Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-07-11
GREELEY AND THE SOUTH.

for Grant? MEMO.
GREELEY AND THE SOUTH.
We take the following from the Richmond
correspondence the Louisville C0,srier-Jour-
naG tits an incident in Mr. Greeley's history
so creditable to his head and heart that it
ought long ago to have been made public, not
less as an act of justice to Mr.. Greeley than a
matter of general interest to the country. The
wonder is that this incident should so 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 to
New York to solicit an interview with Horace
Greeley. Unable to leave the capital, Gree
lev must come to him at once at the White
House. Greeley promptly complied with the
request After the first formal civilities were
over, Camp rose to leave, but President John
son requested him to remain, and he did 50
during the whole interview.
johnson opened the conversation by saying
that he found himself in most trying position.
The nation was convulsed with passion in con-
sequence 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 unexpectedly called, and he felt the
need, as he had never before felt it, of the
counsel of some cool and sagacious 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 crisis so awful, was problem
too deep for him to solve. Placing himself
in Mr.. Greeley's hands, he asked, what must
I do?
Thanking him for the confidence thus re-
posed in him, Mr.. Greeley replied that his
best course was to call to his assistance few
of the West 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. Andrew, of Massachu-
setts, Gerrit Smith, of New York, and Judge
Spalding, of Ohio. A like number of South
ern gentlemen should be called; they should
be invited to the White House as guests Of
the President, there to remain and deliberate
as long as they thought fit; and, having agreed
upon some policy, they should submit it to
the President for his approval, and if approved
by him, as Mr.. Greely doubted not it would
be, it should be faithfully and rigidly pur-
sued, despite the popular clamor which might
for time ensue.
Mr.. johnson thought well of the suggestion.
"But what Southern men should l invite, Mr..
Greeley, to meet the gentlemen you have
named from the North?"
"First and foremost" said Mr.. Greeley,
"Robert E. Lee, Of Virginia"
"Great heavens!' exclaimed johnson; che
is the very head and front of the rebellion"
II know that" said 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 possesses the confidence
of the entire South !; he is upright and pure;
he would not recommend single action on
your part which would not meet the approval
of your advisers from the North, and the re-
suit of the deliberations in which Robert E.
Lee, Judge Campbell, of Alabama, and third
man like them, from the South, took part,
would not only insure the appreciation Of the
disafected States, but in the course Of few
months, would, I am firmly persuaded, bring
to your support every right-minded and right
hearted men at the North. The paci6cation
of the estranged sections, your main difficulty,
would thus be solved, and your path made
clear towards the solution of minor difficulties
How are you to discover the true sentiments
ofthe South and the wants Of its people, ifyou
do not consult her representative men? And
what sort of restoration will that be in the
plan of which the South has no part whatev-
er? 1t must of necessity be one sided, partial
and unjust Be persuaded, Mr.. President,
and call to your aid men of the standing, po-
sition and temper I have suggested, and by all
means call them from both sections"
In this strain Mr.. Greeley continued until
he had fairly won the President over to his
way of thinking. This interview ended with
the assurance from the President that he
would adopt the views of Mr.. Greeley and fol-
low them exactly. He would, however, make
single modi6cation-he would substitute
Horace Greeley in place of Gerrit Smith.
every we'll" said Mr.. G., eff you call me I
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 it; with
what result the country is but too sadly aware.
Thus it will be seen that the role of pacif-
Gator is no new thing with Mr.. Greeley, but is
only part which he has Systematically pur-
sued ever since the close of the war. So, also,
his confidence in the integrity and good sense
of the Southern leaders, and his willingness to
trust the Southern people is no new thing.
What he is to-day he was years ago and what
better guaranty do we want for the future
At time when the North was wild with rage
against the South, when the execution of eve
ry one ofher political and military chiefs and
the confscation of the entire property of her
people would hardly have atoned in the North
ern eyes for Lincoln's assassination, then Gree
ley, with the wisdom of the statesman and the
sympathy of great heart, stood up for the
South alone in his party, recommending a line
of policy which would have brought peace and
happiness to the country and exhibiting traits
Of character which do credit to and commend
humanity.
Gov. SCOTT AT SPARTANBURG.-For the
first time in the history of his memorable
reign, Gov. Scott was in our town on last
Thursday night. A strong effort was made to
get the colored people out to hear speech
from him, and after some hours of industrious
drumming some thirty negro men and boys
were found who had some curiosity to see the
man, and these were pushed and showed up to
form an audience in front of the steps of the
Palmetto Hotel. Scott came out and made
an eloquent harangue of about one half min
ute's length, when he retired, leaving his
henchman, Enoch, to make proclamation that
Scott had plenty of liquor in the cellar and tc