The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-04
Greeley and the south.

Courier. Journal. It is 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 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
President, he sent q gentleman named
Camp to New York to solicit al inter
view with Horace Greeley. Unable to
leave the capital, Greeley must come to
him at once at the White House. Gree
ley 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
80 during the whole interview.
johnson opened the conversation by
saying that he found bimself in a most
trying position. The nation was con-
vulsed with passion in consequence of
MIR. Lincoln's assassination; the situation
was new and embarrassing to him; he
felt inadequate to the task to which he
had been 80 unexpectedly called, aud he
it, of the counsel of some cool and Saga
oious man. He had, therefore, sent for
Mr.. Greeley. What course to pursue,
how to stem the torrent of Northern
frenzy, how to manage the rens of Co
vernment in q crisis so awful, was pro-
blem too deep for him to solve. Placing
himself in Mr.. Greeley s hands, he asked,
What must do?
Thanking him for the confidence thus
reposed in him, Mr.. Greeley replied that
has best course was to call to his assist
ance few Of the wisest and best men in
the country. They should be represen-
tative men from the two great sections.
On the part Of the North, he would sug-
gest Gov. Andrew, of Massachusetts:
Gerrit Smith, of New York, and Judge
Spalding, of Ohio. A like number of
Southern gentlemen should be called;
they should be invited to the White
House as guests of the President, there
to remain and deliberate ps long as they
thought fit; and, having agreed upon
some policy, they should submit it to the
President for his approval, and if ap-
proved by him, as MIR. Greeley doubted
not 1t would be. it should be faithfully
and rigidly pursued, despite the popular
clamor which might for time ensue.
MIR. johnson thought we'll of the sug-
gestion. ''But what Southern men
should 1 invite, Mr.. Greeley. to meet the
gentlemen you have named from the
Nortk?"
"First and foremost" said Mr.. Gree
ley, .'Robert E. Lee. of Virginia.
"Great heayens!" exclaimed johnson:
she is the very head aud front Of the
rebellion"
II know that" said Greeley, "and
for that worry 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 en-
tire 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 result of the delibera:
tions 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 disaffected Slstes, but. in the
course of few months, would, am
firmly persuaded, bring to your support
every right-minded and right.hearted
man at the North. The pacihcation of
the estranged sections, your main diff.
oulty, "oulu tuus Do sOlVeu, aud your
path made clear towards the solution of
minor difficulties. How are you to dis.
cover 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 whatever? Tt must of necessity
be one 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 call them from both sections"
In this strain MIR. Greeley continued
until he had fairly won the President
over to his way of thinking. The inter
view 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 modi-
tication-he would substitute Horace
Greeley in place Of Gerrit Smith.
Every well," said Mr.. g., ''if you
call me I will come gladly and aid you to
the best of my ability"
They parted, and ten days afterwards
johnson threw Greeley's suggestions to
the winds, adopted my policy" and
pursued it; with what result the country