The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-29
JOHN YOUNG BROWN IN EXPLANATION or rHg
FosrER-MATrHEws LETTERS.

John YOUNG BROWN IN EXPLANATION or rHE
FosrER-MATTHKws LETTERS.
LOUISVILLE, Ky a.. March Is. 1871.
To.morrow's Courier Journal will contain nm inter
view with Hon. John Young brown. Of Kentucky, who
says
Herewith publish the letters OF Hon. Charles Eos
ter and Stanley Matthews. addressed 10 Hon. john H.
Gordon and myself Tho circumstances attend
Iows:-On the 18th OF February last
seat page from the House of Representatives
General Gordon, and nc came over IN lew inmates
told him that wanted interview with Hon. Charles
Foster, at which desired his presence. outlined 10
General Gordon whit intended to- say 10 MI Foster
and he said he would with pleasure accompany me-
We found Mr Foster In tho room OF che Committee
during the interview. l told Mr. Foster nat had.
he knew, been voting against all dsiory moious and
had IN speech advocated tho inexibc execution oil The
Electoral bill; had stated IN democratic CAUCUS that
would vote II were the only Nan from the South
to DO 80; that me vote was approved by my
to stand by the result. bitter NJ u was
feeling that tho situation was not chargcabc to the
Eecoral bil but 10 tne majority OF the commission
which had agreed to trust. ! told HIM l had
received dispatches and letters from nome
from cherished and trusted trends, conveying
but that, with my CONVICTIONS about the
question, IL a petition signed by every voter in
my district should be sent to mo, requesting me to
support the diat0ry motions, II would not alter my
purpose by hair. iurtner said 10 HIM that
tnere was Out QUO tuiuS WHICH Wouu Cuaupc me-
and that was II | thought that by voting
TO complete tho count, which to result IN IN
augurai'on OF Mr. Hayes, would be aiding, directly
or indirectly, In perpe the usurpatons OF Pack
ard and Chamberlain in tho States Of Louisiana and
South Carolina, would reverse my action aud do
my very utmost to defeat The execution OF the BILL
regardless OF consequences calamious 10 the country
as believed they would Dc.
furthermore told him that II changed my position
knew Of several prominent gentlemen who would JOIN
me, and II at that critical hour, When the daily
ana night! scenes surpassed by Tar In Wild excite.
viplnn nv nvar Cfnos- ehn
legislative history OF the country the line OF the demo-
Gratis, who were voting TO execute tho law should he
broken, II would result in a stampede among them,
and Mr.. Hayes would no more be the President Than
he (Foster) would be. Foster SAID he believed this
! nave inc hlsnes' rsspee, 'os unar,cs fost;r. !
MIN that II my confidence In him that had brought
me TO HIM. He represented the district OF Gov.
Hayes. He had jus; made a manly and
patriotic speech. in which no had SAID that
under President Hayes, II inauguratcd, the flag shall
suS;es,s referred 10 'hss speech ana told HIM h mn"
come request of him written assurances that II
Governor Hayes was inangurated President he would
restore ruo r the States oil LOUISIANA South
Carolina aud that the p.oplc OF these States should
control their affairs IN their own way, rs tree
from Intervention by the federal authority
State OF ONO.
This conversation was long and earnest / told Mr.
Foster that wanted to make no baigsip, no agree.
ment, that scorncd tho thought OF IT, that had dc.
cincd reelection TO Congress- was voluntarily with.
drawing from political lie, wanted Office that
President could give me, and that my object
was unseash and that I desired a written
assurance from HIM that tho Policy OF Mr.. Hayes
would be as indicated, and from him specially. by
reason Of his very intimate relations with Governor
Hayes.
Mr.. FOSTERS REPLY.
