Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-03-31
Especial Dispatch to tie Baltimore San
Conversation at the White House.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-The President in
a long and interesting CONVERSATION with Col
r. A. Aston, of Georgia, has made use Of GER
tain expressions which induce tie opinion that
notwithstanding the apparently tcmporuizing
policy which he is now pursuing. be may at
ter all adhere to the pledges which were given
in his name by his confidential friends, Messrs.
Matthews and Foster. The President stated
that his appointments to office in the Iouth
would be made without regard to former party
affiliations, that he would carry ont the OLD
JellerSouian rule, aud ask only, " Is he honest;
is he capaOle?" lie then turned 10 Col Aston
and inquired, "Should appoint you marshal
Of Georgia would You obey the constitution p
Col Aston said certainly" The President
said " mean a strict observance Of the spirit
rs well as the letter of the thirteenth, four
tteuh and fifteenth amendments e. the cOa-
-ttuton CD Aston said Mr.. resident
had as well deal frankly with you. The
southern people have accepted those amend
meris to the constitution as absolutely as Tie
people Of the North, bat the negro must
always stand in his relations to society in Just
that position to which his brain ana his muscle
will cutit,e him, and no amount Of legislation
can changeit" TIE Prcsilcut remarked that
this was Just as far he desired or intended to
20 Col. Aston said "Mr President. ! may
as well sly that the white people Of the South
never Intend to be governed by negroes" The
President then inquired bow long a man bad
10 live IN the South 10 escape the stigma oi
being carpet Dagger? Col. Aston answer
cd that a carpct-basger was MT constituted
by the length Of his residence, but 10y the mo-
tiyes which induced hin 20 come to the South.
The Northern man who came down there 10
engage in business and identify himself with
the interests OF the community was as welcome
as he would be in New York OF Pennsylvania.
and was treated with rs much hospitality and
social kindness, aud no one ever thought of
applying the term carpet-bagger to him. But
the Northern man who came down 20 work up
on the creduity and the passions Of the negro,
and by stirring mp strife between the races to
ride into Office, was essentially what the South
ern people called a carpet Dagger. The PreSi-
dent remarked, "Ah. | understand the dis
tinction entirely" lie then inquired what
would lie the effect upon parties at the South
if his policy disregarding party lines in APP
p0intmeuts and ahStaining from FEDERAL inter
ference in State affairs was carried into effect
Col Aston replied there would be but one
feeling on tue subject Such policy would
be hailed with universal joy. The party APP
pcllatiOn If democrat" IN the South had for
tie last ten years simply meant opposition to
tie federal policy 10 forcing upon the South as
rulers men who were aliens aud enemies 10
Tie best interests Of those among whom they
resided. If, as lie THE PresideuiD had pro-
g L
IN bis Inaugural, this obnoxious policy was
hereafter 10 he abandoned, there was DO part /.
# the United States where his administration .
would receive a more hearty cooperation and .
upport than from the people Of the south |
the President here remarked, with emphasis, /
Well, you shall certainly not be disappoint
d. Col. Aston then said to the President
hat there was no way in which be could in
pire more confidence in his assurances than
y removing the present carpet-bag ofliceholl
Is and replacing them with men whom the
eope could trust. The President would ap-
reciate the importance of this when be re-
that federal otiirehollcr in the
ouih derived more power aud consequence
rom his position than did the federal Office
older at the North that the people Of the
0uth bad become so much accustomed in the
list ten years to depend upon the federal 60
eminent for whatever Of good or evil came
pom them that the federal ofiice-holder stood
the position to them Of an ambassador Of {
&c general government.
In conclusion the President said; CAL you {
entlemen have got to do Is TO be a little pa Z
ent, and it will come out all right; | am I
eadfast 10 the course have marked out, and
~ shall net be Disappointed I