New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-11
THE pREsrDENr-coNGREss-HENRY WARD
BECKER.
President.

The persistent efforts OF Mr. Beecher TO cast blame
on the Republican majority of the present Congress
as-at least equally with President Johnson-respon-
sible for tho grave existing difference between them,
impels me, in the interest of truth and justice, to
make statement OF facts.
was one of the many who early spprehended and
anxiously deprecated breach between Congress
and the President Soon after last State election,
and before the assembling of the present Congress,
went, not unlimited, to Washington, expressly to
guard against such difference. Being admitted To
an interview with the President, urged him to call
TO Washington three of the most eminent and trusted
expositors of Northern Ant-Slaycry sentiment, and
three equally eminent and representative Southern
OK Rebels, and ask them to take up their
residence at the White House for week, fort
night so long as they might find necessary while
they by free and friendly conference and discussion.
should earnestly endeavor TO find common ground
whereon the North aud the South should be not merely
reconciled but made evermore fraternal and harmo'
NOUS | suggested that the President should occa-
sionally, as he could find time, drop in on these con-
erences and offer such suggestions as he should deem
ft--rather as a moderator common friend, than as
a party to the discussion.
a suggestion VI ndlnto utlbb h''NN"f P'NG''NN
those of Gov Andrew of Massachusetts, Gerrit Smith
of New.York and Judge r. p spauldmg OF ohio' as
three who seemed 10 me fair representatives Of the
ant.savery sentiment Of the North, while neither
specially obnoxious TO nor disposed to deal harshy
with the South; and added that hoped they would
be met by men like Gen. Robert +. Lee,
Alexander II. Stephens, &c, 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 selected wish
ing only that those chosen from either section should
be such as to command their peoples confidence and
support And pledged myself to support, to the e1-
tent of my power, any adjustment that should thus
be mAtured and agreed upon.
7 Some two months later, after the meeting Of Con.
gress and when the political sky had become darker,
went again to Washington on the assurance Of
mutual friend that the President desired to
The Joint Committee on Reconstruction had then
been appointed At an interview promptly accorded,
urged the President 70 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 problem Of Reconstruction with fixed re-
solve to find a basis of agreement if possible.
| urged such considerations as occurred
to me in favor of the feasibility of
such agreement il it were earnestly 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 sup
porters and nominees expelled by wholesale from
Office, and their places supplied by bitter adversares-
the natural anxiety of every party in power to main
tain cordial relations with the head Of the Government
chosen by its votes-these and thousand kindred
considerations rendered morally certain an agreement
between Congress and the President without sacri-
flee of principle on either hand, if the latter should
sincerely seek it.
speak only of what said and proposed because
have no permission and right to speak further.
That my suggestions not followed, nor anything
akin to Them the public sadly knows. And the con-
clusion to which have been most reluctantly
forced is, that the President did not rant harmony
with Congressional he had already made up his mind
to break with the party which had elected him and
seek further lease Of power through the favor and
support Of its impacable enemies.
HORACE GREELEY.