The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-01-12
RECONSTRECTEON.

Interview of MesSrS. Wilson and Price.
Of fOwa. with the PreSidemf---They
Fail To obtain an Assurance that the
President will Refrace His steps
The Washington correspondent of
the Chicago Tribune give the following
apparently authentic statement of a
conversation between MesSrs. Wilson
and Price, Of Iowa, and President John
son, by which it will be seen that the
latter adheres to the policy of recon-
struction developed inhis speeches and
in his message. Mr.. Wilson'S disap-
pointment in being unable to obtain
from the President any admission of
failure Orretraction i5very evident from
the letter, which we print in full:
WASHINGTON, Dec. IS, 1860.
In my last letter / made aIlusion to
the fact that certain Western members
of Congress had had interviews with
the President since the passage Of Mr..
Wilson'S resolution, during which the
subject of reconstruction was freely dis
cussed. and that their impressions as
to his future course had not been very
favorable. I confined myself to this
general statement, as / did not at the
time feel at liberty to go into particu-
lars. | am now permitted to give the
subjoined full version of what took
place on the stated occasion.
Mr.. Wilson, with whom frank,
straightforward action in all things is
a leading characteristic, had been anX-
ious for some time to have an early,
free, and full exchange Of opinion with
the President relative tOreconstructiOn.
He desired TO express his own views
upon the policy pursued by the govern
ment toward the rebel States, which he
knew to be identical with those of the
majority of the House, with the utmost
frankness to the Executive, and, if pos
sible, elicit from him a clear definition
of the line Of action he meant to pur-
suetOWard COngress--W he meant
to recognize the right of Congress to
determine upon the mode of recOgniz-
ing and restoring the rebel States to
the Union according to the views Of
the majority Of both Houses, or wheth
er his purpose was TO bring the influence
Of patronage, and other agencies at his
command. to bear in order to secure an
endorsement and adoption of his own
plan of reconstruction.
The passage of Mr.. Wilson's resolu-
ton by vote thoroughly testing the
sense of the great majority Of the House
upon the Presidents Southern policy,
on Thursday last, furnished a proper
occasion for the mutual explanation
he desired, and hence he sought the
White House in company with his col
league, Mr. Price, on the evening of
the same day. The President received
his visitors very cordially, and, upon
an Introductory remark Of Mr.. Wilson,
announcing the object Of their call, in
vited them toan unreserved expression
of opinions and suggestions. There
upon Mr.. Wilson proceeded to say sub
stantiaily as follows:
Mr.. President, you have, no doubt,
been informed of the resolution | offer
ed to-day in the House, and of the vote
upon it. In explanation of it wish to
say, that neither myself nor the rest
of the majority voting for it, are dis
posed to make any distinction between
Tennessee and the other States lately
engaged in rebellion, in our prelimi-
nary examination in their respective
claims to representation in Congress-