The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1877-04-07

which have alluded, anu en-
dorsing it. He offered this letter
to Gen. Gordon aud myself to
read, but we declined it. lie
agreed to give me the desired let
ter, and said he would request
Hon. Stanley Matthews to sign it.
He promised to meet me that night
at my rooms. He came about mid
night. lie said that by reason OF
his Interview with Gen. Gordon
and myself he had that evening |
procured q meeting of some gem
tlemen from Louisiana aud South
Carolina at Wormley's Hotel, at
which, also, Hon. Henry Waiter
son was present, and at the conclu-
sion of the conference these gentle
men had expressed great satisfac-
tion at what had been said to them.
On leaving he said should have
the letters next morning. On the
next day he came to my desk in the
House of Representatives and
handed me an unsigned letter. |
read It, took my pen and erased
one paragraph told him that 1t
could be made fuller aud stronger,
but that from honorable men, who
gave 1t IN good faith, it was suf-
| ficient. In an hour l went to his
desk and he delivered me q letter
signed by himself and Matthews.
| observed that it was in q differ
ent handwriting read 1t hastily
aud remarked to him that it COLI
tained some gcneralities l did not
like. lie replied that Mr.. Mat
thews had rewritten 1t, and added /:
"Drown, it is intended to cover
the whole case, and l can promise
you there will be no doubt about
the fuliillment of all the assurances
| have given YOU" ] noticed the
original letter on his desk and
said: "Sign this, also." He re-
piled, +" Certainly, with pleasure"
As I was leaving, he called me
back and told mo that President
Grant would, as soon as the count
; was completed, issue q certain or
der to Gen. Augur, in Louisiana
; He requested me not to mention
this fact for several days, but cx
pressly gave me permission Il
make any use OF the letters ! nigh
desire. The order referred to wa
issued by President Grant. gav'
: copies of the letters to Messrs
Levy, Ellis, aud Burke, of Louisi
: ana, and to Gen. M. G. Butler, o
South Carolina, with authority 4
use them whenever they pleased
: When saw that the Democraii
victory, SO fairly won, was lost
: my deepest concern was for m
, suffering Southern countrymei
u To contribute to their dcliveranc
y from bondage was the passionat
. aspiration of my heart. Had
: believd the policy of Mr.. Hayes {
, inaugurated) would not reliev
: them from hateful and unrepul
p" lican supervision by the army, an
VI the further plnndering and opprc
r sion by men alien to them In Dirt
y and sympathy, l should never ha,
!. j. voted as did. Hon. Charles Fo'
= ter secured the Inauguration
the President; but for his speec
:. and these letters the result woul
|" never have been reached. III
y conversation and contents Of Il
- letters werc made known to man
u The confidence of the Dem0cra
s. in him and his authorization to s,
= what he did, composed represcn
% atiyes and caused them to rema
," unshaken in doing what they b
y lieyed was right, amid the stor
% that was raging around them, ai
" In the face of remonstrances
q their constituents. lfa few HI
IN faltered, the panic would ha'
~ been general. The work Of &
Al Commission would have been fru
Or less, and before this time, in n
~ opinion, a hurricane Of war wou
NJ have been sweeping over the Ian
eh Hope deferred has sickcned I
u hearts Of the Southern men. l
ne not understand, nor do l appre
ad ate the delay Of President Hay
10 He ought not to hesitate. 7
''r whole country expected this gr'
- and good work at his hands. p
ne sionate men are heaping invecti'
OF upon the heads Of those Democr'
who voted to stand by the Elec
ID raj Bill. This paines me, b
causes no regret for my action.
no conclusion I will say that ! hi
me full faith In the fullfllnlent of
eo assurances contained In tho lett
'as Of Messrs. Foster and Matthe'
20. They are honorable men. | cam
-! believe that they would atten
ND deliberate deception. They
n. H..