The New York herald., 1877-03-21
The Cabinet in Consultation on the
Southern Question.
FEDERAL INTERFERENCE MUST CEASE
The Time When, and the Method Not
Determined Upon.
MACHINE POLITICIANS IN OPPOSITION.
A Way To Consolidate the Democrats
in the New House.
THE MARCH OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


The first step IN the settlement OF the Southern
question has been taken the Cabinet meeting to-
day. II is understood that the President brought up
tho question and the Cabinet agreed unanimously tnat
the policy announced the inaugural message Of local
selEgovcrnmeDt in all the States the true policy.
and that consequently federal interference must
The discussion then began details tho time when
and the manner IN which tho interference should bo
made to cease, and on these subjects agreement
reached to-day but another Cabinet meeting is called
for tomorrow morning.
1t IS understood that several members OF the Cabinet
favor immediate aud unconditional Withdrawal of
the troops and reliance tho of Governors
Hampton and Nichols that they will maintain order
and equal right and general amnesty
and that other members have doubts rs TO the
propricy OF direct and 6nal in Louisiana
believing that some preliminary arrangement Is
sary, or NJ loast judcious by which Packard and his
adhercnts can be got TO give way.
II is believed that the President himself favors tho
Withdrawal Of tho troops both the States and in-
clnes to trust Governors Hampton and Nichols and
the good Of the people, but he Desires is sa,d
to carry his whole Cabinet with him In any action that
may DO TAKEN and hence has called another meeting
for to-morro
Tho agents OF Packard and Chamberlain have been
busy and excited I'LL day and are evidently making
their last and most desperate efforts All they now
hope for delay and for this they appeal Cabinet
officers and all who supposed 10 have inf uencc
Meantime they are privately advising hero with re-
pubicans opposed to the Presidents Southern policy
and II they only gain time vii. Is rumored ON tho
advice OF their Northern allies cndeavor to prccpate
violence way in Louisiana aud perhaps In
South Carolina, as TO muddo matters and arorso
II possible, Northern sentiment In opposition to the
Presidents policy. That this Is tho purpose Of tho
some leading Northern republican politicians known
to be opposed the policy, express the
bcliof that Packard and Chamberlain will yet
DO successful There Is reason to believe
tha: Packard In collecting forco OF negroes IN tho
State and in his expressed 10 hold
out all hazards and vehement refusal surrender
hts pretences any account is acting under tho ad-
Of prominent Northern republicans. who not only
mean to ..savc the Louisiana question: but to usc IL
as u club to beat down the President with. Every
days delay gives these better opportunity to
succeed, and thoy not without hopo that they will
yot defeat tho President and turn tho party sentiment
against him and the reforms no has promised
There Is here deep OF hostility to tho
now policy and tho President Republican politi.
Clans opposed to it and him remain hero and ure in
busy correspondence with all parts Of tho country and
tho machine politicians everywhere are encouraged
not surrender and hope st for tho reward which
they think duo them ''workcrs" in tho party
There has not been timo Tor this sentiment to make
itself felt but there arc abuneant signs here that
mutny Is preparing, and that the President will need
the support OF tho country and OF all his frencs TO
make his olcy successful There is increasing dc.
sire among the friends Of civil and other re.
forms that tho Southern question shall bc got out of
the way as quickly as possible, and that delays in this
matter dangerous. because thoy give opportunity
,vi,bt ttc
make hcadway.
THE EXTRA SEssIoN-CHANCES FOB A REPUBLI.
CAN SPEAKER.
1t is now thought certain that an extra session will
DO called about tho middle OF May. spcculations
about tho organization of tho House of Representa-
already abundant. but they have as yet no
basis OF fact II South Carolina AMI Louisiana
affairs arc settled aud those States are 70.
manded to self government thero is little
doubt that the republicans will havc fair
chance to elect speaker, If they nominate a man
known to be- and TO have been for time sincerely
in harmony with the Presidents views Mr. Charles
Foster, OF OHIO, is almost tho only prominent repub.
IN the House who answers this description. HIS
report Louisiana affairs 1875 mado him favorapy
known Southern men, and his whole course In Con.
gress has been such secure their conn.
dcncc. Mr. Garhcld's friends have wished to mako
publican nomination he could get no Southern
If tho enemies, open and secret of tho Prcsi.
dents policy manage muddlo the Southern
question, either by unworthy intrigues and arrange.
mcuts or delay, the Speaker will DO a democrat
because, whilo the Southern question unsettled tho
democratic party will continue unit and II
has undoubtcd majority IN tho next House. OF
this majority there many Southern men who would
not hesitate to vote for moderate republican
Speaker If tho Southern question is promptly
and properly settled. They not bound to the
democratic party and look to tho interests Of their
States than 10 party fcalty. They like tho
Presidents policy and will support him aud It with
zeal he carries out his Of local self.
government for the two States held by the mill
tary Until tho southern question s settled thcre-
FORE II Is not possible TO lorccii in what The
next House of Representatives. viii be organzod but
certain that II tho opponents Of tho President sue
coed tho country Will soliddcd dcmocratic party
and a democratic organization of tho new House
THE PROGRESS OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
OFFICE SEEKING GOING OUTFLOW ZACH
CHANDLER DIsrosEp or a PATRON.
little rotcc has been quictly prepared under tho
direction of tho President which is cmncnty calcu.
lated put stop TO once seeking. and which wilL II
It strictly adhered TO- as the President intends IL
shat bc, add greatly to the efficiency and economy OF
the civil and to the comfort OF the clerks
other subordinate officers Of tho government: -
The civil employees now In the service OF tho United
States under thc --- Department arc hereby In.
formed that hereafter removals will be made IN this
department for cause only, and promotions will DO
ordered upon tho solo ground of merit
Every official must understand that retention and
advancement In the service viii depend upon record OF
good bchavor aud efficiency, aud not upon external
influence. No political test Is required beyond IN
earnest support OF the constitution and its amend.
guaranteed thereby
Industry and iithiuncss IN the discharge OF duty
good moral character and strictly temperate habits
will DC required and enforced heads bureaus Wi,
report promptly any OF ldlcncss neglect OF duty
incapacty drunkenness or immoral or dishonest con-