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Staunton Vindicator: August 03, 1866 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

A Conversation With President Johnson
(Column 06)

Summary: "A gentleman who had a free conversation with President Johnson" outlines the President's views on various issues associated with Reconstruction.

Origin of Article: Boston Commercial

Editorial Comment: We find the following in the Boston Commercial. It contains some facts for serious consideration among thinking men.

Full Text of Article:

A gentleman who had a free conversation with President Johnson, a short time since, informs us that he found him hopeful, in good spirits and unhesitating in the expression of his views. He does not anticipate anything like a democratic majority in the next House of Representatives, though the number of representatives of that party will doubtless be considerably increased. But he does count confidently on the return of a majority of moderate men, who will be prepared to deal with the people of the South, as all honorable and high minded nations deal with their antagonists after having beaten and disarmed them. And in districts and States where the republican party fail to nominate such men he things democratic candidates will be likely in a majority of cases to be voted over radicals.

The President is unhesitatingly of the opinion that the only safety of the nation lies in a generous and expansive plan of conciliation, and the longer this is delayed the more difficult will it be to bring the North and the South into harmony. If the suspicious, tyrannical policy is too long pursued, the population of the South will become hostile in time to the North as the people of Ireland are towards England, adding to this evil of hereditary and growing animosity an ability for revenge a hundred fold greater than Ireland possesses.

In regard o the blacks, the President says they will find work enough, and for many years to come probably better remuneration than any other class of agricultural laborers in the country. The competition of capitalists and land owners will insure good treatment and good pay from the planters. That there will be much disorder is to be expected; but there will be no more than there would be at the North were the number of black laborers sufficiently numerous to enter into serious rivalry with the white laborers.

The President is confident that nothing can be safely and permanently done in regard to restoring the currency, diminishing taxation, and establishing the prosperity of the country on a sound and enduring basis until representatives from all the States are present in Congress. The idea of legislating for one third of the population of the county, and passing constitutional amendments without allowing them any voice in the matter or paying any attention to their wishes, is full of danger to the future peace and welfare of the nation. They cannot be treated as a subjugated people or as vassal colonies without a germ of hatred being introduced, out a germ of hatred being introduced, which will some day or other, though the time may be distant, develop mischief of the most serious character.

With regard to the basis of representation he denounces this as a mere bugbear. It cannot and will not be permanently settled until all the States are representatives in consequence of the emancipation of the slaves can in any event occur until the census of 1870 is taken, until which time of course the three-fifths provision is in force under the last census. There is, therefore, ample time to settle this matter between now and 1870, and it is unwise to agitate it until other matters which cannot be delayed are settled.

The President does not admit that he has been inconsistent. He is as much opposed to treason and traitors as ever he was, and for punishing them severely. But there is no treason and no traitors now. The enemy has fully and fairly surrendered and is powerless, and a foe thus situated should be magnanimously treated. A generous and self-reliant warrior always restores his disarmed enemy his sword and trusts his parole of honor.

The idea of muzzling the press and tying the tongues of the people of the South, after the manner of the suspicious tyrants and the Holy Inquisition of the Old World, he denounces as absurd. A people should be allowed a grumble who have suffered so much and they would be unworthy the name of men if they did not respect the brave officers who have suffered with them, and honor the memory of their gallant dead who sleep on a hundred battle-fields around their homes.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Expresses relief that Congress has adjourned and hope that "men who endorse the Johnsonian policy" will soon "expose the vile course in Congress."

Full Text of Article:

The Congress of the United States, after endeavoring to adjourn, subject to calls for re-assembling other than that of the President, did at last adjourn sine die, on Saturday 28th ult. We are sure that the conservatives of the whole country rejoice that this body of men, whose whole course of legislation, from the first Monday in December last to July 28th, has had but one single object in view, the retention of power in the hands of the Radical Republicans, has adjourned without a day.

They have sought in every possible way to harass the people of the South with a view to political capital, and have opposed, assailed and abused the President in his endeavors to restore the country to its former prosperous condition, and to preserve the Constitution intact, and all to secure the return of a radical majority to Congress. Finding that at every turn, they have been met by the President, holding aloft the banner of the Union and the Constitution, and rallying around him the patriot masses of the country, they have betaken themselves to other fields to speak, write and work for radical success. Let loose upon the Northern people, with all their retainers, they will introduce into the canvass in their respective States an unwonted excitement, and will, by the aid of the distorted and false testimony before the "Reconstruction Committee," the lying reports of mercenary scribblers throughout the South, and the base co-operation of Jack Hamilton, et id omne genus, endeavor to fire the already excited Northern mind with a rage and malice, to which their exhibition in Congress of the noble attributes has been but feeble child's play.

