Year: 1866

From Baltimore, Mr.. S. NJ johnson writes ette


to the president, in which he gives the substance o
an interview with Hon. Stephen A. Douglas in 1854


1t is now given to the public in compliance with ,


promise made to Mr.. Douglas in 1861 not long before


his death. The following extract will be read witt


much interest:


The severance of relations between the democracy


north and south, will throw the whole mana cement Of


public affairs into the hands of men whose object will
be as much to punish the southern people as to pre-
serve the Union Should the south Withdraw under


such circumstances the struggle will be fierce and pro-
| tracted. A great civil and the continuance of


slavery are, in my judgment, utterly incompatible.


The men who have been ready, at any time, to sacri-


nee the Union to emancipation, will have exclusive
/ control OF the government 1t is folly to suppose


their efforts will be limited to the restoration of the


Union 1t will not be careful inquiry whether they


possess legal authority, by virtue of the federal


siuton, to do that which they have ever been ready
TO do III contempt Of that compact. They will make


new law suited to the ends they seek TO accomplish


WRITE profeSsedy engaged in the great work of resor


ing the integrity of the Union The foremost evil of


such state of things is that which shall bring into
power that nomadic class of mind, those wandering


humanitarians, those fierce and turbulent spirits


whose atmosphere of life is the hurricane and the
storm. Starting with the conviction that civilization
and good government are a long way behind them


they have no respect for constitutions, however wise
and no regard for rights, however Sacred Suspicious
and ungenerous in mind, vndictve and cruel in re-
sentiment proscrptve and unprineiplcd in action and
tyrannieal and mercess in the exercise of authority
their subugaon of the south will leave us an inher-
itance of evils scarcely less appalling than those in
eeparaoe from struggle to maintain the integrity of
tile Union.


The attempt will be made to confer upon the people
OF the two races equal political rights and privileges
am irFevocably opposed to any such policy This is
white nans government and it never can be any
thing else and preserve the public peace. The abo-
tim 0f Sc anft tbo
the future but that will only exhibit the folly of all
attempts to confer political power upon the negro
race The latter by tue constitution of their nature
are dependent people. They are entitled to protec-
ton; and if made free, either by their own vindica
uon-an event never contemplaed-or by the con-
vusions which would inevitably attend an effort to
break up the Union, would regard the duty of the
United States as it would be the dictate of Justice
and philanthropy, to extend over them as we have I
extended to the Indian tribes the guardianship of the
national government.


in regard to the negro race, l hold that we have
done quite enough fo them by giving them an asylum
a field for labor and the protection of our laws |
repeat again, as have everywhere proclaimed our
institutions are made for white men, and must be
exclusively for their benefit ard advantage
My fahin the policy that looks to the exclusion of
The blacks from all political rights is stern and I'M
bending. see nothing bnt evil in attempts to equal
Sc the races politically, to bring them to terms of
social equality But when rebellion shall be cut down
m attempt will be made by the in power to CON
er upon the negro equal political rights The seces-
on of the south will be the transfer Of all agencies
md means to them. The government will be III the
iand5 of class of men least qualified Of All 4mcri-
'an citizens to administer its affairs Their economical
chemes their class legislation their protective tariffs
heir grand projects of internal Improvement their
bankrupt aws-in short their contempt of all sound
principles OF political economy and OF constitutional
estrants give US no promise that after restoring the
encral authority of the Union, they will be more
mindful Of its future welfare and integrity Superadd
o these reflections the widespread disorders of a
ivil war, the consummaon OF their ong-cherished g
chemes of emancipation, their hatred of State rights
nd their habual disregard of constitutional imta-
ions upon the legislative power and we shall be able
D comprehend some Of the difficulties in the war Of
ne restoration of the Union even when all southern
ppostion shall have ceased. This is not my theory


justice to either. Nor is it the theory of the phi
'sophy of the government of the Union :
trust and hope we may never be called upon to /
1opt or reject this Utopian scheme of equality The
svoutionsts and disunioniss of the north will be- r
'me the exclusive guardians of the national integrity


class of men who have again and again avowed o
elr readiness sacrifice the Union to their schemes
emancipation. :