Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-17
The President and the Senate,


The President and the Senate,
The attempt which has been made by
republican senators to remove the barriers
which have existed between them and the
President is praiseworlhv whether it ac-
Mr.. Hayes was elected as a republican
President, by the republican party, and
republican senators ought not to permit
an estrangement and separation between
him and themselves and the party which
elected him if by any honorable means
they can prevent it. Whether they sue
coed or fail they place themselves right on
the record. They show to the country
that they seek amicable relations with the
President. If such relations are not re-
stored they cannot be charged with hav-
ing failed to make an effort for reeonciia-
ton. One point will certainly be gained
by senators interviewing the President,
that Is, he will be made to understand ful-
ly there is no purpose on the part OF re-
publican senators individually or collect
lively to assail his administration unjustly
or from any trivial or merely personal
cause. Statements have been made from
time to time that this senator or that Sen
ator would lead in open war upon the
President, and some no doubt have be-
lieved these assertions; but while it is
true that many senators have disagreed
with the President in regard to his policy,
1t is also true that they have not sought
contention with him and hoped that the
lapse of time would bring all things round
right again. The republican senators
have manifested the right spirit in frankly
laying before him the matters upon which
they disagree with him. If the result is
not favorable they at least have done their
duty. They have shown that they desire
to be on good terms with the President. to
hold such relations with him as ought to
exist between him and them as members
OF the republican party, entrusted with the
most important interests and responsible
ties which belong TO it.
The first interview between the Presi-
dent and republican senators was held on
the 18th. The senators present were Ed
munds, Hamlin, Cameron, Howe, Chris
tiancy, Kirkwood and Bruce. The con-
versation was free and frank. The sena-
tors objected to the Presidents appoint
ment of democrats to office, or to the
adoption of any policy which would make
1t necessary to appoint them to office.
Senator Hamlin emphatcally objected to
the appointment of democrats to Office in
the South, pointing out that it tended to
unsettle the reconstruction policy of the
republican party. To this the President
replied that nobody had been appointed
that did not accept the constitutional
amendments and the reconstruction acts
and no such person should be placed in
Office as long as he remained President.
just what effect was produced By the in
terview it is impossible to say. but there
Is very general agreement in the re-
ports made since the meeting that it will
cause better feeling between the Pres-
dent and the republican Senators. The
Tribune correspondent says. "it is prob.
able that, with the exception of Sena-
tors Hamlin and Howe, the committee
left the White House convinced that
there was less ground for misunder-
standing between the President and the
leaders OF his party than they had been
led to suppose; nor is it by any means
certain that the two Senators named
were not lavorably impressed with what
they heard, or that they will labor any
less earnestly than the others to bring
about that harmony which all republi-
Cans SO much desire. On one point all
the members of the committee are agreed,
and that is that the President is an earnest
republican at heart, and that he will not
adopt any policy which in his opinion
will have the eject to weaken the party
with which he is identified"
Since the meeting the appoint of
democrat to the Collectorship at New
Orleans has been made. This looks as if
the President intends to adhere to his poll
cy ia the South. At the same time he must
be credited with having done very good
thingin reappointing Mr.. Filley postmast-
er at st. Louis, 10 spite of the opposition OF