Year: 1866

4


congress had had interviews with the
president since the passage of Mr.. Wiz
son S resolution, during which the subject
Oh reconstruction was freely discussed, and
that their impression as to his future course
had not been very favorable. / confined
myselt To this general statement. as / did


not at the time feel at liberty to go into


particulars. am now permittedto give


the subjoined full version of what took
place on the stated occasion. ...... ..a .-..


Mr.. Wilson, with whom frank, straight


forward action in all things is a leading


characteristic, had been anxious for some


ume TO have an early, free and full ex-


change of opinion with the President rel


auNe to reconstruction. He desired to ex-


press his own views upon the policy p,lr-


sued by the government toward the rebel


States, which he knew to be identical with


those OF the majority of the House. with


the utmost frankness to the Executive.


and, if possible, elicit from him clear
definition of the line of action he meant to
pursue toward congress-w whether he meant


to orecognize the right of congress to deter





restoring the rebel States to the Union ac-
cording to the views of the majority of
both Houses, or whether his purpose was
to bring the influence of patronage. and
other agencies at his command, to bear i'm
order to secure an Endorsement and adop-
ton Of his own plan of reconstruction. gig %
~ The passage of Mr.. Wilson'S resolution


vote OH la of
the great majority of the House upon the
Presidents Southern policy, on Thursday
last. furnished u proper occasion for the
mutual explanation he desired, hence he
sought the White House in company with
his colleague Mr.. Price. on the evening of
the same day. The President received his
visitors very cordially, and upon an intro
Iductory remark Of Mr.. Wilson,, announc-
ing the object of their gall, invited them to
an unreserved expression of opinions and
suggestions Thereupon, Mr.. Wilson pro-
.ceeded to say substantially as follows:


"Mr. President, you have, no doubt.
been Informed of the resolution 1 offered
to-day in the House and of the vote upon
it. In eNplan alton of it'll wish to say.
%
lority voting for it. are disposed to make
any distinction between Tennessee and the
other States, lately engaged in rebellion,
in our preliminary examination into their
respective claims to representation in con-
gress. At the Same time, the joint COM
mlttee of fifteen may, and probably will,
extend u the former State priority of con-
SiI h,-f oil
its case first, and to this the majority will
not oppose" Passing from this special. to
the general subject of reconstruction at
large, Mr.-rrhNils on continued. nI ON
aware that there are men i'm congress- stvl-
ing themselves Conservatives. that claim
to be yOur friends par excellence. Now. /
do not hesitate to avow that am what is
commonly called a 'Radicatl.' contrib
uted in my humble way. all could to the
success of the party that placed you in
power. Hence / claim tho right to call
myself the friend of your Administration.
Myself and those acting with me in con-
gress are all friendly to it. and desire its
entire success. But we think. and with us
our constituencies, that by your plan Of
reconstruction that result is not likely to
be attained. We hold, at the same time,
that there is one way i'm which it could be
reached. In our. opinion, your efforts to
them to the Union. after an uninterrupted
trial of some seven months, have not prov
ed successful to the extent required to in |
sure the future peace. safety and prosperi- |
~ of the country. Congress, in pursuance |
of what it considers its solemn duty, now
proposes, after a due investigation of the
whole subject, TO devise. if possible, some
ton. The plan congress will probably |
adopt will be to submit such amendments |
to'the constitution as will if accepted by |
the State Legislatures. furnish ample guar |
antees for the future. The majority of
congress expect and ask that. while engag- !
ed in investigating the whole subject of
reconstruction, and devising some new |
plan, it may be left tree to act as it may
deem best, and that no attempt he made by |
the Executive 10 Interfere with and in |
fiuence its action by the distribution of |
patronage or Ill any other way. III thus |
left free by you; there can be no possible |
difficulty between the executive and the |
branches of the Government.


Buff you are disposed to interfere with
by patronage or otherwise. and
force your peculiar ideas and plans upon
congress and the country, you will meet |
with serious opposition by those that are
now the friends of your administration, !
and desire sincerely to make ii successful. !
The plan congress will probably adopt,
will not render it necessary for you to sur
render any of your OWE views i'm relation
to reconstruction, inasmuch as under the
of the United States, you can
not be asked to approve the resolution of
congress submitting certain amendments
TO the Constitution. You will not be re-
spbnsible for our action, but we will be re
sponsible for il to our constituents, who
viii be called upon to determine upon the
merits of cur plan OF reconstruction.
Hence there will he no occasion for seri-
ous difference between the Executive and
if each branch of the Govern
men simply leaves the other To do what it
It's duty. And let me add this:
The so-called Conservatives of congress,
The men that claim to be your exclusive
friends, go with YOU to-day because they
think II is to their advantage To do so; but
hey will oppose YOU Tomorrow, if they
that il is 10 their disadvantage
% support you. You will find i'm the end
hat tIh menwho differ from Won to-day
from sincere convictions, and honest. pa
triotic motives. are much more reliable