The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-11-23
THE t" POLICY.0
A Conlsrsnce Mt the white House-Th
President Explains.

Kreeioent
Washington Cor. Chicago Inter-oceanl
The committee appointed by the Re
publican caucus, consisting OF Messrs.
Edmunds, Howe, Kirkwood, Don Cam
eron, Dawes and Christiancy, called at
the White House and had three-hours
talk with the President Senator Ed
munds was the spokesman-ln-chlef Tor
the Senators, and related at length the
caucus proceedings and the demands the
Senate made upon the Executive.
The President replied at length. His
remarks were mainly a defense OF his
Southern policy, his efforts toward paci-
fication, and the beneficial results which
he expected TO come from it. He was
very frank in expressing his relative po-
sition toward the Senate as he under
stood it, and insisted that he had the
right to nominate to Office whomsoever
he chose, admitting that the Senate had
the right to reject his nominations when
they could not approve them. The Sen
ate had no right to demand OF him rea-
sons why he removed men from Office
any more than it was his right to de-
mand their reasons for rejecting his
nominations; but he would concede his
right in this matter, and hoped the Sen
ate would feel perfectly free to call upon
him for information at any time, and he
would cordially furnish it, as he had al
ready instructed his Cabinet officers to
do. In regard to appointing Democrats
to Office, he said he feared he had been
misunderstood, and he was sure if the
Senate were aware of the circumstances
which had governed him when he had
made such appointments they would
admit the wisdom IN each case, and the
cases were few. He had selected men
who were represented to be fit men
from the Democratic party when he
could not find fit men in the Republican
party. Peculiar circumstances had gov
erned him in each case. The President
expressed the hope that the Senate
would reject any nominations he made
which they did not consider fit. He had
not 80 much confidence in his own judg-
ment as to suppose that his selections
were all wisely made, and, it was often
the case, when man came publicly be-
fore the country as an official, reasons
appeared why ne was unfit which would
not appear where he was only candi-
date. He had made with great care all
the nominations he had sent to the Sen
ate, but If any OF them turned out to be
unwise, he certainly would not be dis
appointed If the Senate rejected them.
There was much more in this same
strain, and after the Presidents re-
marks the conversation became general.
The President said he desired to consult
Senators as far as possible in regard to
appointments, and hoped they would
feel perfectly free to make recommended
tons, but he must reserve his right to
make such selections as he chose. He
knew of no obligation compelling him to
apportion appointments among the Con-
gressional representatives of any State,
but his common sense taught him that it
was always advantageous to know the
opinion of such men as are usually Sc
lected as Senators in regard to the fitness
of multitudes of candidates that sought
his patronage.
Some of the Senators consider the
interview satisfactory others do not.
Some think that the President rather de-
fed them than otherwise. Others think
that he is yielding, and is at least dis
posed to be fair.