The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-25
The Presidents Views on the Amend.
ment..-IIe Thinks Il will Become
Part OF the Constitution-..Eeeon
Strnetion Policy Being Settled.-.He
Thinks ConEresSmen ,should Not
Avoid Him. ...- .a
NSS'' = NtsSs'bN SSHahtsSSstts'I
WARRINGTON, Dec, %, 1865,

kSOr. ftltOurph CVnih1eTesat.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. q, 1865.
Representative Eggleston, Of Ohio,
had long interview with the Presi.
dent to-day. He spent more than an
hour In conversation with him on gene.
raj matters, reconstruction among the
rest. After talking OF the results OF
the late elections, Mr.. Eggleston asked
the President II be did not think II
would have been better for him 10 have
surrendered his views and opinions In
favor Of the popular verdiots in 0cto-
ber and November, and not 10 have
pressed his policy ln his last message.
The President replied to this that he
did not think he had shown d further
opposition to the popular verdict than
merely to express his opinions TO Con-
gress on what he thought would but
conduce to the welfare OF the country.
He thought the Radical party had made
a great mistake In spending so much
time as they did Lust session before an
nouncing upon what terms they would
agree to re- admit the Southern States,
and what great damage TO the public
welfare had been the result OF this de-
lay, and now that Congress had passed
the amendment and 1t was about 10 be.
come part OF the Constitution, he could
see no guaranty that the Southern
States would be admitted, even after
the ratification had been fully accom-
pllshed.
Mr.. Eggleston replied to this that
there was an implied guaranty In the
speedy admission OF Tennessee after
the Legislatureha had ratified the amend.
ment, and that he thought the party
with which he acted would be nearly u
unit on the admission of others Of the
late rebel States, us soon us they had
complied with tho conditions exacted
from Tennessee. s"
The President said be hoped this
would prove to be true, but he feared
there would be strong opposition to
such policy from the extreme radi.
Gals. - ....-.
Mr.. Eggleston said no felt little doubt
on the subject. There might be some
opposition from Sumner and Stevens,
but 1t was good characteristic Of Ste
vens that II he couldn't get whit he
wanted, he would take the best he
could get.
Eyes" said the President, "that's true
VI 1bSNNAot anu i uA"uyh
1t. A practical man, but he seems 10
me to be working In the wrong direc-
tion." The President repeated the hope
that the South would be admitted TO
representation on the adoption OF the
Amendment. II was useless now, he
said, to. discuss the propriety or impro-
priety Of the conditions embraced In
that measure. 1t had been agreed
upon, and all he could now ask was the
guaranty that reconstruction upon that
basls should be faithfully kept by the
party that had otIeredit. He expressed
regret and surprise that so few men,
bers of Congress had called upon him
since the opening of the session.
Mr.. EgglestOn replied thRt he did not
think members OF Congress should
carry antagonism so far as that. He
believed In fighting out all political
battles before tho people, and thought
that opposition 10 the views of the
President ought not to deter members
from comforting with the Executive, or
consulting him on business matters.
The President concurred in this view
exactly. He would like to have men of
all political compilations call on him
and tell him what they wanted. No
harm could possibly come of such an
interchange OF views, and great deal
OF good might come Of 1t, and now that
the quarrel had been settled, as most
people thought, there was certainly no
reason why Senators and Representa-
tives should so sedulously avoid him.
The conversation was concluded by
Mr.. Eggleston inquirinG what about
the Mexican question, The President
replied that il didn't look so favorably
as he had hoped to have 1t, but still he
thought all would be well.