Year: 1865

WASHINGTON, June "a.


A delegation from South Carolina, had an
interview, by appointment, with the President:


The President said it was his intention to
talk plainly, 50 there might be 10 misunder
standing. Therefore they should look each
other in the face, and not initiate the ancient
augurs, who, when they met one another, could
smile at their success in deceiving the people.
He said If this Union was to be preserved, it
must be on the principle of fraternity, both in
Northern and Southern States, maintaining
certain relations in the government. A State
cannot go out Of the Union, and therefore,
none of them having gone out, we must deal
with the question Of restoration and not recon.
structior. He suspected he was better
States Rights man than some of those now
present. MIR. Holmes-"You always so claim.
ed to be-" Laughter.


The President replied that he had always
thought that slavery could not be sustained
outside Of the constitution, and that whenever
the experiment was made it would be lost
Whether it could, or could not, he was for the
Union, and if slavery set itself up to control
the government, the government must triumph
aud slavery perish. The institution of slavery
made the issue, and We might as we'll meet it
like wise, patriotic and honest men. All
institutions must be subordinate to the GOV.
ernment, and slavery has given way. He
would not, if he could, remand it to its former
status. He knew that some whom he now ad-
dressed, looked upon him as q great peoples
man and radical. but however unpleasant it
might be to them, he had no hesitation in saw
ing that before and after he entered public
life he was opposed to monopolies, perpctuities
and entails. For this he used to be denounced
as demagogue. We had monopoly South
in slaves. Though he had bought and held
slaves, he had never sold one. From Magma
Charta We had derived our ideas of freedom of
speech, liberty of the press, and unreasonable
searches, and that private property should not
be taken for public use without due compen.
sation. He had long had these notions fixed
in his mind. md was, therefore, opposed to
class legislation. Being providentially brought
to bis present condition, he intended to exert
the power and influence Of the government, so
as to place in power the popular part of the
nation. He proceeded on the principle that
the great masses arc not the mushrooms about
a stump, which wet weather supplies. He be-
lieved that this nation was sent on great mis-.
sion, to afford an example of freedom and
substantial happiness to all the powers of the
earth.


The Constitution of the United States, in
speaking of persons to be chosen as represen
tatives in Congress, says that the electors in
each State shal have the qualification requisite
for electors of the most numerous branch of
the State Legislature. Here We find rest.
ing place. This was the point at which the
rebellion commenced. All the States were
in the Union, moving in harmony, but portion
then rebelled and to some extent suspended
and paralyzed the operations Of their govern.
ments. There is constitutional obligation
resting upon the u. s. Government to nut
down rebellion, suppress insure ction and repel
invasion. The slaves went into the war as
slaves and came out as free men Of color
The friction Of the rebellion has rubbed out
the nature and character Of slavery. The
loyal men who were also compelled to bow and
submit to the rebellion should, now that the
war is ended. stand equal to loyal men every
where. Hence the wish Of restoration and the
trying to get back the States to the point at
which they formerly moved in perfect harmony.
lie did not intend to serve any particular clique
or interest. He would say to the delegation,
that slavery is gone as an institution. There
was no hope that the people Of South Carolina
could be admitted into the Senate or House of
Representatives, until they had afforded evi.
dence, by their conduct, of this truth.


The policy, now that the rebellion is sup
pressed, is not to restore the State government
through military rule, but through the people
While the war has emancipated slaves, it has
emancipated a large number of white men,
He would talk plain, as the delegation had
said that was what they desired. He could 90
to men who had owned ffty or a hundred
slaves, and who did not care as much for the
poor white man as they did for the negro
Those who owned the land have the capital to
employ help, and, therefore, some of our
Northern friends arc deceived when they, liv.
ing afar off, think they can exercise greater
control over the freedmen than the Southern
men, who have been reared where the institu.
ton of slavery has prevailed.


Now, he did not want the late shareholders
to control the negro votes against white men,
Let each State judge of the disposition of its
own political power. He was for emancipa.
ting the white man as well as the black.


Mr.. Holmes asked, "Is that not altogether
accomplished|'


The President replied that he did not think
the question was fully settled The question
as to whether the black man will be engrafted
into the constitution, will be settled as we 70
along. He would not disguise the fact that
while he had been persecuted, at the south. as
traitor, ne loved the great mass of the south.
ern people. He opposed the rebellion at its
breaking out, and fought it everywhere, and
now he wanted the principles of the govern
ment carried out and maintained.


Mr.. Holmes interrupted him by saying, eve
want to get back to the same position as YOU
describe, as We are without law. No courts
are opened and you have the power to assist
u.s." s.'


The President replied that the government
cannot 80 on unless it is based on right. The
people Of South Carolina must have conven.
ton and amend the constitution by abolishing
slavery, and this must be done in good faith,
and the convention or Legislature must adopt
the proposed amendment to the constitution of
the United States which prohibits and excludes
slavery everywhere. .- ..


One Of the delegates eaid, ave are most
anxious for civil rule, for we have had more
than enough Of military despotism"


The President resumed and said, that As the
Executive he could only take the intiatory
steps to enable them to do the thing which was
incumbent on them to perform.


Another Of the delegates remarked that it
was assumed in some parts Of this country,
that, in consequence OF the rebellion, the
Southern States had forfeited their rights 40
members of the Confederacy aud that, if re.
stored, it could be on certain conditions, one
of which was that slavery should be abolished
This could be done only through q conven-
ton.


The President repeated that the friction Of
the rebellion had rubbed slavery out, but il
would be better so to declare By law, as one of
the delegates had just remarked that the con.
stitution of South Carolina did not establish
slavery. 1t were better to insert q clause An.
tagonistic to slavery.


Judge Frost said substantially, the object of
our prayer is the appointment OF q Governor
The State Of South Carolina will accept these
conditions, in order that law aud order may be
restored, and that enterprise and industry may
be directed to useful ends. We desire restora.
ton AZ soon as possible. 1t is the part of wis.
dom to make the best Of circumstances. Ger.
tain delusions have been dispelled By tho revo.
luton. Among them, that of slavery as an
element Of political strength and moral power.
Il is very certain that the old notion respecting
State rights, in the maintenance of which