The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-03-02
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
BETWEEN PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND GovERNo
cox OF OHIO.
FAIRFAX,


cox or OHIO.
In Washington on Monday night, Gov. Cox
OF Ohio read letter, addressed by himself to
the Union Central Committee Of Ohio, before
tho Representatives in Congress from that State,
which gives the substance OF q conversation had
between the writer thereof and President John
con on Saturday last. Governor Cox says the
Presidents policy had simply aimed at the
earliest possible restoration of peace on the ba
sis Of loyalty. No Congressional policy had
ever been adopted, and when he (tlic Presidency
entered upon the duties Of his Office he was
obliged to adopt one Of his own. He had in
ono sense inherited that Of Mr.. Lincoln, with
which he thought he agreed, and that was sub
stantially the one which hc had carried out.
Congress had no just ground of complaint that
he had done 30, for they had not seen fit to dc.
clare their views or adopt any measures en-
bodying what could no called policy OF res.
toration. He was satisfied that no long con-
tinuance of Military Governors could he toler-
ated; that tho whole country would properly
demand the restoration OF truly civil govern
ment; and not to give it to tho lately rebel
lious States would bc an admission of the fail.
ure of the Administration and of the party
which had carried through the war. Military
government alone would not paciiy the South.
At the end of q long period of such govern.
ment we would be no nearer tho end than now,
and would have the same work to do The
proper system of pacification should be one
which tended to stimulate the loyalty of the
people, rather than to impose upon them laws
and conditions by direct external force. Thus
in the case of the Frccdmcn's Bureau, no was
not against the idea of Bureau, an toto, for
no had used it and was still using it. lie had
contemplated that either by proclamation OF
his own or by some action of Congress, a con.
ditiun OF peace, the technical end of the rebel
lion, would probably DO declared Mt some peri.
cd not very remote, and, as hc understood the
present law, the Bureau might continue n year
IRON that time. Meanwhile he could say to
the South: cit depends upon yourselves to say
whether tho Bureau shall DO discontinued ut an
earlier day for will put an end to it just as
soon as you by proper action for the protection
of the freedmen, make it unnecessary" II the
Bureau were to be made u permanent thing by
legislation, all the objections he had urged IN
his message applied in full force to it, and in
stead OF encouraging the South to loyalty,
would tend to make their hatred of tho Gov
eminent invetcratc. The same principle has
nctuatcd him in tho matter of martial law.
Their own conduct must determine tho matter,
and their own desire and interest to put down
disturbances and outbreaks must be increased.
Under the same idea he had acted in regard
to tho civil affair of the South generally. He
considered the new State governments OF tho
South success.
On the subject OF representation the Presi-
dent said he pould admit only such representa-
tires as arc in fact loyal men, giring satisfactory
cpidenoe of this. Whenever u State or Dis
trict sent loyal man properly elected and
qualified, he would think It right to admit him
the same rs il from any other State, and he
rould admit none hit such loyal men, so that
other States or Districts might be induced to
elect similar men. When they had all done
this, their representation would DO full and the
work would be done. He did not ask to be
judge OF elections, Congress was It's own judge.
lie favored Congress providing for the protcc'
ton Of the freedmen by the United States
Courts Of inferior jurisdiction in all cases
where States did not do so themselves. II the
rebels and dsloyal men of the North and
South rejoiced over tho veto message, the coun-
try would surely have no cause for sorrow in
that. He thought that was precisely the kind
Of pacifcation loyal men everywhere would
rejoice in. His whole heart ,ras iriM The body
ofirue men ,rho had carried The country through
The ,car, and he earnestly desired 10 maintain a
cordial and perfect understanding wih them.
This sentiment and Irpose he regarded as en-
tircly consistent with his determined opposition
to the obstructive policy of those extremists,
who, ~ he believed, would keep the country in
chaos until absolute ruin might come upon us.