New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-13
The President and His Friends.

1t now appears that Mr.. Stanley Matthews
is alone responsible Tor the suggested COM
promise with Southern Democrats about
which Dame Rumor has been SO active.
Mr.. Evarts, it seems, did not by any
means indOrse the request of Matthews
TO Governor Chamberlain to "yield
his rights for the good of the country" ("
and the President has denied that he au-
thoriZed Matthews to make any such
proposition. 1t was very natural that Gov
ernor Chamberlain should want to know
by what authority the strange proposition
was made. He we'll said, 81 am not acting
for myself, and can not assume such re-
sponsibility.' There is a way, and but one
way, to dispose of Governor Chamber lain's
rights as chief executive of the State of
South Care liDa-the legal way. Was he
chosen by the peOplel Did he have a ma
jority of the legal votes cast on the sev-
enth of NovembeIl These questions can
only be solved by an appeal to the legal
methods provided by the constitution
and the laws of South Carolina. Mean
time the President of the United States
is bound to see that mob violence is not
permitted to ObstTuct the peaceful, lawful
settlement of the claims of the rival candi-
dates to the gubernatOrisl Office. 1t was
quickly, eagerly assumed by those wLO wish
to embarrs IS President Hayes adminstra-
tion that MIR. Matthews letter to Governor
Chamberlain was written at the sugges-
ton of the President. We did not credit
it. We have all along been convinced
that there was no foundation whatever
for the rumors that have been ahoat
for some time to the effect that a eomprO-
mise was agreed upon by the friends of
Governor Hayes previous 10 his induction
into office, Vih his sanction, whereby the
protection of the Federal government was
to lbe withdrawn from Packard, of Louis
lana, and Chamberlain, in South Carolina.
1t is not improbable that certain super
serviceable friends of Governor Hayes
entered into negotiations with certain
Southern Democrats, with q view to
such a compromise We are glad to
know that they acted wholly without
authority. Doubtless the country had its
fret information OF President Hayes plan
for the paciicatiOn of the South in the an
nOuncement of his Cabinet. Mr.. Eyarts is
a conservative Republican, Mr.. SchnFz rep
resente the liberal German element of the
Republican party, and Mr.. Key is a con
servative Democrat. What more can be
asked in the way of pacific OutlOOk3 Presi-
dent Hayes may well assume that the
South Will be sootbed at this mani
festation of his desire for peace and
reconciliation. How could he better
hold out the olive branch of peace
than by offering to a prominent Southern
Democrat place in his council of advisers3
We are not disposed to find fault with this
plan of reconciliation. Whatever may be its
faults, it ia generous. 1t is a plan possess.
ing elements Of possible success. At all
events, it is an Offering of fellowship, an
offer of something more than universal
amnesty-an offer of full recognition OF
the right of the South to take an active
part in the conduct of the affairs OF
the government. The plan of President
Hayes, as exhibited in the eeleotiOn Of
his Cabinet, is more than jnst. But the pro-
posed compromise attributed to the friends
Of the President ia neither just nor gener-
Gus. It is not Just, eince ID would involve
the overthrow Of a Stats government which
has substantially the snme sanction as that
possessed by the administration ITSELF Il
is not generous, since that generosity which
ie not tie handmaid Of iuatiee q false and
deceptive, leading both him Who gives and
him who teeeivre into falae ana aanaer-
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