Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-28
WASHINGTON, Monday, Feb. 90.

General George B. Wright, Chairman Union
Central Committee, Columbus Ohio:
-,---DEAR SIR-On Saturday last had an in
terview with the President which regard
ed as of sufficient Importance to reduce to
writing my remembrance of his statements
while fresh in my memory. i waited upon
him this morning to make known what
had done, to ask his verihcation of the truth
of my report, and his consent to make the
same known to the country. He frankly
gave his consent and assented to the accu-
racy of my report. H'
The President said he had no thoughts
he was not willing to avow; that his policy
had simply aimed at the earliest possible
restoration of peace on the basis of loyalty.
No Congressional policy had ever been
adopted; and, therefore, when he entered
upon the duties of his Office he was obliged
to adopt one of bis own. He had in some
sense Inherited that of Mr.. Lincoln, with
which he thought he agreed; and that was
substantially the one which he had carried
out. Congress had no just ground of COM
plaint that he had done so for they had not
seen fit to declare their views, or adopt any
measures embodying what could be called
policy of restoration. He was satisfied
that no long continuance of military gov
ernment could be tolerated that the whole
country would properly demand the resto-
ration of truly civil government; and not
to give it to lately rebellious States, would
be an admission Of the failure Of the ADJ
ministration of the party which had carried
through the war to prove themselves equal
to the exigencles now.
The work of destruction was over, and
rebuilding had begun. Military govern
ment alone would not paciiy the South.
At the end Of long period of such gov
erninent we would be no nearer and proba-
bly, not so near the end as now, and would
have the same work to do. Hence there Is
q real necessity for the adoption of policy
which should restore civil government Just
assoot as the rebellion should be thorough
ly ended, and those conditions accepted by
the South which were to be regarded as alb
solutely necessary TO the peace of the coun-
try. The proper system Of pacification
should be one which tended everywhere to
stimulate the loyalty of the South rather
than to impose upon them laws and condi-
tions by direct external force.
Thus, in the case of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, be was not against the idea of the
Bureau IN toto for he had used il. and was
still using it,. 1t might continue for pc
riod of more than year; but he had con-
templated that either 10y proclamation Of
his own, or by some action of Congress, the
condition of peace and technical end of the
rebellion would probably be declared at
some period not very remote; as he under
stood the present law, the Bureau might
continue year from that time. Mean
while, he could say TO the South, 1T de-
pends on yourselves to say whether the
Bureau shall be discontinued at an early
day, for l will put an end toit just as soon
as you, by protection of the freedmen, make
it unnecessary" Thus the hope of getting
rid of the institution stimulates them to do
right, while they are not discouraged by
the idea that there is no hope of aid from
what they regard as sort Of military gov
ernment If, on the other hand, the Bureau
were made permanent by legislation, all
the objections he had urged in his message
applied in full force to ii; and instead OF
encouraging the South TO loyalty, would |
tend to make the hatred of the Govern
ment inveteTate. '"
The same principle Of stimulating loyal |
ty was shown in the manner he had held |
martial law over them. Whenever they |
should show that martial law was not need |
ed, it should be removed. Their own con-
duct would then determine the matter. and |
the earnest desire and interest OF all the |
best people be increased to obey the law,
because by so doing they would hasten the |
withdrawal of interference of the military |
arm in their affairs. In precisely the same |
way he had acted in regard to civil affairs |
generally in that section. Regarding it as |
necessary to impose conditions upon the re- |
bellious States which would guarantee the |
safety of the country and regarding the |
existing affairs Of the Government as hav-
ing disqualified themselves by their treason
for continuance in power, he deposed |
them, and established Provisional Govern
ments.
Then he asked himself what conditions
ought to be demanded of them, and how
their disposition to accept them in good
faith might be stimulated by those condi-
tions, namely: Amendment of the State
excluding slavery; accept
ance of the same amendment of the Consti-
tuition of the United States reputation of
the rebel debt, and admission of freedmen
TO various rights, &c. To stimulate them
TO accept these conditions, being such as,
using his best Judgment, and in the absence
Df any Congressional plan, he thought the
nearest right of any he could frame, he en-
gaged that on their acceptance, with evil
lence of good faith, he would permit them
% reorganize their State Governments, elect
Legislatures, &C., and, so far as Executive
Icts could do, would restore them to their
positions in the Union OF the States. They
lad so far accepted his conditions that he
egarded the experiment success. He had
ccOrdingly reorganiZed the Postoffice De-
,artment among them, and reopened trade
nd removed the restrictions thereon,
through the Treasury Department, and, in
Ike manner, in all the Executive Depart
1ents, reorganized them as States in the
Jnion, only keeping enough military hold
b protect the freedmen and to induce them
0 DO something more thorough in that d.
ection.
Now but one thing remained in which
hose States did not exercise the full rights
# States, and that was representation iD
congress. In this he had advised that the
anne principle Of stimulating loyalty be ]
.pplied rs in other respects named. He
would admit only such Representatives as I
re in fact loyal men, givirg satisfactory /,
OF this. Whenever State or !
District sent loyal man, properly elected
nd qualified, he would think it right to ! i
dmit him the same as if from any other |
Jtate, and he would admit none but such i
oyal men, SO that other States or Districts I
night be induced to send similar men.
When they had all done this, their represen- I
alton would be full, and the work would
)e done.
Such was the plan. He did not ask to be
/ Judge of elections, or of the qualifications
II members of Congress, or Of their loyal-
Ne 1