New-York tribune., 1876-11-20
LETTER FROM THE REPUBLICANS.

prrAsEn WITH THE DEMOCRATIC EXPLANATloN-A
CONFERENCE NO LONGER NECESSARY.
NEw-OmEANs. Nov. 19.-Thc Republicans have
reped to the last letter of the visiting Democrats
in regard to conference, stating their gratlcatoh
at the explanation of the meaning OF the Democrats
in proposing a conference and commenting on the
general subject in cordial strain. The letter iS a.
follows:
GENTLEMEN: We arc ratifed to learn that we
have misapprehended the language and spirit OF
your communication of the 14th inst, and that we
were in error in attributng to you purpose to IN
terferc with the legally constituted authorities of this
State in the discharge of their duties Perhaps this
misapprehenson was the natural result OF the IAN
guage employed. Your request was TO meet anu
confer with you personally, or through committees
"in order that such influence as we possess may DO
exerted in behalf of such canvass OF the votes acu-
allv east as by its fairness and Impartiaty shall
command the respect and acquescence OF the AIner-
can people.D This as understood, was a request
to cooperate with you for the purpose OF influencing
the action OF tho Returning Board i'll the discharge
of ITS duties
The President had requested us to attend there to
witness not TO influence such canvass, and we know
that such request by HIM not intended to limit
us TO witness the count of votes actually east, but
the entire proceedings of the board in reaching re-
sut as TO the votes legally cast TO be counted We
are uafed to learn that you concur with the rrcs-
dent and with us in this undertaking. You also
state that YOU are fully aware that both the organi
cation and action whether judicial or ministerial OF
the Returning Board of Louisiana was beyond any
authoritative control from without and II would be
the hight Of arrogance and folly TO attempt to alter
the laws of a state of which we are not citizens, or
TO obtrude our Interpretation Of the laws upon those
whose duty il is to administer them. We may,
therefore as we think, assume that you VIII agree
with us that il would be arrogance equally attempt
by our concerted action 10 Influence the proceedings
OF result of courts Of justice or OF boards acting
iudically; and hence are gratifed at being able
from the language and tenor Of your letter, TO as
sume that you did not wish TO confer with us Tor
the purpose of influencing the action Of the Return
ing Board but only to secure such cooperation on
our part rs would enable jointly with yourselves
TO witness the proceedings throughout. conference
for such n purpose would now seem to be unneces-
sary, as We learn from communication Just re-
ceiyed from the Returning Board, which appears TO
us to accomplish all that by your explanatory note
you desire TO attain by the proposed conference.
We will add that il is very apparent that II your
wish is 10 see a fair and honest expression from the
electoral vote of Louisiana, there IS no difference
between ourselves and you, except as to your con-
duct in reference to that result. You have pro-
pOsed a conference and active associated III
huence This we regard beyond our duty or
our privilege as individuals. We shall be happy at
all times to confer with you and, as individuals to
cooperate in whatever shall hc right; but concerted
action for the purpose of influencing an Official
board we hold to be beyond our privilege, and we
shall hope that all may come to pass which good
citizens can wish without the use of any such
means. We remain, gentlemen, very respectfully
yours,
JonS SHERMAN, STANLEY MATTHEWS, JAMES A.
GARFIELD, Ohio.
L. w. SToUGHToN, j. II. VANShLEN. New-York.
WIN. ID. KELLEY, Pennsylvania.
Jon +. STEVENSON, Ohio.
EUGENE HALE, Maine.
M TuTrLE j. w. CHAPMAN, WM. r. SMITH, W.
A. MCGREw, Iowa.
SIDNEY CLARKE, J. c. WILSON, Kansas.
c. b. FARwELL, ABNER TAYLOR j. NJ BEARDsLEY,
s. r. HAVEN Illinois.
JonS CoBUGN, WILL CUMBAcK, Indiana.
c. IRvGNd DIrrY, Maryland.
To the Hons j. NJ. Palmer Lyman Trumbull, W.
r. Morrison Samuel D. Randall, A. G. Curtin, VIM
Bgler j. r. Doolitte, Geo. b. Smith, j. T.. Mcdonald
Geo. W. Julian, NJ. ID. Manson, John Love, Henry
Watters0n j. w. Stevenson, Henry ID. hcllcnry T.
II. Shirley Oswald Ottendorter, j. Is. Stallo l.. "
Bogy, James o. BrOadhead, &. Gibson, John Leo Car
roll w. r. Hamilton, w. G. Sumner, 7. H. Watson
L. X. Coudert.