The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-10-26
Free Expression of Opinion by Promi
nent Republican Congressman.
Private Meeting at the Residence Of
Secretary Sherman.
Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette

Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81.
In accordance with an invitation
from Mr.. Foster, a number of Repub
licans met on Friday night at the resi-.
dence of Secretary Sherman, to con
slider the best course for Republican:
to adopt in case the Democrats should
on Monday introduce a resolution ap.
proving the Presidents policy. While
this was the real business before the
meeting, discussion soon turned upon
the various features of the policy.
There were present Secretary Sherman
Messrs. Hale and Frye, of Maine; Gen
eral Butler and Crapo,of Mas saehusetts
Blair, of New Hampshire; Hendee, OF
Vermont; Martin Townsend, of New
York; Russell Erritt, of Pennsylvania
Foster, Garfisld,J. d. Cox, and Dan
forth, of Ohio; Conger, ct Michigan
Burchard and Cannon, of Illinois
Dunnell, of Minnesota; Price, of Iowa
Page, of California, and Thornburgh,
of Tennessee.
No decision was reached in regard
to action in cese of such Democratic
resolution as was expected, If the
Democrats should present it in the
shape of Endorsement of their Ohio
platform, where the policy is claimed
es Democratic doctrine, all present
agreed that the way would then be
open for Republicans to vote solidly
against it. Only Gen. Cox and Mr..
Crapo announced their purpose to
vote for il. in case it should prove a
simple and full Endorsement of the
Presidents policy.
Quite a number were in favor OF
treating it as Democratic buncombe,
and of having an understanding that
ell Republicans were to sit silent.
There was another proposition, that
as Maine would be entitled TO the call
for resolutions, after the States had
been called for bills. Mr.. Hale or Mr..
Frye should obtain the floor, and use
up the whole day before allowing the
call to pass from their State.
The meeting was called without the
knowledge of Secretary Sherman, and
the idea of those originating it was ex
plainei to be to give the President
through one of his Cabinet officers, g
chance to hear directly ir regard to
the position of prominent men in the
party:
The interchange of views, after the
question OF dealing with Democratic
resolution was laid aside, was genera
and very free. Only two indorsed bott
the Southern policy and civil service
There were a few who indorsed the
Southern policy, but only one or two
who were willing to vote unqualified
approval of it, though they felt con
strained to accept it as fact. Those
who opposed it stated in strong terms
their desire to preserve the unity o.
the party, and to act with the Presi
dent as far as possible, but they were
still unwilling to yield their convic
tions or vote in opposition to them.
1t was agreed to ask the Republicans
from the various States to hold con
ference on the question of the best
methods of treating Democratic res
olution in regard to the President'i
policy.
Secretary Sherman had very little
to say, and said nothing at all in ref
erence to the Southern policy of the
President He urged upon those pres
snt the imp .tuce Of Republican mem
bers calling upon the President and
talking freely with him; and thought
it would be a mistake for them to alb
sent themselves habitually on account
of their dissatisfaction.
In answer to very general expression
OF dissatisfaction with the civil service
order and its operation Secretary Sher
man insisted that the order had been
misinterpreted or misund zrstood, and
In this he was warmly seconded by Gar