Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-03-09

Views OF the PreSident-He explains
the Veto-Is not opposed to a Freed
mans Bureau,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.
The following important letter was read
tonight by Governor Cox, of Ohio, to the
Union representatives in Congress from that
State
WASHINGTON, Monday, Feb. 26, 1866.
General George B. Wright, Chairman OF
the U,rion Central Committee, Cotana-
bats, Ohio.
MY DEAR SIR-On Saturday last / had
the honor of an interview with the Presi-
dent, which | regarded as of sufficient IN
terest and importance to make it proper that
I should reduce to writing my remembrance
of his statements while they were fresh in
my memory, since he seemed to me, in a
perfectly free and unprecedented conversa-
ton, to exhibit, with peculiar clearness, the
processes Of his own mind in reaching some
of his opinions and to express them with
such manifest candor and entire freedom
from personal feeling, that | could not but
think that if he would consent to it, good
might be done by making his statements
public Accordingly | again waited upon
him this morning, to make known what |
had done, to ask his verifeation of the
truth of my report, and his consent to make
the same known to the country. Although
he was perfectly unaware of my purpose to
reduce his remarks to writing, and / myself
had no such intention when [ first called
upon him, he most frankly gave his consent,
and assented to the accuracy of my report,
which is as follows
He said he had no thoughts which he was
not willing to avow; that his policy had
simply aimed at the earliest possible restor-
alton 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 his own. He had, in some senses,
inherited that of Mr. Lincoln, with which
he thought he agreed, and that it was sub
stantially the one which he hal carried out.
Congress had no just grounds Of complaint
that he had done so, for they had not seen
fit to declare their views, or adopt any meas
ures embodying what could be called poll
cy of restoration.
He was satisfied that no long continuance
of military government could be tolerated !;
that the whole country would properly de-
mand the restoration ola truly civil govern
ment; and not to give it to the lately Re-
bellious States, would be an admission Of
the failure of the Administration, and Of
the party which had carried through the
war, to prove themselyes equal to the ext
gency, now that the work of destruction
was over, and that of rebuilding had begun
Military Government alone would not pacify
the South.
At the end of Ia ong period of such gov
eminent we should be no nearer, and prob
ably not SO near, the end than now, and
would have the same work to do. Hence
there is a real necessity Of adopting policy
which shall restore the civil Government
fully Just as soon as the rebellion shall be
thoroughly ended, and conditions accepted
by the South which were to be regarded as
absolutely necessary to the peace of the
country. One central idea had controlled
him in the whole matter, and this was that
the proper system of pacifcation should be