New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-07
GREELEY AND THE SOUTH.


An Important Interview which Has Never
Before Been Made Public = Horace
Gfeeley's Pacific Policy Advocated by
Him Seven ears AgO-His Opinion of
Lee.
Correspondence of the CourerJournalI-
RICHMOND, Va, June 25. - An incl
dent in Mr.. Greeleys history 80 eieditable
to his head and heart that it ought long ag3
to have been made public, has just been
| narrated to your correspondent, and he
| hastens TO place it before the readers OF the
/ COHFieI-JOHrHaL, not less as an act OF JUS
tice to Mr.. Greeley than matter of general
| interest TO the country, The wonder is that
this incident should 50 long have been kept
secret, dating back as it does seven years
ago.
| Soon after johnson was installed as presi-
dent he sent a gentleman named Camp 10
| New York to solicit an interview with Ho-
race Greeley. Unable to leave the capital,
Greeley must come to him at once at tile
White House. Greeley promptly complied
with the request. After the first formal CT
| Whites were over, Camp rose to leave, but
| President Johnson requested him to remain,
and he did 80 during the whole interview.
| johnson opened the conversation by say
| ing that he found himself in a most trying
/ position. The nation was cOnyulsed with
/ passion in consequence of Mr.. LincOln's
| assassination the situation was new and
| embarrassing to him he felt inadequate TO
| the task to which he had been so unex-
| pectedly called, and be felt the need, as
| he had never before felt it, of the counsel
! of some cool and sagaeious man. He had,
| therefore, sent for Mr.. Greeley. What
course to pursue, how to stem the torrent Of
| Northern frenzy, how to manage the reins
of government in a crisis so awful, was a
problem too deep for him to solve. Placing
himself in Mr.. Greeleys hands, he asked,
what must dos
Thanking him for the confidence he thus
reposed in him, Mr.. Greeley replied that
his best course 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 North, he would suggest Gov
ernOF Andrew, OF Massachusetts, Gerrit6
Smith, of New York, and Judge Spalding,
of Ohio. A like number of Southern gen-
tlemen should be Called they should be in
Vited to the White House as guests of the
President, there to remain and deliberate
as long as they saw fit; and, having agreed
upon some policy, they should submit it to
the President for his approval and If an
proved by him, as Mr.. Greeley doubted not
it would be, it should be faithfully and rig
idly pursued, despite the popular camor
which might for time ensue.
Dir. johnson thought well of the sugges-
ton. ..But what Southern men should 1
invite, AIR Greeley, to meet the gentlemen
you have named from the North p
First and foremost" said Mr.. GreeleT,
Robert f. Lee, of Virginia.
Great heavens y exclaimed johnson.
'he is the very head and front of the rebel
lion" re
Il know that, said Mr. Greeley, .and for
that very reason you should invite him
He knows, If any man does, the wants OF
the Southern people; he of all men possess
SEES the confidence of the entire South; he il
upright and pure; he would not recommend
a single action on your part which would
not meet the approval OF your advisers
fro a the North and the result of the de-
alterations in which Robert E. Lee,
Judge Campbell, OF Alabama, and q
South, took part, would not only
insure the appreciation of the disaffeeted
States, but, in the course of a few months,
would, | am firmly persuaded, bring to
your support every right-minded and right
hearted man Of the North. The pacifcar
ton of the estranged sections, your main
difficulty, would thus be solved. and your
path made clear toward the solution OF
minor difficulties. How are You to discover
the true sentiments of the South and the
wants OF its people If you do not consult
her representative men And what sort of
restoration Will that be in the plan of which
the South has no part whateverl 1t must
Of necessity be one-sided, partial and IN
just. Be persuaded, Mr. President and cali
to your aid men of the standing, position
and temper have suggested, and by all
means call them from both sections"
Ia this strain Mr. Greeley continued until
he had fairly won the President over to his
way of thinking The interview ended
with the assurance from the President thar
he would adopt the views of Mr. Greeley
and follow them exactly. lie would how
ever, make single mOdifcatiOn-he would
rit Smith.
Very we'll" said Mr.. Greeley, .if you
call me, will come gladly, and aid you TO
the best of my ability"
They parted, aud ten days afterward
Johnson threw Greeley's suggestions to the
winds, adopted my policy" and pursued
Z; with what result the country is but too
sadly aware.
Thus it will be seen that the role of paei-
lcatOr is no new thing with Mr.. Greeley,
but 1t is only part which he has systemat-
cally pursued ever since the close Of the
war. So also, his confidence in the integ-
1ty and good sense of the Southern lead
RS, and his willingness to trust the South
IN people IS no new thing. What he is To-
lay ne was years ago; and what better
guarantee do we want for the future ? Alta
ime when the North was wild with rage
against the South; when the execution Of
very one of her political and military
heis, and the cOniscation of the entire
property OF her people would hardly
rave atoned in Northern eyes for Lin
oIns assassination, then Greeley with
ne wisdom OF the statesman and
he sympathy Of a great heart. stood M
or the South alone in bis party, recommend
0g line Of policy which would have
rought peace and happiness to the conn
~, and exhibiting traits of character wbicF,
o credit to and commend humanity. Thai
4 occurrence SO. important should never
efore have been divulged Il. I renoe+
IMPLY marvellous. That it should. wif6ou@
clay. 20 to the country aud to the world
mould be not 50 much duty as pleasure.
One good deed dying tohaueless
Slaughters a thousand waiting on that
And the press, which ever loves a Meas
nt duty, will see that il does 60.