The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-09-25
The -Congress-Henry Ward
Raecher.


The persistent efforts of Mr.. Beecher
to cast blame on the Republican major
ity of the present Congress, that it is-at
least equally with PRESIDENT Johnson
responsible for the grave existing differ
ences between them, impels me, in the
interests of truth and justice, to make
statement of facts. So
| n was one of those who early appre-
hended and anXiously deprecated
breach between Congress and the Pres
dent. Soon after our last State election,
and before the assembling of the present
Congress, l went, not unlnvlted, 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 eNpositors OF
Northern Anti-slavery sentiment, and
three equally eminent and representa-
tive Southern ex-Rebels, and ask them
to take up their residence at the White
House for week, a fortnight, so long as
they might find it necessary, while they
by free and friendly conference and
discussion, whereon the North and the
South should be not merely reconciled,
but made evermore fraternal and har-
monious. [ suggested that the Presi-
dent should occasionally, as he could
find time, drop in on these conferences
and offer such suggestions as he should
deem fit-rather as a moderator or COM
mon friend, than as a par ty to the dis
cussion.
A suggestion of names being invited,
I proposed those of Gov. Andrew of
Massachusetts, Gerrit Smith of New
York and Judge r. P. Spaulding of
Ohio, as three who seemed to me fair
representatives of the Anti-slavery SEN
timent of the North, while neither speci-
ally obnoxious to or disposed to deal
harshly with the South and l added
that I hoped they would be met by men
like Gen. Robert E. Lee, Alexander III.
nized and needed by the South as men
terests would be safe. But [ added
that 1 had no special desire that these
or any particular men should be elected
either section should be such as to COM
port. And 1 pledged myself to support
to the extent of my power, any adjust
ment that should thus be matured and
agreed upon.
Some two months later, after the
of Congress, and when the po-
litical sky had become darker, went
again to Washington, on the assurance
of mutual friend that the President
desired to see me. The Joint Commit
tee on Reconstruction had then been
appointed. AT an interview promptly
accorded, urged the President to in
vite 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 Recon
struction, with fixed resolve to find
basis of agreement if possible. urged
such considerations as occurred to me
in favor of the feasibility of such agree
ment if it were earnestly sought, as [
felt sure it would be on the side of Con-
gress. The vast patronage in the Pres
dents hands-the reluctance of the
majority in Congress to see their friends,
supporters and nominees expelled by
wholesale from office, and their places
by bitter adversaries-the
natural anxiety of every party in power
to maintain cordial relations with the
Government chosen by its votes-these
and thousand kindred considerations,
rendered morally certain an agreement
between Congress and the President
without sacrifice of principle on either
hand, ifthe latter should sincerely seek
it.
I speak only of what I said and pro-
posed, because l have no permission
md no right to speak further. That
ny suggestions were not followed, nor
anything akin to them, the public sadly
Knows. And the conclusion to which [
nave been most reluctantly forced is,
hat the President did not acaaet harmo-
~ with Congress he had already
made up his mind to break with the
party which had elected him and seek
further lease ofpower through the ia
7or and support of its implacable enc
MES. HORACE GREELY.
NapoIeon's Health