Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-07-06
ANDREW JOHNSON SENDS FOR GREE
LEY.

Soon after johnson was installed
as President, he sent Q gentleman
named Camp to New York to soli-
cit an interview with Horace Gree
lev. Unable to leave the capital,
Greeley must come TO him at once
at the White House. Greeley prOmp-
tly complied with the request. At
ter the first formal ciVilities were
over, Camp rose TO leave, but Presi-
dent johnson requested him TO re-
whole interview.
johnson opened the conversation
by saying that he found himself in a
most trying position. The nation
was cOnvulsed with passion in con-
sequence Of Mr.. Lincoln's assassina-
ton; the situation was new and en-
barrassiBg to him; he felt inadequate
70 the task to which he had been so
Unexpectedly called, and he felt the
need as he had never before felt il,
Of the counsel of some cool and sa-
EaciOus man. lie had therefore sent
for Mr.. Greeley. What course TO
pursue, how to stem the torrent of
Northern frenzy, hSW to manage
the rcins of government in crisis
30 awful, was problem too deep
for him to solve. Placing himself
il Mr.. Greeley shands, Inc asked,
WHAT MUST I DO?
Thanking him for the confidence
thus repOsed in him, Mr.. Greeley
replied that his best course was 10
call to his assistance a 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 sug-
gest Governor Andrew, of Massa-
chusetts; Gerrit Smith, of New
York and Judge Spaulding, of Ohio.
A like number of Southern gentle
men should be called; they should
be invited to the White House as
guests of the President, there to re-
main and deliberate as long as they
thought fit; and having agreed upon
some policy, they should submit 1t
to the President for his approval,
and if approved by him, as Mr..
Greeley doubted not it would be, it
should be faithfully and rigidly pur-
sued, despite the popular clamor
which might for a time ensue.
Mr.. johnson thought well of the
suggestion. "But what Southern
men should invite, MIR. Greeley, TO
meet the gentlemen you have named
from the North?"
"First and foremost" said Mr..
Greeley, "RObert E. Lee, of Vir-
ginia."
"Great heavens!" exclaimed john
son, che is the very head and front
OF the rebellion"
al know that" said Greeley, "and
for that very reason you should in
vite him. He knows, if any man
does, the wants of the Southern peO-
pie; he of all men possesses the con-
tid9nce of the entire South; heis up
right aud pure; he would not re-
commend single action OH your
part which would not meet the ap-
proVal of your advisers from the
North; and the result of the delibe-
Fations in which Robert Z. Lee,
Judge Campbell, of Alabama, and a
third man like them, from the South,
took part, would not only insure
the appreciation of the disaffected
States, but, in the course of a few
months, would, l am firmly persuad-
ed, bring to your support every
right-minded and right-hearted man
at the North. The pacification 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 senti-
ments 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
whatever? 1t must of necessity be
one-sided, partial and unjust. Be
pursuaded, Mr.. President, and call
to your aid men of the standing, pO-
sitiOn and temper l have suggested,
and by all means call them from
both sections"
In this strain Mr.. Greeley contin-
ued until he had
FAIRLY 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 a single mOditica-
ton he would substitute Horace
Greeley in place of Gerrit Smith.
every WELL" said Mr.. e., ''if you
call me will come gladly and aid