, 1866-12-29
VIEWS OF THE PRESIDENT,


Thinks II Will Become Pnrt Of tho
Constitution.
Special Despatch to the Pittsburgh Commtrciail
wAsu1sorox, December q.
Representative Ecglcston, OF Ohio. had
long Interview With the President today.
He spent more than an hour in conversation
with him on general matters, reconstruction
among the rcst. After talking OF the results
of he ,ats eestions s i 81; +, EslGstGp @ ssksa
have been better for him to have surrendered
his views and opinions In iayor Of the popu.
lar vcrdscts In October and November, and
not TO have pressed his policy In his last
lie President replied to ttis that he did
not think he had shown further opposition
TO the popular verdict than merely to e1-
press bis opinions to Congress On what he
thought would but condncc to the welfare Of
thc country, Uc thought the Radical patty
much time as they did last session before au-
nounciuE upon what terms they would agree
TO readmit the Southern States, and what
great damage to the rnbllc welfare had been
the result Of this delay; and now that Con-
gress had passed tho Amendment, and 1t was
abort TO become part ofthe Constitution, he
could see no guarantee. that the Southern
States would be admitted. even alter the rat
ihcatlon had been Sal|y accomplished.
Mr.. EEglc.ton replied to this that there
was an implied gnasancee In the speedy ad.
mission Of Tennessee after the Legislature
had ratified the Amendment, aud that he
| thought the party with which he acted
| would he nearly 4 unit on the admission Of
| others of the latcre5el States, As sooa as they
! had complied with tie conditions eracted
| from Tennessee.
The President said he hoped this would
| prove 10 be true, but he feared there would
be strong opposition TO such n policy from
| the extreme Radicals.
Mf. EerIcston said he felt little doubt on
the subject. There might be some OPP
vas good Characteristic Of Stevens that If
| be couldn't ret what he wanted, he would
take the best be could get.
"Yes." eaia the President, "that's true
Of Stevens, aud I always 1iked him for T..
4 practical man, but he seems TO ne to be
working In the wrong direction" The Pre-
sident repeated the hope that the South
would be admitted to rcpEcsention on the
adoption Of the Amendment. ltwa4 useless
now, he said, TO discuss the propriety or
that measure. 1t had been agreed upon, and
all he could now a.k was the guarantee that
reconstruction upon that basis shouldbe faith
fully kept by the party that had offered 1t.
He expressed regret sud surprise that 20 few
members ofConeress had called upon him
Mr.. EcRleston replied that be did not
think members OF Congress should carry
their antngunism 20 far q that. He believed
in fighting out old political battles before
the people, and thought e. oppo<'str -.
the views Of the President onsht no. 's-~. .ie
ter members no; e5...c:. e5....:cc s:s ia ihe Exc
cutlyc or corsultlng on business matters
The President concarrcd In this yelw cI
actly. He Wol1d like to hare men Of all po
liticaI eomplc1ions call on him and tell htm
what they wanted. No harm could possibly
come Of such An interchange Of views, aud
great deal Of good might come Of 1t. ani
! now that The quarrel hid been settled, ~
rnos. people &herSht. there Was ce1tsinly NJ
should 10 scdulous1y avoid him.
The conversation was concluded by Mr.
Ecg1eston inquiriug what about the Ne1lca1
question. The President replied that i
d.dn't look as fayorah1y ~ he had hopet
| to havc II, but stili he thought all would b
Well.