The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-01

IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WITH PREsIDFN'
JOHNSON.
The following letter was read on Mon
day night by Governor Cox, of Ohio, t,
the Republican Representative from
that state:
WASHINGTON, Monday, Goth February, 1866.
General George b. Wright, Chairman
Ohio Union Central Committee, Column
Gus, Ohio:
My DEAR SIR: On Saturday last
had the honor of an interview with
the President, which l regarded as OF
sufficient interest and Importance to
make it proper that should reduce to
writing my remembrance of his state
ments whilst they were fresh in my
memory, since he seemed to me, in 4
perfectly free and unpremedtated con.
versation, to exhibit with peculiar
clearness the processes of his own
mind in reaching some of his own opin-
ions, and to express them with such
manifest candor aud entire freedom
from reserved feeling, that could not
but think that, if he would consent to
it, good might be done by making his
statements public. Accordingly again
waited upon him this morning to make
known what 1 had done, 70 ask bis eri-
fication of the truth OF my report, and
his consent TO make the same known to
the country.
Although he was entirely unaware of
my purpose to reduce his remarks to
writing, and / myself had no such in
tention when | first called upon him, he
most frankly gave his consent and as
sented to the accuracy of my report,
which is as follows:
He said he had no thoughts which he
was not will lg to avow. That his poll
cy had simply aimed at the earliest pos
sible restoration of peace Oh the basis of
loyalty. No Congressional policy had
ever been adopted, and therefore when
he entered upon the duties of his office
he was obliged to adopt one of his own.
He had in some sense inherited that of
Mr.. Lincoln, with which he thought he
agreed, and that was substantially the
one which he carried out. Congress ha,
no just ground of complaint that he done
so, for they had not seen fit to declare
their views or adopt any measures en-
bodying what could be called policy of
restoration. He was satisfied that no
long continuance of military govern
ment could be tolerated that the whole
country would properly demand re
storation of a truly civil government,
and not to give it to the lately rebelious
States would be an admission of the fail
ure of the administration, and of the
party which had carried through the
war, to prove themselves equal to the
exigency now that the work of destruc-
ton was over and that of rebuilding had
begun. Military government alone
would not pacify the South. AT the end
of long period of such government we
would be no nearer, and probably not
80 near, the end as now, and would have
the same work to do. Hence there is
real necessity of adopting policy which
should restore civil government fully,
just as soon as the rebellion should be
thoroughly ended and those conditions
accepted by the South which were to be
regarded as absolutely necessary to the
peace of the country.
One central idea had controlled him in
the whole matter, and this was, that the
proper system of pacification should be |
one which tended every where to stimu- |
late the loyalty of the people of the South
themselves, and make it the spring of |
loyal conduct and proper legislation,
rather than to impose upon them laws
and conditions by direct external force.
Thus, in the case of the F'reedmen's !
Bureau, he was not against the Bureau |
an toto, for he had used it, and was still |
using it. 1t might continue for period |
OF more than year yet. He had con-
that, either by proclamation
Of his own or by some action of Congress.
a condition of peace, the technical end of
The rebellion, would probably be declar-
ed at some period, perhaps not very re-
mote; and, as he understood the present
law, the Bureau might continue year
from that time. Meanwhile he could
say to the South, at depends upon your
selves to say whether the Bareau shall
be discontinued at an earlier day, for l
will put an end to ii just as soon as you.
~ proper action for the protection of the
freedmen, make it unnecessary Thus.
said he, "the hope Of getting rid of the
Institution stimulates them to do what
S right, whilst they are not discouraged
~ TIE idea that there is no hope of an
md to what they regard as sort of mil
tary government. IT, on the other hand,
ne Bureau were to be made pefma-
tent thing by legislation which on its
ace appears part of the fixed law of the
and, all the objections he had urged in
lis message applied in full force to it,
ND instead of encouraging the South to
oyalty, you tend to drive them to des-
aration, and make their hatred of the
government inveterate."
The same principle of Stimulating low a
llfu xuaa obawn In, tlo |