Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-07-05
uopACE GREELEY q INTERVIEW
WITH PRESIDENT JOHNSON.

Nr. Grteley's history, 20 credlt@ole 70 III"
hssd and heart that il ought long ago to have
bssn made public, hss juM been narrated to
vour correspondent, and he hastens to place
!, before the readers Of the Courier Journal
"ot Ie,s a. an act Of Justice to Mr.. Greeley |
,%sn NV u matter of general, interest to the
ooontry., The wonder ID that this incident
should so long have been kept secret, dating
hack As il does seven years ago.
ANDREW JOHNSON SENDS FOR GREELEY.
Soun sfter johnson was installed a. Presi-
dent, he Sc 1t a gentleman TO New York to
soI,cit an interview with Horace Greeley. |
Liable to leave the capital, Greeley must |
cour to him at once at the White House. |
Greeley promptly complied with the request. |
Johnson opened the conversation by saying |
that he found himself in most trying pesi-
tion. The nation was convulsed with passion |
in consequence Of Mr.. Lincolns assassination
the situation was new aud embarrassing to
him he felt inadequate to the task to which
he hal 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 purse. how to stem the torrent
Of Northern. frenzy, how to manage the reins
of government in a crisis so awful, was q
problem too deep for him to solve Placing
hin,ef in Mr.. Greeley's hands, he asked.
WHAT MUST l DO?
Thanking, him for the confidence that he
reposed in nim, dr. Greeley replied that his
b.,t course was to call to his assistance few
OF the wisest and best men in the country.
They should be represe ,tative men from the
tyo pre,t sections On the part of the North
he would suggest Gov. Andrew Of dassachu-
sets, Gerrit smith of New York, and Judge
Sp,dng OF Ohio. A like number Of
s,.thern geatlemen should be called they
should BE- invited to the White House as
guest, of The President, there to remain and
deliberate as long AS they Thought tit; and
having agreed upon some policy, they should
submit it " the President for his approval,
and If approved by him, as Mr.. Greeley
f.rbted not it would he, it should be faith
iuliy and rglly pursued, despite the popul "
cIsuor which might for time ensue.
Mr. johnson thought we'll Of the sugges'
tiou. :" Bat what Southern men should |
invite, Mr.. Greeley, to meet I'll gentlemen
Vol nave named from the North !"
First and foremost said Mr.. Greeley,
Robert E. Lee OF Virginia"
Great heavensw ~ exclaimed johnson
"he is the very head and front Of the
ebelion."
Il know that" said Greeley, and for thai
yer, reason you should snvite him. HI
knows, if any man does, the wants of the
Southern people; he Of all men possesses thu
confidence Of the entire South he is uprigh
and pure he would not recommend q singl,
action on your part which would not NEE
the approval Of your advisers from the North
and tie resell Of the deliberations in which
Robert f. Lee, Judge Campbell of Alabama
aud "a third man like them, from the Soutl
TOOK lart, would not only insure the approba
e th O. e. Al
course OF few months, would, am 6rml,
per'aaied' bring to your support every right
minded and right-hearted man at the North
The pacifcation Of the estranged sections
your main difficulty, would TINS he solved
and your path made clear toward the solutio
Of minor di6culties. How are you to dlacove
the true sentiments of the South and tn
wants of its people if you do not consult he
representative men? And what sort {
restoration will that be in the plan Of whic
the South has no part whatever? 1t must {
necessity be one-sded. partial, and unjus
b persuaded. Nj. President and call to you
aid men of the standing, position, and temp,
have suggested, and by all means call thel
from both sections"
10 this strain Mr.. Greeley continued unit
he had
FAIRLY WON THE PREsIpExr) ~
over to hi. way of thinking. The intarv il
ended with the assurance from the Preside
that he would adopt the views Of Mr.. Greele
and follow them exactly. He would, howev,
nuke single modi6cati n he wou
substitute Horace Gre@ly in place Of GER
Smith
Every WE'LL" said Mr.. g., eff you call I
lwli come gladly a aid you to the best
They parted, and ten days sfterward job
son threw Greeley's suggestions to the wir
adopted my policy" and pursued it; Vi
That it will ssen that the role Of paci6ostol
NO NEW THING
Hth Mg. Greeley, but is only part which
g. .ysteYaticslly pussued ever since the cl
o. the war. So, also, his confidence In
integrity and good sense Of the Southt
leaders, and his willingness to trust
southern people Is no new thing. What
Nto'day he was years ago; and what bet
guarantee do we want for the fnturef Al
"me when the North was Wild with n
against the South, when the execution Of ev
one OF her political and military chiefs q
conhscation of the entire property Of
people would hardly have atoned in North,
eyes ior Lincoln's assassination, then 0resl
WIN the wisdom Of the statesman and
sympathy Of great heart stood up for
sonth alone in his party, recommending
Poiiey which would have brought pc
ou happiness to the copntry and exhibit
t'ns Of character which DO credit to
conuend humanity. -