Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1877 — THE “ POLICY.” [ARTICLE]

THE “ POLICY.”

A Conference at the White House—The President Explains. [Washington Cor. Chicago Inter-Ocean.] The committee appointed by the Republican caucus, consisting of Messrs. Edmunds, Howe, Kirkwood, Don Cameron, Dawes* and Christiancy, called at the White House and had a three-hours’ talk with the President. Senator Edmunds was the spokesman-in-chief for the Senators, and related at length the caucus proceedings and the demands the Senate made upon the Executive. The President replied at length. His remarks were mainly a defense of his Southern policy, his efforts toward pacification, and the beneficial results which he expected to come from it. He was very frank in expressing his relative position toward the Senate as he understood it, and insisted that he had the right to nominate to office whomsoever he chose, admitting that the Senate had the right to reject his nominations when they could not approve them. The Senate had no right to demand of him reasons why he removed men from office any more than it was his right to demand their reasons for rejecting his nominations; but he would concede his right in this matter, and hoped the Senate would feel perfectly free to call upon him for information at any time, and he would cordially furnish it, as he had already instructed his Cabinet officers to do. In regard to appointing Democrats to office, he said he feared he had been misunderstood, and he was sure if the Senate were aware of the circumstances which had governed him when he had made such appointments they would admit the wisdom in each case, and the cases were few. He had selected men who were represented to be fit men from the Democratic party when he could not find fit men in the Republican party. Peculiar circumstances had governed him in each case. The President expressed the hope that the Senate would reject any nominations he made which they did not consider fit. He had not so much confidence in his own judgment as to suppose that his selections were all wisely made, and, it was often the case, when a man came publicly before the country as an official, reasons appeared why he was unfit which would not appear where he was only a candidate. He had made with great care all the nominations he had sent to the Senate, but if any of them turned out to be unwise, he certainly would not be disappointed if the Senate rejected them. There was much more in this same strain, and after the President’s remarks the conversation became general. The President said he desired to consult Senators as far as possible in regard to appointments, and hoped they would feel perfectly free to make recommendations, but he must reserve his right to make such selections as he chose. He knew of no obligation compeDing him to apportion appointments among the Congressional representatives of any State, but his common sense taught him that it was always advantageous to know the opinion of such men as are usually selected as Senators in regard to the fitness of multitudes of candidates that sought his patronage. Some of the Senators consider the interview satisfactory; others do not. Some think that the President rather defied them than otherwise. Others think that he is yielding, and is at least disposed to be fair.