The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-13
Greeley on ReconstfsciiSa-ffis His
tory OF Hts Interviews wisn sne
PRECEDENT. a called ont by Beecher's

PRECEDENT, a called ont by Beecher's
Letters. ~ s'aa
From tho New York Tribune, 1ith. ......
The persistent efforts Of Mr.. Beechcr to
cast blame on the Republican majority Of
the present Congress as-at least equally
with President Johnson--rcsponsible for
the grave existing difference between
them, impels me, in the interest of truth
and Justice, to make statement Of facts.
| was enc of the many who early appre-
hcndcd and anxiously deprecated breach
between Congress and the President. Soon
after our last State election, and before
the assembling of the present Congress,
went, not unlimited, to Washington, ex-
pressly to guard against such difference.
Being admitted to an interview with the
President, urged him to call to Washing
ton three of the most eminent and trusted
expositors of northern anti-slavery scnti-
ment, and three equally eminent and re-
preventative southern cx-rebels, and ask
them to take up their residence at the
White House for week, q fortnight, 80
long as they might find necessary, while
they, by free and friendly conference and
discussion, should earnestly endeavor to
find common ground wherein the North
and the South should be not merely re-
conciled, but made evermore fratcrnal and
harmonious. suggested that the Prcsi-
dent should occasionally, as he could find
time, drop in on these conferences and Or
fer such suggestions as he should deem
fit-rather as a moderator or common
friend than as q party to the discussion.
A suggestion of names being invited,
A nf
Massachusetts,, Gcrrit Smith Of New York,
and Judge Il. p. Spaulding Of Ohio, as
three who seemed to me fair representa-
tivcs of the ant-slavery sentiment of the
North, while neither specially obnoxious
to nor disposed to deal harshly with the
South; and | added that hoped they
would be met 10y men like General Robert
Z. Lee, Alexander ii. Stephens, ETC., who
would be recognized and needed by the
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 Sc
lectcd, wishing only that those chosen
from either section should be such as to
command their peoples confidence and
support. And l pledged myself to sup
port, to the extent of my power, any ad,
iustmcnt that should thus be maturcd and
agreed upon.
Some two months later, after the meet
ing of Congress, and when the political
sky had become darker, I went again to
Washington, on the assurance of mutual
friend that the President desired to see
me. The Joint Committee on Reconstruc-
tion had then been appointed. AT an in
tervicw promptly accorded, urged the
President to invite this committee to the
White House, and discuss with them,
from evening to evening, as friend with
friends, all the phases of the grave pro-
blem Of reconstruction, with fixed
resolve to find basis of agreement
if possible. / urged such considerations
as occurred to me in favor Of the feaSi-
biity of such agreement if it were earn
estly sought, as | felt sure it would be on
the side of Congress. The vast patronage
in the Presidents hands-the reluctance
of the majority in Congress to see their
friends, supporters, and nominees expelled
by wholesale from office, and their places
supplied by bitter advcrsaries-thc natural
anxiety OF every party in power to main
tain cordial relations with the head Of the
Government chosen by its votes-thcse
and a thousand kindred considerations
rendered morally certain an agreement
between Congress and the President with
out sacrifice of principle on either hand,
if the latter should sincerely seek it.
| speak only of what ! said and pro-
posed, because have no permission and
no right to speak further. That my sng-
gestions were not followed, nor anything
akin to them, the public sadly knows.
And the conclusion to which have been
most reluctantly forced is, that the Presi-
dent did not rant harmony with Congress !;
that he had already made up his mind to
break with the party which had elected
him, and seek a further lease of power
through the favor and support OF its i'm
nlacabIe enemies HORACE GREELEY.