The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-04-16
THE KANSAS APPOISTMENTS.
A Little 'sOnpIeasantness" Between
Grant and Ross.
Ross Turned Out Of the White House

Ross Turned Out Of the White House.
The scramble after the Kansas sp
/ pointments-especially the fat ones
has been furious. So far Messrs
! Pomeroy and Clarke have run them
Nearly if not quite all of them have
been made 10 the interest of our Con-
gresham. The appointment of G. w
! Babcock as SHrveyor-CSeneFaI seems to
have called forth bitter fight. Char.
\ ges were preferred against him of Sc
ri0us nature, connected with his beet
! transactions in the army.
In addition to the endorsement OF
Messrs. Clarke aud Pomcroy, Mr.. Bah
! cock has q s.friend ut court in the per-
son of brother, who was n member OF
Grants staff, and something of n favor
! lite of the President, we believe. II
seems that Senator Ross had his heart
set on the defeat of Babcock. When
his name came up for confirmation
Ross sent it back TO the committee.
Hearing that the President was deter
mined to adhere to Babcock's appoint
ment the Senator called on the Presi-
dent, when the scene described below
took place. While Senator Ross had a
perfect right to defeat Babcock, if pos
sible for him to do so, we think he
committed a wrong in talking TO Pres
ident Grant as he did. He forgot the
dignity of the place he holds and the
respect due the President of the United
States. The President also forgot his
usual equanimity. We hope the affair
will not prove to be SO bad rs represent
ed by the kilograms.
The Republicans Washington tele-
gram gives the following account OF
the affair:
Ross protested against the appoint.
ment of Babcock for Surveyor-GeneraI
of his State, and added that PomerOy
and Clarke had been making pretty
much all the Kansas appointments.
Grant replied that it was useless to say
more, as his mind was already made up
on the surveyOrship. Ross continued
protesting, when Grant said: II tell
you, my mind is made up. l dOn'i
want to hear any more" Ross replied
go to hell, then" Grant moved
towards him and said: sect out of this
house, instantly, and never set your
foot on it again" Ross, without q
word, at once left. A witness furnish
es this account.
The New York World gives a more
detailed account of the affair:
Ross was admitted at the same time
as old Zach. Chandler, but he had the
| first chance to speak to the President.
Il come, Mr.. President, to talk with
you about the appointments for my
State, having heard that you intend to
make certain nominations that may not
harmonize with my desires, if you deem
it worth while to consult them i'll the
least" to which Grant Iaconically and
interrOgatiyely responded, "Well, sir"
This Presidential response was not in
the tone or manner to be relished by
the Kansas Senator. "Am to under
stand that am rightly informed as to
your stated intentions to disregard my
preference in the matter of appoint
ments, MIR. President?" inquired the
Senator. That is a question hardly
susceptible of an answer, sir; to what
appointments do You allude? Inform
me, and then l can reply" rejoined
Grant. Senator Ross liked the second
answer as little us the first (; but having
come for enlightenment, he was deter
mined not to go away in fog. The
Senator, therefore, with suppressed
rage, explained the appointments TO
which he had reference. Frankly, sir,"
said Grant, II intend now to make those
appointments" "What, sir, you scorn
to accommodate me in the least" ex-
claimed Ross, boiling over with rage.
''Sir, believed have given you my an
swer," firmly but sternly replied Grant.
This is not treating me fairly, Mr.
President, nor as one gentleman should
treat another" uttered Senator Ross.
Il have no intention to be dictated to,
sir" said Grant, sharply. ''Nor have
10 be insulted, even by you, sir, were
you twenty times the President" ex-
claimed Ross, with his ire stirred up to
white heat. Il must decline to be an
nOyed any further on the subject" NUT
tered Grant, between his teeth, ''and de-
sire that the interview shall terminate"
"Y on and your desires may go to hell,
rOared out Ross. Leave the room.
sir; leave the room, or 1 shall force
you out" Numbered Grant. Ross took
his departure accordingly, III n terrible
rage, quitting the White House like
man rushing from plague, and hur-
ried to the capitol.
President Grant threw himself into a
chair, the minute the door closed, and
wiped his brow with his pocket hand
kerchief, evidently very much agitated.
Old Zach. Chandler approached, and
was thus addressed by the President:
excuse me a few minutes; after that
interview l must take little time to
cool off.
Such is the account which 1 have
learned, and which L give substantially
as it came 10 me. l do not vouch for
its truth, but have good grounds to be-
lieve it is not very different from the
actual occurrence.