The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-03-31

THE N1ATTUEWS-FOSTER AGREE
MENT.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-There
has been a good deal of talk and even
threats among the Southern members
since the Cabinet decided to send
commission to Louisiana, concern
ing the existence of an agreement
made on behalf OF President Hayes
by Charles Foster and Stanley Mat
thews, Of Ohio. Ever since the de-
cision of the Cabinet there has been
whispering that certain Southern
representative had in their possess
sion a document which would force
Mr.. Hayes to recognize the guberna-
torial claims of Nichols and Hamp-
ton; it was limited at that it was a
written dynamite which would not
appear well in print and which, if
published would show that the South
in refusing to join the Northern DEM
Ocratic filibusters to defeat the count
had guarantee that by such a policy
they would secure home rule for
themselves. Now the sum and SUBJ
stance Of this writing is the opinion
in writing of Stanley Matthews and
Mr. Foster, that each believed that
President Hayes would see that the
rights of the Southern people to self
government would be respected.
Both are warm personal friends of
the President enjoy his confidence
and are generally well acquainted
with his views on subjects of public
policy. 1t appears that during the
excitement incident to the Electoral
count, Mr. Foster made a speech in
the, House which was accepted as
foreshadowing the Southern policy
of President Hayes. The speech at
tracted considerable attention at the
time 1t breathed the spirit Of mod
Grafton, reconciliation and pacifi-
cation. A day or two after it was
delivered Mr.. Hayes wrote to Mr..
Foster quite briefly in which he said
that he thanked him for the very
delicate way in which he had refec-
ted his views on the floor of the
House, and that, had he the opportu-
nifty Mr.. Foster had, he would have
madea similar enunciation of his
views. This letter Mr.. Foster showed
TO quite number of Southern lead
ers and it created considerable excite
ment. Meanwhile the Electoral
Commission had rendered its deciS-
ion in the Oregon case and all chan
ces Gov. Tilden had previously had
for attaining to the Presidency had
dissolved. There forthwith cropped
out feeling among the Democratic
members to antagonize the compile
ton of the count until after the 4th
of March through the interposition
of dilatory motions. The Northern
Democrats generally favored the
adoption of that line of tactics, and
plead with their Southern friends to
unite with them to defeat the final
declaration of the count. Frequent
caucuses were held, but there was
such a division of sentiment on the
practicability of the movement that it
failed 10 be adopted as Il party meas
ure.
All this time Mr.. Foster and STAN
ley Matthews were extremely soil
citous to prevent the ends of those
disposed to tilibuster. AS an argu.
ment to the Southern men that they
stood in their own light Mr.. Foster
authorized the leaders of that section
to announce to their colleagues the
endorsement President Hayes had
given his (Foster) conciliatory speech
Taking the speech as the cue, and the
letter endorsing it almost as marked
and defined line of policy, General
Gordon of Georgia, and other leaders
advised the Representatives from
the South that it was poor wisdom to
defeat the count inasmuch as the out
look was that President Hayes
meant to pursue policy toward the
South in such marked contrast to
General Grants that it might be for
the good or their section to accept the
finding of the Electoral Commission
and let the count go on.
Next General Gordon visited Fos-
ter and asked him to give him some
written assurance, to show his col
leagues that Governot Hayes would
pursue the policy indicated in his
(Foster's) speech. Accordingly
Stanley Matthews drew up paper,
covering one sheet of letter paper, in
effect that from his personal knowl-
edge of Governor Hayes opinion on
the Southern question, he felt he could
assure the Southern representatives
that the policy of President Hayes