New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-27
Letter from Gov. Go, 10 the Ohio Repre-
sentatives.
WAsnINGI0Y, MOndsy. Feb. p TT

eehthb'Fss
wA.nISGIoy. Mondsv. Feb. ., lao.
The following important letter WAS read TO-
night by Gov Cox OF Ohio to the united representatives,
in Congress from that State
WAsHNGIoN. Monday teb. ?, 1864.
GIN Gro. r. WRIGHT Chairman Urior C'r'ral Con
uirce Coluiabas Odio
MY DrAE SIN: On SATURDAY, last had tAe honor Of
interview with the President. which regarded az
OF sufficient interest end impoftauoe 20 maze " prope
that should reduce writing my remembrance o h-
statements while they were fresh ~ NY memory since
lie seemed so ne in q perfectly 'ree ana unprecedented
conversation 10 exhibit with peculiar cleafHe's me
processes OF his own mind Al reaching some OF M.
opinions. aud TO express them WIN 5urA matuesl
candor aud entire freedom from personal feeling
shat ] could not but think That y he vOAll
eousent TO IT, good might he done ny making Bio SLATE
ments public. Accordingly again waited upol I'm
this morning % make known WAat Lhd zone !" NsA
his verfcaiio of the truth report ana lie consent
10 make the same known 90 the country altloseh re
wa entirely unaware OF my p--pose 20 reduce 5s re-
mark 70 writing ana mysei had no such intention
when frs; called upon b!m. He most nanA' gave
lis consent anG asserted 10 The accuracy my report
which 10 rs follows:
Tbe President said he had 10 thoughts which be vas
not willing " avoW-ila, b., policy had Simply aimed
AZ the earliest possible restoration o peace on tie bass
of LOYALTY. No Congressional policy had ever been
edopied and therefore when he entered upCH the d..
ties of his office. he was obliged 70 adopt one %
his OWL lie had. III some sense. Inherited
that of Nj Lincoln. with which bs thought re
agreed and that was Substantially the one wlIch
he had carried ont. Congress had 10 ,Is ground oi
complaint that ho had done So 10Y Tue! Lao nor 80 nv
10 declare their views adopt any measures embCdy
inc what could be called pohcT OF restoration.
Ile was satisfied that 20 long coh'Lbpoe on
military government c9Wu ne ZOE 49,
restoration % truly civil Government and not to eve
il 10 the lately Rebellious States would ne an admission
Of the failure of the Administration ana OF ths ba.
which had carried through ;he war to prove them
selyes equal to the exgenoy nov The Wois OF dc
struction was over and rebuilding hhd DeSlh.
Military government alone would no phcliv
- he Of A long rsflOu ~ S4GA
government VIC would be 10 nearer. and PROBABLY Dot
so near the end now, and woEd have Tie same WORK
10 do Honce there Is real necessl'! OF uuvptNs
pocy which should restore cYl goFefhIelt lt JUST
a soon nc the rebellion should be thoroughly ended. aud
those conditions accepted By the Solih "A!eh
were 70 be regarded absolutely necessary u
Tho neoce az The country one central idea had cOa.
loed him IN the whole matter aud nj. was tha tte
proper system Of pacihcation should be one WHICH
tended EVERYWHERE 10 stimulate ths Loyalty o. tic
Inc people Of the SOuththem selves and make 1t tie
spring OF iova conduct and proper Legislation raibrf
thaD impose upon them laws and conditions ~ dec'
mus in the case Of the Freedmen. Bureau. be
NOT against the idea OF the Bureau ~ toto for be had
used H. and si using IT, Ii might continue ioI
,hnf either by proclamation OF lis own. or by some
action Of Congress condition OF peace-the technical
| end of the Eebel!ion-woud probably be declared a,
some period not very remote ana ~ ne uhuofslvoe
the present law the Bureau might continue
a year from that tine. Meanwhile ne could
.ay to the South, 1t depends upon yOuisele Is
I a. 80
carl dsier for will put end 20 Il Just as soon a. you
bv proper action for the protection OF tue freedmen
make II unnecessary. Thus said he me nope o.
et,ing rid o! the Institution stimulates them to 90
what i right whilst they not discouraged by NC
idea that there hope oil al end TO they regard
as q sort of military government H. Oh the other
haSd the Bureau were 10 be made permanent
thing nv legislation, which on MS lace sp.
pcarf part Of the fixed law OF the
land all The objections be bad urged
in his message applied in full force to it, and instead OF
Encouraging the South 10 loyalty would tehd 70 drife
them to desperation and make their hatred OF The Gov
eminent inyetorate The same principle OF eliminating
lovay was showu in the manner IN which he had held
martial law over them Whenever they shOnId snow
20 peaceful and .aw-AbidiDg CONDITION OF tielt com
munity that martial law not needed IL SbOhu De
removed Their own conduct would thus determine TIE
matter and the desire and interest OF oil the pes'
people be increased 70 put down disf Oahces au OUT
breaks protect Union men and ODE! the s"s, DC,
couse by so doing thew would hasten tie Withdrawal Of
the direct interference OF the military arm III the al
fairs. In precisely the same way ana uhuei the mHu
euce of the same ideas he had acted IL regard 70 cyn
affairs generally in that section, regarding II as neces'
sary and proper impose conditions upon the rebeous
States which would guarantee tbe soety OF t9e eouhl
and regarding the then existing alails OF the local
Governments as having disqualified themselves by their.
treason for their continuance IN power lie depOsed'
them and established Provisional Governments then
he asked himself what conditions ought 10 be demanded
Of them and how their disposition 10 hccepi theh IA
! good faith might be stimulated. The condlnons w
The amendment of State Constitutions excluding SO
very the acceptance Of the same amendment OF the
Constitution Of the United States the reputation oite
Rebel debt and the admission OF the freedmen 10 YaII
Gus rights. &C. everybody is familiar WITH To stimu-
late them 10 accept these conditions being such as
using his best judgment. and, in the absence OF any
Congressional pan he thought the nearest right OF any
be could frame lie engaged that. on their acceptance
with evidence Of good faith he wond permit them to
reorganize their State Governments elect Legislatures
&c: and 80 far executive acts could do So would
restore them to their position in the Union Of States.
They had so hr accepted his conditions that
be did not regard the experiment failure but sue
cess. He had accordingly recognized the PostOhee
Department everywhere among them hao rcopened
trade end removed restrictions thereon through the
Treasury Department; and in Ike manner ID on the
Executive Departments recognized them az otates IA
the Union. only keeping enough Of military hoid 10
protect the freedmen he had before stated ana 70
Induce them do something thorough IN that Oh
iectlon. ~,
Now but thing remained in which those States dld
not exercise the full rights Of States and that was
representation in Congress In this he had advised
that the same principle OF stimulating loyalty be- aP
Piled as in the other respects which be had named lie
would ADMIT only such representatives. a. are IN fact
loyal men, giving satisfactory evidence ofths When
ever q state or District sent Q loyal man. properly
elected and qualified he would think II
right to admit him the II from any other State
and ho would admit but such loyal men; 90 tls.
ether States OF districts pight b thus dapeQ W ee,t