The Van Buren press., 1867-03-01
Compromise between the President and
..MIl Congress.

We find in the Washington cores
pondence, of :he ST. Louis Republican
dated Feb. 10th, the following reported
compromise between the President and
leading members of Congress. We are
inclined to the belief that the Senate and
House, will unite on bill, which the
President, will sanction, reorganizing the
Southern States. That Congress, is de
termined, on the reconstruction of the
South, on the basis of negro suffrage,
there cannot be doubt What " cannot
be cured must be endured" Let us look
at the subject, calmly and reasonably
Let sound discretion and a wise policy
guide our actions in dealing with this
most unreasonable subject, for we have
nothing to gain by Z" kicking against the
pricais.'Sv ... esar.4 .Faag
THE reported compromise. or conference
rather. which has been going on between the
President and certain Republican Congress
men has continued TO excite the deepest inter-
est to-day in all quarters. in, as well as out of
of Congress. The impression which it has
created may be judged from the passage of
resolutions introduced into the House to-day
by Mr.. Wentworth, of Illinois, creating spe-
cial committee to investigate the statements
in this matter made during the past few days
in the newspapers. Inasmuch, that this COM
mittee will proceed at once to the work, it has
been deemed proper by those participating in
the efforts att compromise to furnish, for pub
lie attention. the facts in the premises in or
der that the public may have correct idea of
the situation. t'~"
In the first place, the conference was not
proposed by the President nor by any mem
Der or Senator in Congress The proposition
was suggested by intimate parties holding no
official position. They went to leading Re-
publican Congressmen Of their own volition.
and positively, without the knowledge of the
President and stated from their recent inform
al conversations with the Executive they
were satisfied by slight mutual concessions
without any sacrifice of principle, Congress
could present plan of reconstruction to
which The President would readily give his
assent, At first the members of Congress
were not disposed to take them in considera-
ton on the ground that the President had au-
thorized no such proposition to be made, but
on a second consideration a meeting of 20 or
80 was called. Medtating parties were pres
ent and a detailed conversation resulted in
showing unmistakably that nothing short of
the ratification OF the pending Constitutional
amendment and the adoption of universal
suffrage by the Southern States would secure
reconstruction and entitle them to reprcscn-
tation in Congress; that, in fact. nothing else
would be acceptable to Congress. This con-
clusion was reported at once to the President,
who stated in reply that hcwas willing, in or
der to secure settlement of the question, to
yield his position and favor the ratification of
the pending Constitutional amendment and
in addition to exact suffrage of the Southern
States as an additional condition precedent to
their representation in Congress. The Presi-
dent did not lay any stress as to whether he
favored impartial or universal suffrage but
distinctly intimated that the difference be-
tween the two would not prove material. The
Presidents conclusions were then reported in
turn to those Congressman, who were earnest
ly assured they had been correctly given 1t
was then suggested that an interview be had
at once with the President, and that a COM
mittee of the members be appointed to see
Mr.. johnson and learn from him personally
these reported declarations A committee
then waited on the President, and he substan-
TALLY repeated the statement which he had
made to the mediators. This was reported to
all the members at Il second meeting. who
were present at the first one, and it was look
ed upon as being conclusive.
The fact of the Presidents having stated his
concessions. was communicated TO between
sixty and seventy members on the Republican
side of the House, and nearly every one stated
that they would vote for a bill embodyin"
them ifit could be brought before the House.
If there is any point in doubt in the whole
matter, it is the question as to whether uni
q versal or impartial suffrage shall be agreed on
q in connection with the constitutional amend
ment. The way in which the agreement is to
be carried out is now being illustrated in the
prOtracted session of the Senate, where the
\ Blaine amendment is pending, and which
verbally the plan the President is declared to
4 have accepted. If the Senate adopt it, and it
& is agreed to by the House, the President is af-
forded the opportunity of making good the
4 representation which he has given to the
a members. in any event. it is expected that
Z the views of the President will be commune
4 Gated to Congress in message either approx
q Ing or vetoing Reconstruction bill.
a Among the Republicans who have been
present at the time of the conference alluded
n to are Banks. Blair, Dodge Bingham, Delano,
q lIubbell of Ohio Ketchum of New York. and
others OF equal prominence.
The statements above given are derived
q from prominent and strictly responsible
source, and may be relied on.
"A ..| -<~$-.