They will be met, however, by men who endorse the Johnsonian policy, who really love their country and revere the Constitution, and who will, with unsparing hand, expose their vile course in Congress, and paint in unmistakable colors on the retina the Northern eye the grossly unconstitutional acts of the last National Legislature. If the Northern people can be brought to look without prejudice upon the acts of the now dominant faction, their fate is sealed. At any rate we shall hope for the success of the men who sympathize with the policy of President Johnson, and who would preserve the Constitution and restore the Union, with the equality of the States unimpaired.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Praises the recent meeting of Pennsylvania Democrats with an audience of over 30,000 and expresses hope that the meeting is "a feeble indication of the 'ground-swell' which shall hurl the Radicals from power."

Full Text of Article:

The Pennsylvania Democratic campaign was opened with most favorable prospects, at Reading, Pennsylvania, on the 18th ult. There were over 30,000 persons present.-The spectacle of the New York Tribune and Times and the Philadelphia Age assert that it was "one of the largest political meetings ever assembled in Pennsylvania," and the World , correspondent expressed surprise to find Mr. Clymer, the Democratic candidate for Governor, "extremely popular with the Conservative men and personally liked by his opponents, who say that he was the very strongest man the Democracy could have chosen."

One of the prominent features of the occasion was a Soldiers' Clymer Club, a local organization, one thousand strong. On their banners were the following inscriptions.

"The boys in blue repudiate the hero of Snickersville."

"We vote as we fought (Solders' Club,) for the Union and the Constitution." "Old Northampton-3,500 majority for Clymer," &c., &c.

Although eight stands were erected, they were found insufficient, and speeches were made at various other points. Among the chief speakers, were Hon. Heister Clymer, Hon. Montgomery Blair and Hon. Geo. H. Pendleton. When Mr. Pendleton was introduced he received an ovation and the enthusiasm is said to have been so intense that for full ten minutes after cheer after cheer greeted the distinguished Ohioan. It was acknowledged by all parties to have been a grand affair. May it be but a feeble indication of the "ground-swell" which shall hurl the Radicals from power, forever, not only in the "Old Keystone State," but in the country.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Reports that the Atlantic Cable is now in working order, with the President and the Queen of England recently exchanging congratulatory dispatches, and praises the cable as "the greatest achievement of the present age."

Full Text of Article:

AS we promised in our last that ere our next issue went to press, the papers might publish the news from Europe as late as that received from the cities of this Continent, on Monday last the papers contained European news of the Friday previous, just three days before.

On July 13th the Great Eastern commenced paying out the cable, and at 8, A. M., July 27th, arrived at Heart's Content, having run 1,669 miles and laid 1,864 miles of cable, and all in perfect working order.-Congratulatory dispatches passed between the Queen of England and the President of the United States.

The successful laying of the Atlantic cable is surely the greatest achievement of the present age.

Local Items
(Column 01)

Summary: The Wesleyan Female Institute, under the management of Rev. William Harris, will begin its next session on September 20 and praises Harris' "high reputation in the education of young ladies."
(Names in announcement: Wm. A. Harris)

Local Items
(Column 01)

Summary: Encourages readers who have pledged money to the Ladies' Cemetery Committee to fulfill their commitments so that the work at the cemetery can be completed.

Full Text of Article:

THERE is a small amount due the hands at work on the Soldiers' Cemetery, which could be paid if the parties, who have subscribed to this laudable undertaking, and have not paid up, would promptly pay their subscriptions. Without they do so the work must stop. We hope, for the reputation of our people and section, the subscriptions may be promptly paid and the work go on to completion.

Local Items
(Column 01)

Summary: The Governor has recently pardoned Jas. Rush, who was sentenced to seventeen years in the penitentiary by the Augusta County Court for the crime of rape.
(Names in announcement: Jas. Rush)

Local Items
(Column 01)

Summary: A meeting of the stockholders of the Churchville Oil Company will take place Saturday, August 11.

News Items
(Column 01)

Summary: Congress did not override Johnson's veto of the bill admitting Colorado into the Union. Johnson also did not sign the bill admitting Nebraska into the Union.

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: Joseph Long died at the home of his son Jacob on the Great Calf Pasture River. He was 69 years old.
(Names in announcement: Jacob S. Long, Joseph Long)

Religious Notice--Camp Meeting
(Column 02)

Summary: A camp meeting will be held on the land of B. F. W. Harlan, beginning on August 24. Rev. William Stringer, the "preacher in charge," promises that "no hucksters will allowed near the ground, and every effort to preserve good order will be made."
(Names in announcement: Wm. R. Stringer, B. F. W. Harlan)

Negro Riot in Kentucky
(Column 01)

Summary: Reports that riot recently occurred in Columbus, Kentucky after a railroad conductor attempted to cut a button off a black man's coat. At least three black men were killed and some whites are missing.