The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-19
ImPoRrANr IF TRuE.
The President and Congress coming
construction already Agreed Upon.

The President and Congress Coming
10 Terms--The Main Points OF Re
construction already Agreed Upon.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 16, 1867.
The reported compromise, or confer
ence rather, which has been going on
between the President and certain Re-
publican congressman, has continued
20 excite the deepest interest to-day in
all quarters, in, as well US out of Con-
gress. The impression which 1t has
created may be judged from the pas
sage OF resolutions introduced into the
House to-day by Mr.. Wentworth, of
Illinois, raising Special Committee to
investigate the statements in this re-
gard, made during the past few day S in
the newspapers. 1nasmuch as this
Committee will proceed at once to their
work, it has been deemed proper by
those participating in the efforts at u
compromise 10 furnish for publication
the facts in the premises, in order that
the public may have a correct idea of
the situation. 4
In the first place, the conference was
not proposed by the President, nor by
any member or Senator in Congress.
The proposition was suggested by in
termediate parties, holding an official
position. They went to leading Repub-
lican Congressman of their own Volt
ton, and positively without the knowl-
edge of the President, and stated that
from their recent informal conversa-
tions with the Executive, they were
satisfied that by slight mutual con-
cessions, without any sacrifice of prin-
ciple, Congress could present a plan of
reconstruction to which the President
would readily give his assent. At first
the members OF Congress were not dis
posed to take them into consideration,
on the ground that the President had
authorized no such proposition to be
made, but on second consideration a
meeting oftwenty or thirty was cslled,
at which the mediating parties Were
present. \ detailed conversation re-
suited in showing Enthusiastically 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 rep
resentation in Congress. That in fact
nothing else would be acceptable to
Congress.
This conclusion was reported at once
to the President, who stated in reply
that he was willing, in order to secure a
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 representa-
ton in Congress. The President did
not lay any stress as to whether he fla
vored impartial or universal suffrage,
but distinctly intimated that the differ
ence between the two would not prove
material. The Presidents conclusions
were then reported in turn to those
congressman, who were earnestly as
sured that theyhad been correctly given.
1t was then suggested that an inter-
view be lad at once with the President,
ana that committee of the members
be appointed to see Mr.. johnson, and
learn from him personally, these re-
ported declarations. a committee then
waited on the President, and he sub
stantially repeated the statement which
he had made to the mediatUrs. This
was reported to all of the members at n
second meeting who were present at
the first one, and it was looked upon as
being conclusive. The fact of the Presi-
dents having stated his concession,
was communicated TO between sixty
and seventy members on the Repub-
lican side of the House, and nearly
every one stated that they would vote
for n bill embodying them if it could be
brought before the House. If there is
I anypoint i'll doubt in the whole matter,
| 1t Is the question as to whether
universal or impartial suffrage shall be
| agreed to in connection with the Con-
stitutional Amendment.
| The way in which the agreement is
| now being illustrated is in the protract-
ed session of the Senate, where the
| Blaine amendment is pending, and
which is virtually the plan the Presi-
dent is declared to have accepted. II
| the Senate adopt it, and it is agreed to
| by the House, the President is afforded
the opportunity of making good the
representation which he has given to
| the members. In any event, il is ex-
pected that the views of the President
will be communicated to Congress in a
message either approving or vetoing a
/ reconstruction bill.
Among the Republicans who have
been present at the time of the confer
ence alluded to are Banks, Blaine,
Dodge, Bingham, Delano, HubbeII, OF
Ohio, Retchum, of New York, and
others of equal prominence.
The statements above given are de-
rived from prominent, strictly response
BILE sources, and may be relied on.
PRnyT yIVSERAU rnrErv