The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-16
Washington Gossip.
Washington dec. 9th) Cores. of the " Y.
Herald.l
INTERVIEW BETWEEN TIE PRESIDENT AND sENATos

A rich interview took place between the prcsi
dent and Senator Sumner on the evening after
the message was read in congress. 1t lasted for
several hours. There were three OF four persons
present. Sumner IL represented as having been
very nervous Some of those present thought
he would 60 into fit at two or three different
periods of the consultation. At any rate his ac-
tons justified the application of the term of be-
ing a monomaniac in regard to the negro. Find
ing himself unable To move the president, he
finally broke out As follows:
"Mr President, / notice that the white rebels
| down in Alabama and other localities in the
south are talking very strong against the Union,
and denounciug it ia strong terms can you not
| do something to put 4 stop to it :"
The president cooliy replied: Il" see, Mr.. Sum
ncr, that the white rebels in Boston are talking
against the Union. Can't YOU put stop to it
| there -
This confused the senator for n short time, but
after twisting in his seat for short time he again
| broke out follows: "Mr johnson, the reports
from the south show that the white rebels IN al
! most every section are insulting the freedmen
! Don't Won think that congress ought 60 do some
thing to correct this evil?
! The president, with a significant wink To the
other gentlemen present, replied MIR Sumner,
! notice by the papers that the white rebels IN
! Cincinnati have been recently insulting white
people there and knocking down one or two
! Can't congress do something 10 correct that
| evil =
Il is needless to add that the STAY of the Mass
| achusetts negro monOmaniac at the white house
was Of short duration after that thrust.
APowER HELD BY THE PRESIDENT.
| Members of congress have all Of sudden dis
! covered that the president has the appointing
mower in his hands. They see that. with very
! few exceptions, the federal ofceholGcrs through
out the country, from the cabinet down, are
| those appointed under President Lincoius adj
ministration. Already there i a wonderful
| uneas,nes. among the members of the house who
/ voted for Steyeus'S resolution. This tear will
( cause a great change in that body. The public
I NAV look for some grand political somersaults
before the session terminates. In order that this
I point may be understood give the points of
! conversation which took place dav or two since
[ between a high official and republican member.
| The member was Boosting now he was going to
oppose the presidents policy, and that he did not
| care what Mr.. johnson did.
! "Stop, says the official, ''are YOU sure YOU are
! independent of the president, and can sustain
| yourself at home, if you oppose him? Your dis
! tIict is very close.
| What has the president to do with my dis
/ t,ict? The people elected me, and expect me to
/ carry out their views. | represent them, not
/ the president, and he can't affect me there"
| But, adds the official chow many pos,mas
/ tiers have you in YOU district ??
That has nothing TO do with il, replied the
member, ''tIey are all friends of mine. Besides,
it Is always understood that the representative in
congress i entitled 20 those appointments for his
! friends
! But" replied the official, suppose that the
president should take it into his head TO remove
all of your friends and appoint in their
/ place who friends of his and did not care
anything about you, what then would be your
| position at home
TINS opened the matter in new light to the
! enthusiastic member. After little hesitation
| he asked in a tone showing that this was a new
| phase to the question, THE president will not
/ think of doing that, will he -
| ~ don't know, replies the official, "what the
| president will do, or whether no has thought of
this matter. | only know what would do If |
were in his place, ard that would be to remove
every one OF your friends if you opposed the pol
icy of my administration"
"W-e-ll-well,' drawled out the member,
II don't know hut the presidents policy is right,
after all, and think will support him"