The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-19
A1oHtital
THE SECRET CONCLAVE.
A Detailed Report Of the Meeting
at WOrmley's, at Which the
Presidential Election was Set
tied.
Washington Correspondence Philadelphia North
American


American,
Having heretofore given many OF the
detailed facts in reference TO the letters
of pledges, ETC., it is but proper now to
give from complete reporV synopsis
of what took place at the meeting at
Wormley's on the night of the 26ih Of
February, at the rooms occupied by Stan
ley Matthews.
The meeting had been previously ar
ranged pursuant to the suggestions made
in the letter of Senator Lamar, and was
understood to be concaye of Southern
Democrats and Northern or Ohio Repub-
licans. There were present Senator, now
Secretary, Sherman; Judge, now Senator,
Stanley Matthews; Hons, Charles Foster
and Garfield, Ex-Governor Dennison of
Ohio, Chief Justice Cartier, of the District
of Columbia, but formerly Of Ohio. In
fact all of the above named gentlemen
are Republicans and from Ohio. There
were also present Colonel Watterson, Of
Louisville, then member Of Congress
and Democrat, and Congressman Ellis,
of New Orleans, and Colonel Burke, Col
lector of Texas and New Orleans, both
Democrats.
After an interchange of the civilities Of
the day and some brief illusions to the
subjects that brought the gentlemen to-
gether, Congressman Ellis arose and said
he would make statement as to the
views and wishes and attitude of the
Southern members as to the electoral
count, and implying their action in regard
thereto.
Mr.. Ellis said-We want peace, home
rule and honest government, and to be no
longer governed by a government that
could only be sustained by the aid Of
Federal bayonets, and that we fear that
Mr.. Hayes, if inaugurated, would use the
troops to sustain Packard and Chamber
lain, and that we were tillibusterng to
defeat the count of the vote through that
fear.
Judge Matthews then arose. He en-
tered into an elaborate and exhaustive
review fthe Southern question. He de-
cared that he was tie intimate, personal
and political friend of Governor Hayes
that he was thoroughly acquainted with
his views upon the Southern question;
that Governor Hayes believed the time
had gone by when States should be ruled
by bayonets, and that if he was inaugu.
rated President his potcy undoubtedly
would be to give to those States stable
and peaceful governments of their own
choice, under which the rights OF all clti-
zens would be protected. He said that
Governor Hayes was also desirous OF
abolishing the color line in politics that
he was satisfied that there would be no
permanent or lasting peace in those States
while they were governed by men not
representatives of the people,
TAT this point General Foster showed
he letter from Governor Hayes in wh b
he thanked Foster for his speeches, and
declared that he if inaugurated President
would carry out a Southern policy,ss Fos-
ter understood it.
Mr.. Ellis then said "The views ex
pressed by Judge Matthews were most
gratifying to us; but that practical diff |
Guilty suggested itself, which was this
the same men who had voted for Hayes |
had voted for Packard, and that the
same men who had voted for Nichols
had voted for Tilden; that the same Re.
turning Board that assumed to give the
election to Hayes had also declared Pack
ard elected; and in this view we were at
a loss to see how Governor Hayes could
consistently ignore, Packard's claim and
sustain Nichols.
Judge Matthews replied very quickly,
81 do not assume to speak for Governor
Hayes, or to say that such will be his &C.
ton but the difficulty you suggest would
be overcome best in this way; First,
would obtain from Nichols guarantees
and assurances which he can easily give,
that there will be no bloodshed, no vio-
lence, no persecution of any one on &C.
count of their political offences and that
liberty, life and property would be guar
anteed to all, irrespective of party or race;
that then l would Withdraw the troops
from the State. Your people then, would
sustain and support Nichols by paying
taxes to his government, and by yielding
it allegiance and support His govern
ment in this way, would become strong
and perfectly established. Mr. Packard
could collect no taxes; his authority would
be disregarded and his government would
die or disperse from pure lack Of means
to support it, Then, if the occasion re-
quired that the President should recog-
nize government in Louisiana, he would
find only the Nichols government per-
feCtly established, and giving peace and
satisfaction to the whole people; and with.
out inquiring into the legality of its origi-
nal title, would accept the facts and recog-
nize it as the legitimate government Of
the State"
. Mr. Ellis then said "This action
would be perfectly satisfactory to us. We
ask no recognition. We only ask that
the troops be withdrawn. We can prom
Use, and can safely keep that promise,
that the peace will be preserved that
law will be administered equally and i'm
partially for all. We have had to suffer
many wrongs at the hands of these peo-
pie, who have been ruling and robbing
US for years but we do not desire to per-
secute Or harm them; but only desire
that they shall cease to be dishonest and
become good citizens"
Judge Matthews then said "With the
guarantees that you propose, the plan
have indicated is the easiest and best
and while l do not propose to commit
Governor Hayes by my promises, yet l
have good reasons to believe that such
will be his policy"
Ex-Governor Dennison was the next
speaker. He warmly approved of every
word that Mr.. Matthews said and the
opinions he expressed as to Governor
Hayes's probable course he fully en-
dorsed.
General Foster then gave very ami
mated expression Of his views. He was
for the withdrawal Of the troops and the
let-alone policy. He had every reason to
know that Governor Hayes would follow
out the line OF conduct as indicated by
Judge Matthews, although he did not
anaak diraotlv for him .T