The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-28
How that Compromise was Brought
AhOnt.

Washington special to Baltimore Americana
1t appears that during the excitement in
cident to the electoral count Mr. Foster
made q speech in the House which was ac-
cepted as ioreshadoWine the southern policy
of President Hayes. The speech attracted
considerable attention at the time. 1t
breathed the spirit OF moderation, recon-
citation, and pacifcation. 4 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 reflected his views
on the floor OF the House; and that, had he
the opportunity Mr.. Foster had, he would
have made a similar enunciation of his
views. This letter Mr.. Foster showed
to quite a number OF southern leaders,
and it created considerable excitement.
Meanwhile the Electoral Commission had
rendered its decision in the Oregon
case, and all chances Governor Tilden had
previously. had for attaining to the prcsi-
aency had dissolved There forthwith
cropped out 4 feeling among the Demo-
cratic members to antagonize the compile
ton Of the count until after the 4th OF
March through the interposltion OF dilatory
motions. The northern Democrats gene
rally 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 d
division of sentiment on the practlcablllty
OF the movement that it failed to be adopted
as party measure.
Ali this time Mr.. Foster and Stanley Mat
thews were extremely solicitous to prevent
the ends OF those disposed to 6libuster. AS
an argument TO the southern men that they
stood in their own light, Mr.. Foster author
lied the leaders OF that section to announce
TO their colleagues the endorsement Presi-
dent Hayes had given his (Foster's) concilia-
tory speech. Taking the speech as the cue,
and the letter endorsing it almost as a
marked and defined line OF policy, General
Gordon, of Georgia, and other leaders, ad-
vised the representatives from the. South
that it was poor wisdom to defeat the count,
inasmuch rs the outlook 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 OF
their section to accept the finding OF the
Electoral Commission and let the count go
on.
Next General Gordon visited Foster and
asked him to give him some written assur-
ance to show his colleagues that Governor
Hayes would pursue the policy indicated in
his (Foster's) speech. Accordingly, Stan
ley Matthews drew up a paper, covering
one sheet OF lctter-paper, in effect that from
his personal knowledge OF Governor
Hayes's opinion on the southern question
he felt he could assure the southern repre-
sentatives that the policy Of President Hayes
would be such as would eventually lead to
home-rule in the South. This paper Mat
thcws and Foster signed, and gave it to
General Gordon. 1t was not attested to by
any others, but several leading Republicans
to whom it was shown endorsed it. This
was the only agreement or instrument OF
any kind ever given.
There is no doubt that the President, in
his own good time and own way, means ut
no distant day to restore order and civil
government in the South that he will keep
the pledge made with the whole country in
his inaugural. He does not propose, how
ever, to withdraw the troops from the State
houses OF the disputed governments in such
a precpitate manner as to give the action
the look of their having been driven out.