Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-04-05

Germ was for my suffering Southern
cOuntrymen. To contribute to their
deliverance from bondage was the pas
sionate aspiration of my heart. Had I
believed that the policy of Hayes, if
ipaugurated, would not relieve them
from hateful and unrepublican super
vision by the army, and the further
plundering and oppression by men alien
to them in birth and sympathies, I
should never have voted as did.
Hon. Charles Foster secured the inaug.
uration of President Hayes.
But for the speech and these letters
the result would never have been
reached. The conversation and con.
tents of the letter were made known
to many, The confidence of the Dem
ocrats in him and in his authorization
=. say what he did, composed the Re-
presentatives, and caused them to re.
main unshaken to do what they
thought was right amid the storm that
was raging around them, and in the
face of the earnest remOnstrances of
their constituents. If a few had fall
tered the panic would have been gen.
eral; the work of the commission
would have been fruitless, and before
this time, in my opinion, hurricane
of war would have been sweeping over
the land. Hope deferred has sickened
the hearts of Southern men. do not
understand nor do I appropriate the
delay of President Hayes. He ought
not to hesitate. The whole country
expected this great and good work at
his hand.
TIE LETTERS.
D. C., Feb &c, 1877. Gentlemen: Referring
| to the conversation had with you yesterday,
in which Gov. Hayes policy as to the status
of certain Southern States was discussed, we
desire to say in reply that We assure you in
the strongest possible manner OF our great de-
sire to have adopted such policy as will give
and Louisiana the right to control their own
| affairs in their own way, and to say further
that we feel authorized, from an acquaintance
and knowledge OF Governor Hayes. and his
views on the question, to pledge ourselves to
you for him that such will be his policy.
ISigned. CHARLES Foster,
Washington, Feb 26. 16T.-G en- en-
Referring to the conversation had with u
yesterday, in which Gov Hayes policy as to
the status of certain Southern States was dis
| cussed, we desire to say we can assure you, in
| the strongest possible manner, OF our great de-
| sire to have him adopt such a policy as will
Olina and Louisiana the right to control their
! own affairs in their own way, subject only to
| the constitution of the United States and the
! laws made in pursuance thereof, and to say
| further that, from an acquaintance with and
knowledge Of Gov. Hayes and his views we
hats ~,
will he the policy ol his administration
IsignedI sTARNGEY SflRSf;ffM MATTHEW'S,
| CHARLES FOSTER.
| To Hon. John B. Gordon and John Young
Brown.
FOSTER INTERVIEWED.
Foster has been interviewed and
says:
We had no authority to make COM
pact binding Gov. Hayes, and we dis
tinctly stated the impropriety and
indelicacy of making such a compact
at that time and under the circum'
stances. That letter was the result OF
a conversation had with Brown, IN
which he asked for written assurances
for his future justification. He dis
tinctly stated that he did not ask this
as condition of carrying out the pro
vision Of the electoral bill; that he
regarded that as matter of persona
honor, and that no power could coerce
him to do otherwise than faithfully
stand by the provisions of the bill
He asked that the paper be signed by
Matthews and myself, and be address
ed to him and Senator Gordon. ex
pressed willingness to accede to hi:
wishes, and the paper was prepared
signed and delivered. l have no re-
collection of having any conversation
with Senator Gordon on the subject OF
writing this letter.