The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-13

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Thaddeus Stevens, offered the reso-
luton of which the latter had given
notice concerning reconstruction.
Immediately after its adoption by the
House, Mr.. Wilson sought and OBJ
tanned an interview with the Presi-
dent. of which he has made q report,
published in the Chicago Tribune.
Mr.. Wilson, ut that interview, as
sumed to speak on behalf OF the
majority in Congress, and he in
formed the President that it was very
desirable that no conflict of action
should arise between them on the
subject Of reconstruction; that it
could be avoided provided the Presi-
dent would not press his peculiar
views, but would accept the action of
Congress as conclusive; but that un-
less he did SO, he would certainly get
into trouble. eff you are disposed"
was Mr.. Wilson's language to the
President, ''to Interfere with Con-
gress, by patronage or otherwise, and
force your peculiar views npon Con-
gress and the country, you will meet
with serious opposition by those that
are low the friends of your admins
tration and desire sincerely to make
it successful" What MI. Wilson
means by being the g friend of the
Administration is appsrent from
the context. He claims TO have
aided to bring it into power, and he
therefore claims the right to dictate
and over-rule its policy, and at-the
same time retain the dispensation of
its patronage. The President has
been engaged ever since his accession
to Office, in the patriotic task Of re-
storing the Union and healing the
wounds of the war. He has adopted
a policy for this purpose which is
heartily approved and upheld by the
country, and which is rapidly effac-
ing the disasters and animosities of
the dreadful contest so happily
closed Just at this moment Mr..
Wilson steps in, and, on behalf of
powerful party in Congress, demands
that the President shall abandon this
policy, or, ut least, hand over all the
patronage and power OF his Office to
aid those who would set it aside, and
who propose to complete the disrup-
| ton Of the Union, which the rebels
failed to achieve. If he will do this,
"there can be no possible difficulty
between the executive and Legislative
branches Of the Government
But MI Wilson was not content
with thus laying down his terms of
peace with the President. He pro-
ceetled to denounce certain other
members of the Administration party
in Congress who propose to support
the President in the policy he has
thus far pursued Here is his own
report of what he said on that
subject:
And let me ada this: the so-callcd
Conservatives OF Congress, the men
that claim to be your exclusive
friends, go with YOU to-day because
they think it is to their advantage to
do SO, but they will pose yon to-
morrow ii they shall 4 that it is to
their disadvantage :, support you.
You Ill find III the end, that the
men who differ from you to-day, from
sincere convictions, and honest, pa
triotic motives, are much more reliable
and trustworthy friends than these
time-servers. -
This is curious and characteristic
specimen of the Pharisaical self
compi..cency of Mr.. Wilson and those
on whose behalf he claimed to speak.
They alone are the men who act from
''sincere convictions. They alone
are the men of ''honest and patriotic
motives" and their principal concern
is lest they should not be allowed to
control the patronage Of the adminis-
tration to overthrow its policy
The country will not be surprised
to learn that Mr. Wilson failed to
obtain the Surance which he sought.
The President did not surrender to
his demands. He ''said nothing that
could be construed into an admission
.aat his own policy of reconstruction
had failed" On the contrary, lie
seemed to be fully persuaded of its
present and future success" And
what was still more astounding to
Mr.. Wilson, he ':did not say one
word to indicate his Intention of
allowing Mr.. Wilson and his asso-
ciates to use the patronage of his
otfice.for the overthrow of his policy
and the permanent disruption of the
Union. We venture to predict that
it will be long time before any such
assurance will be obtained from the
President
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS BY statistics
which we published yesterday, we
. learn that the number of railroad ac-
cidents in this country during the
past year was one hundred and eighty