The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-07-19
GREELEY AND THE SOUTH.

| An Impsrtant Interview Which has
| Never nefore 1een aaae Public
v0cated by Him Seven Years Age
HIS Opinions Of Lee.
| Correspondence of the Courier Journal
49, RIeHxosD, Va, June 25, 1872.
An incident in Mr. Greeley's history, SC
! creditable to his head and heart that il
ought long ago to have been made public
has just been narrated to your correspond
ent, and he hastens to place it before the
readers of the Courier Journal not less as
an act of justice to Mr.. Greeley than mat.
ter of generafi interest to the country. The
wonder is that this incident should so long
have been kept secret, dating back as il
does seven years ago. ...-
ANDREW JOHNSON SENDS FOR GREELEY.
Soon after johnson was installed as presi-
dent he sent gentleman named Camp to
New York to solicit an interview with Ho-
race Greeley. Unable to leave the capital,
Greeley must come to him at once at the
White House Greeley promptly complied
with the request. After the first formal
civilties were over, Camp rose to leave, but
President johnson requested him to re-
main, and he did so during the whole inter
view
johnson opened the conversation by say
ing that be found himself in most trying
position The nation was conyulsed with
passion in consequence of Mr.. Lincoln's as
sassination; the situation was new and en-
barrassing TO him; he felt inadequate to the
task to which he had been so unexpectedly
called, and he felt the need, as he had new
er before felt it, of the counsel of some cool
and sagacious man. He had, therefore,
sent for Mr.. Greeley. What course to pur-
sue, how to stem the torrent of Northern
frenzy, how to manage the reins of govern
ment in crisis so awful, was a problem
too deep for him to solve. Placing himself
in Mr.. Greeley hands, he asked.
WHAT MUST Do2
Thanking him for the confidence he thus
reposed in him, Mr. Greeley replied that
his best course was TO 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 suggest Gov.
Andrew of Massachusetts, Gsrrit 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 as long as
they saw fit and, having agreed upon some
policy, they should submit it to the presi-
dent for his approval and if approved by
him, as Mr.. Greeley doubted not it would
be, it should be faithfully and rigidly pur-
,.>J JasD,fo he ronnlar cfo uhtcb
might for time ensue.
Mr.. johnson thought well of the sugges-
ton. "But what Southern men should l
invite, Mr. Greeley, to meet the gentlemen
you have Damed from the NorthY'
First and foremost, said Mr.. Greeley,
Robert f. Lee, of Virginia"
Great heayensr' exclaimed johnson,
"he is the very head and front of the rebel
lion"
'Iknow that" said Greeley, "and for
that very reason you should invite him.
He knows, if amy man does, the wants of
the Southern people; he of all men posses
ses the confidence of the entire South; he
is upright and pure; he would not recon-
mend a single action en- your part which
would not meet the approval of your sd
visers from the North and the result 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 disaffected states, but, in the course of
few months, would, i am firmly persuad-
ed, bring to your support every right-mind-
ed and righthearted man of the North.
The pacifcation of the estrsnged sections,
your main difficulty, would thus be solved,
and your path made clear towards the so
luton of minor difficulties. How are you
to discover the true sentiments ofthe South
and wants of its people if you do not con-
suit 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 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 Of the
sections"
In this strain Mr.. Greeley continued un-
til 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 modification
he would substitute Horace Greeley in
place Of Gerrit Smith.
Every WELL" said Mr.. Greeley, ''if you
call me, 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 is but too
sadly aware.
Thus it will be seen that the roll of paci6-
Gator is
with Mr. Greeley, but is only par: which
he has systematically pursued ever since
the close of the war So, also, his conf
dence, 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
fnture7 At 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 con6scation of the
entire property of her people would hardly
have atoned in Northern eyes for Lincoln's s
assassination, then Greeley, with the wis
dom of the statesman and the sympathy Of
a great heart, stood up for the South alone
in his Marty, recommending line of poll
cy which would have brought peace and
happiness to the country, and exhibiting
traits of character which do credit TO and
humanity. That an occurrence
so important should never before have
been divulged is, repeat, simply marvel
lous. That it should without delay go to
the country and to the world should not so
much duty as pleasure. For
zone good deed dying tongueless