The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-03
GREELEY AND THE SOUTH.
an IMPORTANT INTERVIEW NEVER
BEFORE MADE PUBLIC
Horace Greeley's Pacific Policy AdVocat-
ed by Him Seven Years Ago-his
Ocinron OF Loe.


Justice to Mr.. Greeley than matter OF gene
raj Interest to the country. The wonder Is
that this Incident should 30 long have been
kept secret, dating back as 1t does seven years
ago:
ANDREW JOHNSON SENDS FOR GRBELEY.
Soon after johnson was l. ,talled as Presi-
dent, he sent q gentleman hamed Camp TO
New York to solicit an interview wi h Horace
Greeley. Unable to leave the capita. Greeley
must come to him at once at The While
House. Greeley promptly compiled with the re-
quest. After the first formal clVilities were
over, Camp rose to leave, but President John'
son requested hin to remain, and ne did 80
during the whole interview.
johnson opened the conversation Dy saylHg g
that he found himself in the most trying posi-
ton. The nation was convulsed win passion
in consequence of Mr.. Lincoln's assassination;
The situation was new and embarrassing 10
him; he felt inadequate 10 the task TO winch
he had been 80 Unexpectedly called, and ne
felt The need, as he had never before felt IL, OF
the counsel Of some cool and sagaclous man.
he had, therefore, sent for Mr.. Greeley.
What conrse to pursue, how to stem the tor-
rent of Northern frenzy, how to manage tne
reins of government In crisis 80 awful, was
q problem too deep for him to solve. Placing
himself In Mr.. Greeley's hands, he asked:
WHAT MUST Do'
Thanking him TOR the confidence thus re-
posed in him, Mr.. Greeley replied that his best
couree was TO call to his assistance few OF
the wisest and best men In the country. They
should be representative men from the Two
great sections. On the part OF the Nortn, ne
would suggest Governor Andrew, OF Massa-
chusetta; Gerrlt Smith, of New York, and
Judge spaldlng, Of Ohio. IKE mum nnmoel .sSa o.
Southern gentlemen should be called; they
shonId be Invited to the White House as guests
of the President, there to remain and delioer-
ate as long as they thought 1T; and, having
agreed upon some-p -pollcy, they should submit
IL to the President for his approval, and II ap-
proved by him. as Mr.. Greeley doubted not it
would be, it should be faithfully and rigidly
pursued, despite the popular eiamor "nicn
@r. Johnson thought we'll Of the sugges-
ton. "But what Southern men should ln-
vite, Mr.. Greeley, to meet the gentlemen you
have named from the North !"
.sFlrst and foremost" sold Mr.. Greeley,
s.Hobert E. Lee, Of Virginia"
t.(3reat heavens p exclaimed Johnson; she
is the very head and front of the rebellion"
II know that" said Greeley, land for that
very reason you should invite him. He
knows, II any man does, the wants OF the
Southern people; he OF all men possesses the
confidence of the entire South; he is upright
and pure; he would not recommend single
approval OF your advisers from the North, and
the result of the deliberations In which Rob.
ert E. LIE, Judge Campbelk of Alabama, and
and q third man like them, from the Soutn.
ftook part, would not only Insure the approoa-
iion OF the disafrced States, but, IN the
course of q few months. would, am firmly
persuaded, bring to your support every right
minded and right hearted man at the North.
The paclacaiiOn Of the esrranged sections,
YOUR main difficulty, would thus be solved,
and your path made clear towards the sou'
tion Of minor difficulties. How are you 10
discover the true sentiment OF the Soutn ana
the wants Of It's people II you do not consult
her representative men And what sost OF
restoration wiffthat be in the plan Of which
the South has no part whatever 1t must OF
necessity be oue.sided. partial and unjust.
Be persuaded. Mr.. President, and call to your
aid men of the Standing, position and temper
have suggested. and by all means cal them
from both sections"
In this strain Mr.. Greeley continued until he
had
PAIRLY WON THE PRESIDENT
over to his way OF thinking. The interview
ended with the assurance from the President
that he would adopt the views OF Mr.. Greeley
and follow them exactly He would. however,
make single modiflcation-he would substi-
tute Horace Greeley in place Of G-rrit Smith;
"Yery WELL" said Mr. G., III you call me
will come gladly and aid you TO the best OF
my ability"
They parted, and ten days afterwards John
son threw Greeleys suggestions to the winds,
adopted "my policy" and pursued 1t; with
what result the country iss but too sadly
aware.
Thus 1t will be seen that the roll Of paclaca-
tor Is
NO NEW THING
with Mr.. Greeley, but is only part which he
has systematically pursued ever since the
eclose of the war. So, also, his confidence 10
the Integrity and good eense of the southern
leaders, and his Willingness to trust the
Southern people is no new thing. What he
is to-day be was years ago; and what better
guarantee do we want for the future! AC
time when the North was wild with rage
against the South, when the execution of
every one OF her political and military chiefs
and the conflscaiion Of the entire property OF
her people would hardly have atoned In North
ern ewes for Llncoln's assassination, then Cree
lev, with the wisdom of the statesman and the
sympathy OF q great heart, stood up for the
South alone iu his party, recommending
line of policy which would have brought
peace and happiness to the country, and ex-
hibIting traits Of character which do credit to
and commend humanity. That an occurrence
so important should never before have been
divulged, Is, I repeat, simply marvellous. that
It should without delay 90 to the country, and
to the world should be not so much duty as
pleasure. For
zone COED deed dying tongueless,"
slaughters thousand waiting on that"
And the press. which ever loves pleasant
duty, will see that it does go.