Year: 1866

GEN. HOWARD'S INTERVIEW.


WASHINGTON, April 9.-At the recent in
terview between the President and General
Howard-the only one since the issue of the
proclamation of the Sd inst-a very inter
esiing conversation took place, the points of
which i am able to give you.


The General was received by appointment,
and met a cordial welcome. He explained
that he had sought the interview for the pur-
pose Of learning without delay the effect
which the proclamation was designed TO
produce upon the methods and machinery
of the Bureau. More specifically, he wished
to know whether martial law was now abol-
ished, and with it the system Of military
courts established for the protection of the
otherwise unprotected freed people.


The President replied without hesitation
that the proclamation was a declaration Of
policy, and nothing more; that it did not
abolish military courts; did not remove mar
tial law, and was not designed to modify the
operations of the Bureau in any respect
whatever. On the contrary, it was the Pres
idents expectation and express desire that
the administration of the Bureau should be
continued as heretofore, and that all judicial
functions should be exercised as the inter-
ests of impartial justice might require. The
President further observed that his procla-
nation would be executively interpreted and
administered precisely as was the proclama-
tion in regard to Tennessee. As the States,
or parts of States, gave unquestionable evil
dence of their entire readiness to do impair
tial justice, they would be individually and
locally relieved from military government;
not otherwise nor sooner.


IL. L.
cerning Kentucky, alluding to the extreme
reluctance of the citizens of that loyal State
to allow any intermeddling with its local
affairs and intimating his personal readi
ness to receive any instructions which the
President might be pleased to convey.
The President replied, that there could be
no discrimination in favor of the unreason-
able prejudices of the people of any State
that the administration of General Fisk, so
far as he could learn, had not been Oppres-
sive, but only defensive Of the rights of his
wards and that an administration must be
continued in Kentucky, as elsewhere, just as
long as the temper of the white people
should render it necessary.


The Generals impression at the close of
the interview was clear, that it was the de-
clared purpose of the President to accom-
pllsh, through the present organization OF
the Bureau, substantially what is aimed at
in the Civil Rights Bill. He does not an
ticipate any indisposition Oh the part of the
President to the legitimate execution of the
Civil Rights Bill when it shall become
law; and he is, therefore, preparing, in ac
cordance with the Presidents wish, for
vigorous exercise of all the functions of his
Office, in the spirit of liberal construction
Of the Executive assurances.


On Saturday last, General Tillson, the
Assistant Commissioner of the State of
Georgia, telegraphed General Howard that
he had just received the proclamation of the
Sd, and desired instructions how to proceed,
now that martial law is abolished.


General Howard at once sent the dispatch
by the hand of an aide, to the President
who, after reading it, remarked that General
Tillson was in advance of his own informa-
ton, for he had not yet heard of the aboli-
ton of martial law He sent the dispatch
to the Secretary Of War, whose opinion has
not yet been rendered.