Year: 1866




cations that the President is not altogether
satisfied with the estrangement which has
temporarily had place between himself and the
majority of the Republican party. Whilst we
have no reason to doubt that he will maintain
his position in regard 20 the Freedmen's Bu-
reau bill, the bill establishing negro suffrage
in the District of Columbia, and other mea-
surcs which are absolutely outrageous in their
nature, we are fearful that he will give his
assent to schemes which TO the people of the
South will be extremely dstasteful Senator
DooLITTLE's proposition to amend the Consti-
tuition, for instance, meets with the approval
OF Mr.. JOHNSON. That proposition makes
voters the basis of representation. This, of
itself, while Objectionable, has an appearance
of fairness, because it is 4 virtual acknowledge
ment of the right of each State to regulate the
right of suffrage for itself but when coupled
with provision, as it is likely TO be, that dis
franchised rebels shall be counted In the basis
of representation in those States which have
"loyal" representatives, elected under regis
try laws-as in Maryland, Missouri, and West
Eirgnia-the wish to cripple the South is so
apparent that we cannot but regard such
measure with a feeling of hostility. And yet
the President may feel it to be his duty to sane
ton this proposition, even with the objection
able feature in it which Mr.. DoOLITTLE did
not propose, but which originated with one OF
the Radical majority.


/ Among the indications that the President
has not finally been abandoned by the Radi-
Gals, is the fact that on Tuesday last the
"Cnion" Senators, including Messrs. Doc
LITTLE, LANE, and STEwART-the Presidents
friends-had a caucus in Washington in order
to unite upon some constitutional amendment
regulating the basis of representation. This
is the very thing that we have all along been
afraid of. The caucus, in the hope of securing
a proposition to amend the Constitution in
this respect, which would be acceptable to the
entire body of Republican Senators, referred
the various differing ones now before the
Senate TO those of their number who are mem.
bers of the Reconstruction Committee, with
instructions to report at an early day.


Another sign that the President is not unwil-
ling TO agree TO any reasonable terms OF re-
union with the Republicans of Congress is
furnished in the following statement of the
Washington correspondent Of the New York
Ifijune:


s'Senator Sherman is reported TO have had
All interview of more than an hours duration
today with the President, and found him in a
far more tractable mood than hitherto. The
Senator assured him there was no justitiable
cause for an abandonment of the principles
upon which the Republican party carried the
Presidential election. Norscould he afford TO
cut loose from the men who were first and
foremost in securing the success of that party.
The conversation is said TO have been quite
unreserved and comprehensive. In reply, the
President insisted that he had no wish or pur-
pose TO in woke any issue or eStrangement among
his kepu bican friends and supporters. He ad
mitted that he owed his present elevation to
the men of that party, and that While III some
matters he might differ III opinion with them,
he did not purpose TO set up his lndlNldual
opinions against their combined wisdom or de-
sires In regard to the Copperhead fawnng
and batteries which had so annoyed his Re
publican friends, he said he had been i'll polti-
cal life too long TO be deceived by them. The
interview, as reported, together with express
sions known TO have emanated from one of his
1irmest adherents i'll the Cabinet, 4nsplred
more hopeful feeling


Again The same correspondent is respon-
sible for the following statement of the same
purport:


We have the very best authority for sta
ting that the firm determination OF Congress,
and the unwavering support given IL by the
loyal people of the country in its effort toward
restoring the Union and placing its destinies
i'm loyal hands alone, have not been without
effect at the other end of the avenue; ii be-
gins to be Enthusiastically discerned by the Pre-
sident and his Cabinet that the great masses
of the people are against the policy of giving
up the legislative control of the Government
to unrepentant rebels and i'll consequence
thereof an honest effort viii be made TO adjust
and harmoniZe the discordant views which
have so gravey excited the apprehensions OF
the country