The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-03
Mr. f,rea,ev's Humane statesmanship.

MIR. Greeley's Humane craftsmanship.
General IABopEs writes letter to MAJOR
GEORGE w. BoLL1sa, of Petersburg. detail
ING come facts about Mr.. GREELsY's agency
in moderating the Federal policy towards
yirri,ita and his efforts 10 restore the Union
npon the platform of amnesty, fraternity
and ennality. which are perfectly in accord
ance with his acts since the war and consist
emit with the Kindness and philanthropy oil
his heart. This letters appears in yester'
days Wing. ~
General JAeoDEs. in his letter, describes
the perious situation in which Virginia WIS
placed by the proscriptive uSDERwoop ION
stitution, and the efforts of the "ConHiitoee
nj Nine, who sought through President
GRANT 10 secure permission for the people .,
Virginia 70 vote upon the Constitution freeo
from the proscriptiye clauses, and to vote
separately upon those clauses. The appeal
ne tho, committee was so irresistible. says
General IABopEs, that on the Ith April, 1868
General GRaST sent in his message TO Con-
yress asking the authority Of an act to h"lo
an election in Virginia and a vote Oh the ne"
Constitution, and suggesting that he snouio
be authorized to order separate vote Oh
certain clauses in the Constitution. ihrec
DAYS afterwards Congress passed the ACT aS
desired.
For this General IMBopES says the state Is
indebted to the "Committec OF Nine. but
here, ms our readers know and as the GenerT'
savs, the matter hung fire. CASBf, WELLS.
and others of their kidney, had gotten the
Presidents ear and alarmed him asAttle by
holding up before him the prospect OF
Radical defeat in Virginia if the proscriptive
clauses of the UNDERWOOD Constitution were
rejected. Congress had lett the order FOR Il
separate vote upon them TO the discretion OF
the President. He hesitated about issuing
more than simple order for an election, and
was inclined to submit the Constitution rs
whole under the advice OF CANDY int
Bieot and his satellites. Just here General
IuBopEs introduces Mr.. GREELEY.
At this critical .iuncture, one day early I'D
NAV, General MALONE, and Colonel FLOUR
soY, of Halifax, and others, met in the Office OF
General IMBoDES, in New York. and there
discussed the subject of the peril of Virginia
and as it was believed Mr.. GREELEY had great
influence with General GRANT it was deter
mined TO try what he could do. An inter-
view was had with Mr.. GREELEY, and in re-
ply to the representations OF General
MAHosE, who was spokesman on the ocGl'
sion, Mr.. GREELEY exclaimed: II would be
ga shame to impose such Constitution on
"such people as the Virgnians, and it
Unjust be prevented if possible"
General GRANT was at that early day in the
season ut Long Branch, and Mr.. GREELEY
bnrried off the next morning and had con-
ference with him, returning to New York at
night. He was Respondent, and thought
his missiona failure. He advised that Mr.. "a.
: r. STEWART and others be seen. General I'M
BopES went alone to see Mr.. STEWART, but
failed to interest him in Virginia affairs (as
he might have tXpected), and declined to see
ANYBODY else, but returned to Mr.. GREELEY,
who. with an irrepressiblc sympathy and an
intrepid resolution, Immediately returned to
Long Branch to make another strong appeal
to General GRANT. lie came back with his
face ,yreathed in smiles, and with bound
ing and joyous manifestation of feeling said
TO General IMBoDEN:
at j. all right. The President will go to
Washington this evening and bring the mat
ter before the Cabinet ut once, and will issue
the order for your election in day or two
and give YOU a separate vote on the dislfah'
chiSing clause and the teSt-oatb. lie Is no"
satisfied that is right, and | know that al
least bali the Cabinet take that VIEW
Mr.. GREELEY had consulted members o.
the Cabinet within the three days preceding
by letter, and found that three of then
favored this course. 1t is possible that bu
for bis second visit to Long Branch thu
privilege of voting Oh the abominable clauses
of the UNDERWOOD Constitution would moi
have been granted to Virginia, and >h'
would now be nnder the dominion of carpet
bag and negro rule through the disflanchse
ment of her people under the Constitution
of the State. The Committee of Nine mac
done all that men could do for their State
vet without such friend as Mr.. GREELEY ii
the then great exisency their work might
have been frustrated. SO we owe Il lasting
debt of gratitude to him.
General IMBoDEN brings to light Mr.. GREE.
LEY's effort after the war to restore the Union
to peace and contentment. Had Mr.. LIN.
colin lived he would have succeeded. He
had an interview with President JoHNsos
and submitted his plan. When General In
BoDEN asked him about it, he declined tt
state any part of his conversation with hlr
JOHNSON on the occasion unless with tho
consent of that gentleman. But he gave tC
him the statement which we copy below. A
copy of this was sent to Mr.. JOHNSON TO-
gether with Il letter written by General I'M
BDDES asking Mr.. JouNsoN's assent TO the
publication Of Mr.. GREELEY's recollection of
the conversation; but Mr., JOHNSON has not
replied to that lettar, and Mr.. GREELEY's
statement alone Is published.
"NEw YORK, June 20, 1872.
"My Dear Sir,-I have your letter to Mr..
w. Reid.
81 would not wish to publish anything
with respect to q private conversation with
President johnson without his assent.
81 did visit him just before Congress as-
semhled after his inauguration, supposed
was invited by him. but would not assert
1t il be dissentad.
al did advise him to call three representa-.
tive northern and three equally eminent