His reply TO all this vas frank, full earnest and
satisfactory to friend, General Gordon and myself
Indeed Mr. Foster said he had letter In his pocket
just received from Governor Haycs thanking Inn tor
the speech TO which nave alluded ana indorsng IT,
lie offered this letter 10 General Gordon myself
to read, but We declined It, He ngreed to give mo tho
desired letter and said he woula also request on
Stanley Matthews TO sign It. He promised " meet me
that night at my rooms. lie came about midnight
and sud by OF his interview with General Goriun
and myself he had that evening procured meeting OF
some gentlemen from Louisiana ard South Caroina 1t
Wormley's HOTEL ut which ais, Hon. Henry Watlerson
present. At the conclusion oi tho conference
these gentlemen had expressed great saIisiact on ut
what hua been said TO them On leaving he remarked
that should have two letters next morning On the
next day he camo to my desk the House OF Repre-
senativcs ami handed me an unsigned letter.
Posters LITTER.
read II, took my pen and erased ono paragraph
and told HIM that IL could be made fuller and 81
but that from The honorable men who gave it in good
faith It was sufficient In hour aitcrward went 10
his desk and no delivered me a letter signed
by himself and Mr.. Matthews. ! observed
that 1t was in different handwriting, read it hastily
and remarked TO him that IL contained some gcnera.
ties did not like lie replied that Mr. Matthews had
rewritten II. and added: brown, i is intended TO
be NO doubt about tho iulnmcnt Of all the
have gwen you. !"
noticed the original letter on his desk and said
''Sgn that aso," aud he replied, "Ccriainy, with
pleasure" AS was leaving lie called back and
told me that President Grant would, soon AS the
count was completed, issue certain order to General
Auaur 10 Louisiana. He requested not to mention
this fact for several days. but expressly gave per-
mission to make any use OF tho letters l might
desire. The order referred issucd by President
Grant. gave copies OF the letters to Messrs. Lovy,
Ellis and Burke. O.! Louisiana, and to General NJ. {.
Butler OF South Carolina, with authority to them
whenever they pleased. When saw that the demo.
cratic victory so fairly won, was lost. my deepest
To contribute to Their dcl,verance from bondage was
the passionate aspiration OF my heart Had believed
that the policy Of Mr. Hayes. If Inauguratad, wonId
not relieve them from the hateful and unrcpubcan
supervision by the army and the further u ndcrDg
oppression by men alien 10 them in birth and sympa.
thes should have voted as did. Hon. Charles
Foster secured the Inauguration Of the President but
for hs speech and these letters the resuI. would
the letter wore made known To many.
CONFIDENCE or THE DEMOCRATS
Tho confidence OF democrats in him and in
the Representatives ana caused them TO remain
mistaken In dong what they believed right
amid tho storm which was raging around them, and
in the face OF the earnest remOnstrances OF their
stitucnts II few had faltercd the panic would have
been general; the work OF tue commission would nave
been Ruthless, and before this time, my opinion
hurricane OF war would have been sweeping over the
land.
men. do not understand, nor do 1 appreciate the
delay OF President Hayes He should hesitate; the
whole country expected this great ana good work at
his hands Passionate men are heapng nvcctives upon
the heads OF those democrats who voted stand by
the electoral BILL THIS paius me; but causes no re-
gret Tor my action.
PATH ~ THE PRESIDENT.
In conclusion will say that have full faith In the
fuIment OF the assurances contained IN the letters OF
Mcssrs Foster and Matthews They are honorable
men. cannot believe that they would attempt de-
lberatc deception. They are the intimate friends OF
the President They know his views and expressed
them IN these letters. An honest construction of
their language means that the autonomy
III Louisiana and South Carolina should be
restored IL ~ Impossible that tho Prcsi1cnt, under
MI the circumstances and In view OF his utter
anccs and the promises OF his trends can refuse at
pnce TO make LOUISIANA and south Carolina as free
On have the flag float States not pro7inces
over free men subjects. IL done the peace nnd
prosperity OF the Republic VIII he secured II not
lone. tho whole responsibility ior the consequences
whatever they may he, will restmpon President Iiayes
JOHN YOUNG BROWN.
rBE PERSONNEL OF The LOUISIANA COM
MISSION.
wAsnrSGroy, March %, 1871
The following named gentlemen having accepted tho