Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-02-16
THE PRESIDENT AGAIN DEFINES
HIS POSITION.

Representative Willetts, of the frs
district of this state, called upon tn,
President last week and had quite con
versation upon political topics, during
which the President made some Interest
ing statements concerning political mat.
tiers and appointments that have called
out newspaper comment.
Speaking of South Carolina issues the
President disavowed any intention ofap-
pointing Democrats TO office in that state
unless it should be found impossible to
obtain suitable Republicans. The ap-
pOinIment of Northrup as District Attor-
ney he declared was consistent with his
intention. as his Repubicanism could
not be justly Questioned and he had the
strongest kind of Republican indorse-
ments, Beginning with Governor Cham
berlain. Any hesitation he had felt in
this case had came from other than po-
llticll causes, anG he was convinced that
Northrup had greater fitness than any
other candidate pressed. 1t was true
that his APP ointment was recommended
Dy Hampton, but not on any ground that
impugned his RepubIicanism.
Regarding the present situation in
South Carolina, the President spoke
hopefully. He said that while he could
not find fault with the prosecuting OF the
Republicans when there are grounds of
accusation. the fact that no Democrats
were prosecuted was not very pleasing to
him, bec;iuse he did not believe that the
Republicans were guilty of more than
hall OF the crimes. On this point he
spoke with earnestness and plainly, and
remarked that Hampton was as fair a
man as there was in the state. He had
ALLOW ed negroes 20 organize militia COM
panies, had appointed colored men JUS
tices OF the Peace. AMI to other local OF
fees, and, although Republicans general
ly did not believe so, he was convinced
tina. Hampton was trying to do the fair
thing.
The President then. abiding TO the
statement which appeared in these dis
patches. and Tor which Senator Gordon's
friends were the authority. that he had
given TO Gordon the appointment of a
cadrtship-at-lars at West Point, said
this was not true. There We're three hun
dred applications for these cadetsllips-:ll-
large, accompanied by vOluminOus pa
pers, from which he must select ten be-
tore June next. But as yet no appoint
ments had been made and none pom
ised. The President added, that if one
OF Gordon's friends was appointed, it
would be because he was found, Oh ex-
animation. % be one of The best ten men,
and not because of personal Influences.
He referred quite feelingly to the criti-
cisms upon some OF the appointments of
honorary Commissioners 10 the Paris Ex-
position. These appointments We're made
upon the recommendation of the COVER
nor OF each state, anu his connection with
them was merely formal, consisting of
adding his name in approval, and that
WAS all. He had no authority i'm the
matter further than this. and LIE did not
believe he would be justified in refusing
to approve any nomination that might
be made, and did not feel responsible, ex-
cept III Il general way for the men select
ed.
Willis came away convinced that the
President was firmly decided to make no
more appointments of Democrats, except
under such circumstances as he alluded
to-wheii no suitable Republican can be
found.