Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-03-08
Conversation Between Gov. Cox Of Ohio, and
the President.

"A SOhVersattOn between Gov. Cox, Ohio, and
the President.
WASHINGTON, Feb. g.
The following important letter was read tonight
by Gov. Cox, of Ohio, to the Union Representa-
tives i'll Congress from that State
WASHINGTON, Monday, Feb. g. 1866
GEN. GEORGE B. WRIGHT, Chairman
Of the Union Central Committee, COI,naJus Ohio i:
Dear Sir-On Saturday last had the honor of
an interview with the President, which regarded
as of sufficient interest and importance to make it
proper that should reduce to writing nv renlem-
berance of his statements whilst they were fresh
In my memory, since he seemed to me in n Der
fectly free and unprecedented conversation to
exhibit with peculiar clearness, the processes of
his own mind i'll reaching some Of his opinions
and to express them with such manifest canlor and
entire freedom personal from feelings, 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 tl,'r
ing to make known what i had done, and TO ask
his veriticatOn of the truth of my report, and his
consent to make the same known to the country
Although he entirely unaware of my purpose
to reduce his remarks TO writing, and / myself
had such intention when / iirst called upon
him. he most frankly gave his consent, and as
scented to the accuracy of my report, which is
follows:
He said he had no thought which he was not
willing TO OWL That his policy mad 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 MS ONCE lie WAS Obliged to
adopt Of his own. He had III some in
Iherted that of Mr. Lincoln, with which he thought
he agreed, and that substantially the which
he has carried out. Congress had just ground
of complaint that he had done So for they had
not seen tit to declare their views adopt any
measures embodying what wOuld be called policy
of restoration He satisfied that no long con-
| tinuance of military government could be tOlera-
| ted. That the whole country would properly de-
mand the restoration of truly civil government,
and not to give it to the lately rPhelllOiIS States
would be admission of the failure OF the adj
ministratiOn and of the party which had carried
through the war to prove thenlSelve equal to the
eXigency, now that the work OF destruction WITS
over and that OF rebuilding had begun Military
government alone would not pacify the South. At
the end of Il long period OF such government we
would be nearer, and probably not near, the
end as now, and would have the same work to do.
Hence there is u real necessity of adopting pol
icy which should restore government fully,
just soon the rebellion should be thoroughly
ended, and those conditions accepted by the South
which were to be regarded absolutely necessary
| to the peace of the country.
One central idea had controlled him in the
whole matter, and this that the proper system
of paciication should be which tended every
where to stimulate the loyalty Of the people of the
South themselves and make it the spring OF loyal
conduct and proper legislation, rather than to inn
pose upon them laws and conditions by direct eX-
| ternal force Thus i'll the of the feedmen S
bureau he not against the idea of the bureau |
in toto, for he had used it and still using it
It might continue for a period of more than Il wear
yet He had contemplated that either by procla !
nation of his own, by some action of Congress,
condition of peace, the technical end of the re-
bellion, would probably be declared at some pc |
riod perhaps not very remote and, he under |
stood the present law, the bureau might continue
| in year from that time. Meanwhile, he could |
say to the South 1t depends upon yourselves to
say whether the Bureau shall be discontinued at
an earlier day, for will put end to it just as
soon you, by proper action for the protection of
| the freedman, make it unnecessary.
Thus, said he, the hope OF getting rid of the in
sttution stimulates them to do what is right whilst
they are not discouraged by the idea that there is
no hope of an end to what they regard sort of
military government. IT, on the other hand the
bureau to be made permanent thing, by
legislation which, its face appears part of the
fixed law of the land all of the objections he had
urged in his message applied In full force to it,
and instead of encouraging the South to loyalty,
you tend to drive them to desperation and make
their hatred of the government inveterate. The
same principle of stimulating loyalty shown
in the manner in which he had martial law over
them. Whenever they should show SO peaceful
and law abiding condition of their community
that martial law was not needed, it should be re-
moved Their own conduct would thus determine
the matter and the desire and interest of all the
best people increased to put down disturbances
and outbreaks, to protect men anu obey the laws,
because by SO doing they would hasten the with
drawa of the direct interference of the military
arm in their affairs. In precisely the same way
and under tie influence of the same idea he had
acted in regard to civil affairs generally i'll that
section regarding it as necessary and proper to
impose upon the rebellious States conditions
which would guarantee the safety of the country,
and regarding the then existing affairs of the local
governments as having disqualified themselves by
their treason for continuance in power he deposed
them and established Provisional Governments. |
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
The conditions, viz:-The amendment of State |
constitutions, excluding slavery the acceptance of
the same amendment of the constitution: the re- |
pudiation of the rebel debt, and the admission of
the freedmen to various rights, &c, everybody is
familiar with To stimulate them to accept these
conditions, being such as using his best Judgment.
and in the absence of any Congressional plan, he
thought the nearest right of any he could frame |
he engaged that, their acceptance with evidence
of good faith he would permit them to organize |
their State governments elect Legislatures &c, |
and so far as Executive acts could do SO, would |
restore them to their position i'll the Union of the
States.
They had so far accepted his conditions that he |
did not regard the experiment failure, but a
success: He had accordingly recognized the |
POstoffce Department everywhere among them, |
had reopened trade and removed restrictions
thereon through the Treasury Department., and III
like manner i'll all the Executive Departments |
reco gnized them States in the Union, only |
keeping enough of military hold to protect the
freedmen as he had before stated, and to induce
them to DO something more thorough III that d. |
rectiOn.
Now but one thing remained i'll which these |
States did not exercise the full rights of States,
and that is representation i'll Congress. In this
he had advised that the principle of stlmula-
ting LOYALTY be applied as with other respects