Smyrna times., 1866-09-19
Greeley and the President,

Horace Greeley makes the following state
ment in his paper of the llth inst, with re-
gard to his efforts to make harmony between
the President and Congress-
| was one OF the many who early apprehend-
ed and anxiously deprecated breach between
Congress and the President. Soon after our
last State election, and before the assembling
of the present Congress, | went, not unlimited,
to Washington, expressly to guard against such
a difference. Being admitted to an interview
with the President, | urged him to call to
Washington three Of the most eminent and
trusted expOstOrs of Northern AntiSlavery
sentiment, and three equally eminent and rep
reSentative Southern ex-Rebels, and ask them
to take up their residence at the White House
for week, a fortnight, so long as they might
find necessary, while they by free and friendly
conference and discussion, should earnestly en-
deavOr to find common ground whereOn the
North and the South should be not merely re-
cOnciled, but made evermore fraternal and
harmonious. | suggested that the President
should occasionally, as he could find time, drop
in on these conferences and offer such sugges-
tinns as he should deem fit-rather as a mode
ratOr or common friend than as party to the
discussion.
4 suggestion of names being invited, | pro-
posed those Of Gov. Andrew of Massachusetts,,
Gerrt Smith of New York and Judge Il. p.
Spaulding of Ohio, as three who seemed to me
fair representatives. of the anti-Slavery senti-
ment of the North, while neither specially OBJ
noxlOus to nor disposed to deal harshly with
the South and | added that hoped they
would be met by men like Gen. Robert f. Lee,
Alexander IL. Stephens, &c. who would be re-
cognized and needed by the South as men in
whose hands her honor and true interests would
be safe But | added that | had no special
desire that these or any particular men should
be selected, wishing only that those chosen
from either section should be such as to com
mand their peoples confidence and support
And pledged myself to support, to the ex.
tent OF my power, any adjustment that should
thus be matured and agreed upon.
Some two months later, after the meeting o.
Congress, and when the political sky had be
come darker, | went again TO Washington, on
the assurance of mutual friend that the Presi
! dent desired to see me. The Joint Committee
on Reconstruction had then been appointed. =
At an interview promptly accorded, | urged
the President to invite this Committee to the
/ White House, and discuss with them from
evening to evening, as friend with friends, al
/ the phases of the grave problem Of Reconstruc
ton, with fixed resolve to find basis o
agreement if possible. urged such considera
tiOns as occurred to me in favor Of the feasibili
! ty of such agreement if it were earnestl,
sought, as felt sure it would be on the side o
! Congress to see their friends, supporters anC
nominees expelled by wholesale from Office, ant
their places supplied by bitter adversaries-
natural anxiety of every party in power t.
maintain cordial relations with the head of tn,
Government chosen by its vOtes-these, and
thousand kindred considerations, rendere
morally certain an agreement between Congress
and the President without sacrifice Of princi
pie on either hand, if the latter should sincere
ly seek it.
speak only of what said and proposed
because | have no permission and no right t
speak further. That my suggestions were nc
followed nor anything akin to them, the put
lie sadly knows. And the conclusion to whic
have been most reluctantly forced is, that tn
President dill not rant harmony with Congre.
that he had already made up his mind t
break with the party which had elected hin
and seek further lease of power through IL
favor and support of its implacable enemies.
HORACE GREELEY.