Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-10
Interesting Interview Between Senator
Wilson and tlle President.

We find in the Chicago Tribune, leading radical
Journal letter from its Washington correspondent
protesting TO give an authorized report of inter-
view which took place recently between Senator
Wilson, Ia warm friend of the President,) and the
President.
The passage of Mr. Wilson's resolution by a vote
thoroughly testing the sense of the great majority
of the House upon the Presidents Southern policy,
on Thursday last furnished a proper occasion for
the mutual explanation he desired, and hence he
sought the White House in company with his col
league Mr.. Price, on the evening OF the same day
The President received his visitors very cordially,
and, upon an Introductory remark OF MI wilson
announcing the object of their call invited them 10
an unreseryed expression of opinions and sugges-
tions. Thereupon Mr. Wilson proceeded to say sub
stantially as follows
"Mr. President. YOU have no doubt been inform
ed of the resolution offered to-day IN the House,
and of the vote upon It. In explanation OF II, L
wish to say that neither myself nor the rest Of the
majority veting for it. are disposed to make any dis
tinction between Tennessee and the other Southern
States lately engaged in rebellion in our prelm-
nary examination into their respective claims to
representation in Congress. AT the same Time the
joint Committee of fifteen may, and probably WILL
extend to the former State priority OF consideration
by taking up and dsposng OF Its case hrst and to
this the majority will not oppose Passing from
this special to the general subject Of reconstruction
| at large Mr. Wilson continued: II am aware that
there are men in Congress styling themselves Con
servative5, that claim to be your friends par excel
/ lence.
| "Now l do not hesitate to avow that am what
/ is commonly called Radical l contributed, in
my humble way, all could to the success of the
party that placed YOU in power. Hence claim the
right to call myself the friend OF your administra-
ton. Myself and those acting with me in Congress
all friendly to it. and desire Its entire success
But we think, and with us our constituencies, that
by your plan of reconstruction that result Is not
! likely to be attained We hold, at the same time,
that there is one way in which 1t could be reached.
In opinion, your efforts to reorganize the rebel
States and restore them to the Union after an unn-
! terrupted trial of some seven months, have not
proved successful to the extent required to insure the
future peace safety and prosperity OF the country.
Congress- in pursuance Of what it considers its SOL
emn duty, now proposes after due investigation OF
the whole subject, to devise, if possible some better
plan Of reorganization and restoration. The plan
Congress will probably adopt will be to submit such
amendments TO the Constitution will, if accepted
by the State Legislatures furnish ample guarantees
for the future. The majority of Congress expect
and ask that, while engaged il investigating the
whole subject Of reconstruction, and devlsing some
new plan it may be left free to act as it may deem
! best, and that attempt be made by the Executive
to interfere with and influence its action by the dis
tribution of patronage, or in any other way. If
Guilty between the executive and Legislative branches
of the Government But if you are disposed to in
terfere with Congress by patronage or otherwise,
| and force your peculiar ideas and plans upon Con-
gress and the country, you will meet with serious
opposition by those that friends Of your admin
istratOn and desire sincerely to make it successful
The plan Congress will probably adopt will not rem
der it necessary for you to surrender any Of your
own views in relation TO reconstruction, lnasmuch
as under the Constitution Of the United States, you
cannot be asked TO approve the resolutions Of Con
gress, submitting certain amendments to the constl
tuition. You will not be responsible for our action
but we will be responsible for it to constituents
who will be called upon to determine upon the mer
its Of our plan of reconstruction. Hence there will
be no occasion for serious differences between the
Executive and Congress, if each branch Of the Gov
eminent simply leaves the other to do what 1t con
siders its duty. And let add this the sO-calleC
conservatives Of Congress, the men that claim to bt
your exclusive friends, go with you to-day because
they think it Is TO their advantage to do so; bu
they will oppose you tomorrow, if they shall hnC
it is to their disadvantage to support you. You vii
find in the end that the who differ from you to
day from sincere convictions, and honest patriotic
motives are much more reliable and Trustworthy
friends than these time servers
The President, in reply stated that he anx
ious to avoid division among the friends of his ad
ministratiOn in Congress; that he would regret to
see any difficulties arise between them ard the Elk
ecutive He then proceeded to review at length hi
policy of reconstruction, reiterating the points il
support of it made in his published speeches, anC
more lately in his message, but said netting tina
could be construed into admission of its failure