.
pbsbed,


The PRrmnr replied ths, he did not think the ques
ton fully settled The question TO whether the black
shall be ensrsfcd in tho constitution will be settled
We 40 along He would not disguise the fact that
while no had been and denounced the South
ss traitor, he loved the great OF the Southern
people. He opposed the rebellion at It's breaking out
and fought everywhere, and wanted the prinoi.
pies Of the eevernment carried out and maintained


Mr. Horxxs interrupted by saying We want to &c, back
to the same position you describe, without
law no courts are open, and you have the power to
assist ua


TIE p-SrpxS1 Jerhed tba, The government Cannot ~