The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-03-31
HAYES FRIENDS.
The C0mmittaIs Given by Foster
and Matthews to John Young
Brown.
A Thorough Understanding About
the Home Rule In the
South.
SIR. BROWNS POSITION.
ITO the Editor Of the Courisr-J ournsl, ]

addressed to Hon. John b. Gordon and
myself. The circumstances attending
their origin are, in brief, as follows:
On the goth of February last sent q
page from the house of representatives
| TO the senate chamber tor my distin-
guished friend General Gordon, and he
came over IN a few minutes. l told him
that | wanted an Interview with Hon.
Chas. Foster, at which l desired his
presence. outlined to General Gordon
| what intended to say to Sir. Foster.
| and he said he would with pleasure ac-
company me. We found Mr.. Foster in
| the room OF the committee on appropri-
| ations. No one else was present during
the interview. told Mr.. Foster that
had. .as he knew, been voting against all
dilatory motions. had in aspeech
advocated the infle Xible execution OF the
electoral bill, hau stated in a Democratic
caucus that would SO vote, il 1 were the
only man from the South TO do so that
| the vote was approved by nv judgment
| that felt under obligations OF honor TO
stand by the result, bitter as it was, feel
ing that the situation was not chargeaDle
to the electoral bill, but to the majority
OF the commission. whom we had agreed
to trust. | told him had received dis
patches and letters from home from cher
ished and trusted friends conveying most
emphatic remonstrances against my
| course, but that. with my convictions
about the question, ifa petition signed by
every vote in my district should be sent
| TO me requesting me TO support the dila-
! tory motion, it would not by a hair al
| ter my purpose. l said further to him
| that there was but one thing would
change me, and il was if thought that
by voting TO complete the count which
| was TO result in the Inauguration of Mr..
Hayes, | would be aiding, directly or IN
| directly, to perpetuatihg the usurpatlon
4 OF Packard and Chamberlain in the
| States OF Louisiana and South Carolina.
| would reverse my action-and do NV
very utmost 10 defeat the execution of
the bill-regardless OF consequences cal
amitous to the country a. believed
they would be.
/ furthermore told him that if chang
| ed my position knew OF several promi-
| nent gentlemen who would Join me, and
! il. at that critical hour-when the daily
| and nightly scenes, SURPRISING by tar in
| wild excitement and violence anything
ever witnessed in the legislative history
of the Countrywide line OF the Demo
Gratis who were voting to execute the law
should be broken, it would result in a
stampede among them and Mr.. Hayes
would no more be the President than he
Foster would be. Foster said he be
lieyed this.
Ihaye the highest respect for Charlie,
Foster. ! believe him TO be an honorabi,
gentlemen and told him that 1t wa
my confidence in him that had brough
me 10 him. lie represented the dis,ric
OF Mr.. Hayes. He had just made manly
and patriotic speech, ia which be sale
. that under Hayes. il insngurAted. "th
: flag shall float over s.at<s. not 0Tor.ne<s
. over TrsssEel. Rot subjects" 1 reierre'
j 10 this speech, and told him had com
;. to request Of him written ASSURANCES the
{ il Hayes was iDaugurated ne would re
| | store home rule in the stats. OF Louisizn
and South Carolina; that the people 0
these states should control their OWE al
iairs in their Own way, as tree from AM
interventicr BY the Federal authorities q
the State OF Ohio.
The conversation was long and earnest
] told Mr.. Foster that | wanted In max.
I no bargaia-no agreement that scorn
ed the thought OF il; that had decllnet
a reelection 10 congress; was volun
tarily Withdrawing from political life
! wanted no Office that president coul,
, give me, and that my object was unset.
fish, but desired written assurance iron
him that the policy Of Mr.. Hayes woulC
be as indicated; add from him especially
, by reason OF his very intimate relation,
| with Mr.. Hayes.
His reply 10 all this was frank, full
earnest and satisfactory 70 my friend
Gen. Gordon, and myself. Indsed. Mr.
} Foster said he had in his pocketa letter
. Just received from Mr.. uayes, thankin,
him for the speech TO which | have al
luded and undressing IL. He offered thi
D letter to Gen. Gordon and myself I,
I read, but we declined il. He agreed I,
. give me the desired letter. and said h
would also request Hon. Stanley Matth
ews to sign il. He promised 10 meet M
that night at my rooms. He came abou
midnight. Said that by reason OF his in
terview with General Gordon and mysel
he had that evening procured a meeting
of some gentlemen from Louisiana anC
South Carolina, at Wormley's Hotel, a
which also Hon. Henry Watterson wa;
present; and at the conclusion OF the con
ference these gentlemen had expressed
great satisfaction at what had been sait
TO them. On leaving he remarked that
should have the letters mex. morning.
On the next day he came TO my desl
4
me an unsigned letter. l read il, tool
my pen and erased one paragraph tolC
him that it coulG be made fuller anC
stronger; but tina, from honorable mel
who gave it in good faith it was sufii
cient.
In an hour went 10 his desk and ht
delivered me letter signed by himself
and Matthews. ! observed that il wa.
! In different handwriting. read IL hastily
and remarked TO him that it contained
some generalties / did not like. He re
piled that Mr.. Matthews had written ii
c and added: "Brown, 1t is in
|. tended 10 cover the whole case
!, and l can promise you Their,
=. will be no doubt about the tulfillmen
d OF all the assurances l have givel
u you: l noticed the original letter OF
his desk and said. ''sign this also," am
>, he replied, Certainly, with pleasure.
~ As l was leaving he called me back anC
~ told me that President Grant would, a
&c soon a. the count was completed, Issue
= certain order 10 General Ausur in Louis
!: lana. lie requested me not TO mentio
e. gave me permission to make any use {
the letters might desire. The orde
% referred to was issued ly Presiden
e. Grant.
gave copies OF the letters to Messr
Levy, Ellis aud Burke, OF Louisiana. an
to General NJ. G. Butler. OF South Car.
o lima. with authorityto use them whe
7; ever they pleased.
"a When l saw that the Democratic vi.
!, tory so fairly won was lost, nv deepe,
concern was for my suffering country
men. To contribute to their deliyeranC
from bondage wac the passionate aspirs