Year: 1867

tion for another term, and was not, and never
had been, candidate Tor reelection. II am
not seeking any nomination, but 1 want all the
friends can get to help me save the country,
ana don't care what party they come from.
Before sent my FIRST message to Congress
told al the Republicans who called upon me
that II they would go to work and get the States
back into the Union, and restore harmony and
good feeling between the two sections, would
give them bond in any sum they could name
never to ask an Office and never to hold one
again. told them then what / think
now = that, aside from the higher con-
slderations Of patriotism and public duty,
as mere question of party expediency,
they ought to do this. ] sald to them that the
South was whipped; that the people felt they had
been put down by the arbiter of their own selec-
tion, and were ready to accept the situation in
good faith; and that II the Republican party of
the North would deal fairly and generously with
them, 1t could be assured of twenty years of
power, with the South its friends. told them
that these States must come back somehow, and
1t was for them to say whether as friends or as
enemies OF the dominant party of the North.
Republican party could have conquered them
by the course / suggested. That was clear to
my mind then, and 1t is more so now.n


Concerning the Democratic party of the
North, he said some Democrats were very rea-
sonable, Others very unreasonable in thelr de-
mands of him. Some wanted him to give all
the offices to Democrats; others didn't ask any
thing OF the kind. Some insisted on his chang
ing his Cabinet and doing everything to suit
them. "If had taken all the advice that's been
given to me, don't know where l should have
been by this time, One set of men will come in
and lay down plan which they think will do
great deal ofgood. They'll go out, and in comes
another set equally confident in an entirely diff
terent plan. l am always glad to get advice,
but some men get mad at me because l don't
take it. They don't appear to understand how
difficult 1t is for me to see things from the same
standpoint with them sometimes. They are
outside, as 1t were and can't be expected to see
nll kINah hnnvi u Tl,.N
and storm and fret at me because won't let
them take charge of me- and do the whole bus-
ness. Now, while am here, don't intend to
be taken charge of by anybody. intend to do
what's right, as nearly as ] can get at it, and
won't shirk the consequences that may arise
from that course. / can't please everybody
and it's no usestrying. It's all very well to get
advice, and am thankful for it always, but the
so must be the judge"


Speaking of Presidential candidates and aspi
rants, Mr.. johnson asked me il had any idea
what was the nature OF General Grants test-
him only knew of the rumor that had been
floating about Washington, attributed to Mr..
Eldridge, a Democratic member of the Judiciary
Committee, to the effect that Grants testimony
made him good candidate for the Democracy;
but that had also heard that the radical mem
bers OF the Committee asserted the very reverse
of this, and claimed the testimony as fitting
Grant for radical nomination. The President
replied that he had regarded Grant as an in
dorser of his policy all along. You will re-
member, said he, "that the message for which
was first denounced in the Senate as white
washing the condition of affairs in the South,
was based partly upon information furnished by
General Grant in his report which accompanied
that message. have never spoken very much
to General Grant on the subject of politics, but
1 should be surprised to find out at this time
that he has been opposed to what have been
attempting to do for the restoration of the
Southern States" These were the words of the
President on this point, as nearly as can re-
member them; they express the idea at any
rate. My impression lie that when Grants testi-
mony is printed it will be hard to determine
from it whether Ulysses is on both sides, or on
neither at the present writing.


Frequently during the conversation the Presi-
dent spoke of the condition of the country as
extremely perllous and beset with many diff
culties First" said he, ''there are ten States
totally disorganized and torn to pieces. 1t is
hard to see how, under the existing laws, this
matter can be satisfactorily settled up. Then
there Is the Mexican question-and very com.
they please in Congress and on the stump about
it, but it is a subject that must be arranged by
the law of nations. / don't wish to be under
stood as saying exactly what will be done about
ii, but merely to say that 1t will be a difficult
and complicated question to adjust before we
get altogether through with it. Then there's O
great national debt to pay, and the people are
getting restive under Iheavy taxation. Then
we have an Indian war on our hands, the pos
sible extent and cost of which are not easy to
foresee. Now all these things demand atten-
tioD, and fear they will be lost sight of in the
great struggle for the Presidency. The country
needs all the friends it can get now irrespec-
tive of party, to help save il from breakers.
Any man who will help me in the work is my