New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-09

EFFECT OF THE PRESIDENTS MHSSAGE'
BLANK AsIONIsuMENT AMONG ALL PARIIES-IliE
FRIENDS or TIE PRESIDENT NOT APPRlsED OF
HIS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THOSE WHO HAD
HOPED FOR BETTER SOUTHERN POLICY
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON. Feb. S.-The Presidents message on
Arkansas affairs took eycrybody by surprise to-day
There rs the best authority Tor the assertion that
Con. Grant has not in any Of his recent Cabinet
meetings announced his purpose of recommending
NOW policy in regard to that State, and, as late as
last evening two of the gentlemen who are sup
posed 10 be consulted all such important SUBJECTS
were certainly wholly ignorant IN regard 10
the matter The letter of the Attorney-GeneraI
Transmitting the documents asked for by Senator
Claytou's resolution Of the ordinary character
and contained nothing to show that Judge Williams
considered new policy desirable 1t Is the general
inrrcs.ion in Washington tonight that the Prts-
cent was guided solely by the desires Of Mr. BROOKS
ana tnc CLAYTON party, and that if he asked the ad
vice f any one olac 1t was probably OF oX-UoV
Alex. X. shepherd OF Gen. Babcock.
The fail effect Of the message cannot yet be
stated. Nearly one haf Of thc Senators were out Of
their seats when The document was read. and as Ii
vas received too late t. be printed il the afternoon
Iapcrs here. very few have seen it. Some OF the
LEADING Democrats are very indignant, and pronli-
ncnt southern men express themselves as about to
rave up an hope Of anything like bearable policy
cullul. lie remainder OF Grants administration
Republicans who have not gone mad, ID who are
not themselves plotting all sorts OF Tepresslve legls
lation with which to vcx the South and restore
ihc Republican party there to power either
ominou-ly shake their heads or boldly assert
that no such revolutionary policy Grant seems to
loreshadow will be approved by the Republican
party IN the House. The shock produced by TINS
MESSAGE was much greater than it otherwise would
Lave been had not the report OF the Poland Commit
tee been printed TODAY for the first time in Wash
iuston and surprised everybody by the decldou
stand il took against all Federal interference That
the President. who has known the character OF that
rcpoft for at least a week should have chosen THIS
time ~ send in a message IN such strong contrast
with the conclusions of that Committee Is what has
astouud,d everybody Very few can be found to-
night via. believe that the Presidents advice III this
message will be takoH.
sENArE ELPJBLICAN CAUCUs OF THE MESSAGE
!GG>tRAL PRESS DlsrATcHJ
After the adjournment of the Senate to-day, the
Kepub,icau senators held caucus to consider the
PrcsGcnt-s message on the subject of Arkansas al
fans. There was not harmonious action, some of
the Senators being reluctant to commit themselves
before they have had time to examine the docu-
ucnts. which have not Yet been printed.
The Arkansas Senators were anxious for as prompt
action as the state of the public business wOHld per
mi. and desired the matter TO be sent to the Com
mittrc on Privileges and Elections for an early
report. The matter viii take that direction. The
o;iLiou oh.aiEs among Republican members Of the
House tina, apart from whatever the Senate may do
tie IIoass VIII support the report OF the Select Com
mttcc and take no action in the premises III accord
ancc Win i,5 recommendation.