Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-14
and gmtritan.
HORACE GREELEY AS A PACIFT.
CATOR


Whenever there is political "muss,7
GREELEY inevitably turns up as a mediator.
He is always anxious for peace. The most
singular fact is that he does more than any
other one man in the country to create the
alienation and strife, which he pretends to
wish to head-he is good at raising storm,
but utterly feeble in stopping it. He prints
in his Tribune Of the 18th inst, the follow
ing, as the last illustration in point
was one Of the many who early appre-
hended and universally deprecated breech
between Congress and the President. Soon
after our last State election and before the
assembling Of the present Congress, / went,
not uniuviled, 20 Washington expressly 70
guard against such difference. Being adj
miited to an interview with the President,
! urged him TO call TO Washington the most
eminent and trusted expositors Of Northern
anti-slayery sentiment and three equally
eminent and representative Southern ex-
rebels, and ask them TO take up their resi-
dence NJ the White House for a week or
fortnight, 50 long as they might find it ne
cessary; while they, by free and friendly
conference and discussion, should earnestly
endeavOr TO find common ground whereon
the North and the South should be not
-''arely reunited, but made evermore frater-
I'D harmonious.
suggested that the President should
onally, as he could find time, drop in
cir conferences, and offer such sugges-
as he should see fit, rather as a mode
II common friend than as a party to
iseussion; and a suggestion Of names
invited, proposed Governor AN
Of Massachusetts, Governor SMITH.
York, and Judge r. p SPAULD1SG.
40, as three who seemed to me fair
cntatiYes Of the anti-slayery sentiment
North, while neither were especially
ions 70 nor disposed 10 deal harshly
..iAsc South, and / added that hoped
would be met by men like General
nr .. LEE, ALEXANDER ii. STEPHENS,
e ah0 would be recognized and needed
~ sde 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 10
command their peoples confidence and sup
port, and ] pledged myself 10 support, 70
the extent Of my power, any adjustment
that should thus be matured and agreed
upon.
Some two months later, after the meeting
Of Congress, and when the political sky had
become darker, ] went to Washington on
the assurance Of a mutual friend that the
President desired 10 see me, and the joint
Committee on Reconstruction had been APP
pointed. At an interview promptly accord
ed, / urged the President TO invite this com
mihee TO come 10 the White House. and
discuss with them, from evening 10 evening,
as friends with friends, all the phases Of the
grave problem Of reconstruction, with a
fixed resolve 10 find basis Of agreement, il
possible.
urged such considerations as occurred
TO me in favor Of the feasibility Of such
agreement il it were earnestly sought-as
felt sure il would be-on the side Of Con-
gress. The vast patronage in the Presidents
hands, the reluctance Of the majority OF
Congress TO see their friends, supporters and
nominees expelled by wholesale from office
and their places supplied with bitter ndver
saries; the natural anxiety Of every party
in power 10 maintain cordial relations with
the head of the Government chosen by III
votes, these, and a thousand kindred con
alterations, rendered morally certain an
agreement between Congress and the Presi
dent without sacrifice Of principle on eithei
hand, If the latter should sincerely seek it
speak only Of what said and proposed
because have not permission and no right t.
speak further than that My suggestion
we're not followed, nor anything akin t.
them, as the public sadly know, and the
conclusion to which have been most re
'-~'antly forced is that the President did moi
/ harmony with Congress; that he had
dy made up his mind to break faith
the party which had elected him, and
a further lease Of power through the
and support Of his implacable enc
HORACE GREELEY. {