Year: 1866

Inc persistent efforts of Mr.. Beecher to cast
blame on the Republican majority of the
present Congress as-at least equally with
PRESIDENT johnson - responsible for the
grave existing difference between them. i'm.
pels me, in the interest of truth and Justice
to make statement of facts.


was one of the many who early annre.
hended and anxiously deprecated a breach
between Congress and the President. Soon
after our last State election, before tho 90
sembling of the present Congress, 1 went
not uninVlted, to Washington, expressly to
guard against such a difference. Being ad.
mitted to an interview with the President
urged him to call to Washington three
oi the most eminent and trusted expo-
sitors OF Northern anti.slayery sentimen,
and three equally eminent and renresen,o
i've Southern ex-rebels, and ask them To
lake up their residence at the White House
lot week, fortnight, so long as thew
might nnd necessary, while they by free and
friendly conference and discussion shopld
earnestly endeavor to find a common gropod
whereon the North and the South sbould he
not merely reconciled, but made evermore
iraternai and harmonious. l suggested that
the PRESIDENT should occasionally. as he
could lind time, drop in on these Conferences
ana oher such suggestions as he should deem
ht-rather as moderator or common friend
than as party to the discussion


suggestion ofnames being invited nro
posed those of Governor Andrew, of Massa-
chusetts; Gerrit Smith, of New York, and
Judge r. P Spaulding, of Ohio, as three
who seemed to be fair representatives of the
anti-slavery sentiment of the North, while
neither specially obnoxious to nor disposed
to deal harshly with the South; and added
that l hoped they would be met by men like
General Robert g. Lee, Alexander H. Steph
ems, &.,who would be recognized and needed
by the South as men in whose hands her
honor and true interests would be safe. But
added that had no special desire that these
or any particular men should be selected.
wishing only that those chosen from either
section should be such as to command their
peoples confidence and support. And l
pledged myselfto support, to the extent Of
my power, any adjustment that should thus
be matured and agreed upon.


Some two months later, after the meeting
of Congress, and when the political sky had
become darker, went again to Washington.
on the assurance Of mutual friend that the
President desired to see me. The Joint
Committee on Reconstruction had then been
appointed. At an interview promptly ac-
corded, urged the President to invite this
committee to the White House, and discuss
with them, from evening to evening, as
friend with friends, all the phases of the
grave problem of reconstruction, with a
fixed resolve to find basis of agreement
If possible. | urged such considerations as
occurred to me in favor of the feasibility of
such agreement if it were earnestly sought,
as felt sure 1t would be on the side of
Congress. The vast patronage in the Presi.
dents hands-the reluctance of the maiori
tyin Congress to see their friends, supporters
OF nominees expelled by wholesale from
office, and their place supplied by bitter
adversaries-the natural anxiety of every
party in power to MAINTAIN cordial relations
with the head of the Government chosen by
its votes-these and a thousand kindred con





siderations, rendered morally certain an
agreement between Congress and the Presi-
dent without a sacrifice of principle on
either hand, if the latter should sincerely
seek it.


speak only what 1 said and proposed,
because have no permission and no right
to speak further That my suggestions were
not followed, nor anything akin to them,
the public sadly knows And the conclusion
to whic h have been most reluctantly forced
is, that the President did not vant harmony
with Congressional he already made up
his mind TO break with the party which had
elected him and seek further lease of power
through the favor and support of its impla.
cable enemies. HORACE GREELEY.
IN. Y. Tribune.