Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-16
Interesting Interview.

Senator Gordon, Of Georgia, at the Invitation
of President Hayes, held long conference with
him at the White House last hight in reference
to the Southern question Senator Lamar and
Messrs. Levy and Ellis, Of Louisiana, we're also
present.
Senator Gordon said MIR. President, ii you
will withdraw the troops from the State House
10 South Carolina and Louisiana / will give you
any sort Of guarantee that not only shall the
peace not be disturbed, but Packard and Cham
berlaiu may remain in the State House with all
the territory they can command, and with oil
the offices they can induce parties to execute.
| will further guarantee, if it be required, that
neither Chamberlain nor Packard shall be pro.
ceeded against even by civil processes through
the courts to eject them from their positions,
but they shall be left to maintain themselves
undisturbea as long as they eau raise money to
pay their expenses. Taxation would, in NY
opinion, settle the question very soon.
To this the President made no specific rt-
spouse. He said that there had been suggested
various plans for settlement Of these difficult
ties, such as commission, new election, the
withdrawal Of The troops and the do nothing
policy.
The Senator replied that while lie was salts.
fed that the easiest, shortest. and least embar-
RAISING course to the administration would be
the constitutional course, which lie understood
to be marked cut in the inaugural, which vas
non. Intervention or The Withdrawal Of Tie
troops. But even the do.nothng policy the
leaving of the troops where they are, would lie
better than wrong solution, or commission.
or new election.
The President then expressed in earnest
terms his desire and purpose to bring about
some satisfactory solution as soon as possible.
He said that the difficulty had been ct white
heat for sixteen years, and it ought not to be
considered any great delay If it required sixteen
days to get through with it 10 satisfactory
way. He expressed his belief that the problem
was not so hard to solve as great mauy per-
sous supposed. but the number of offices now
vacant 10 the United States (some six hun
dred) which must be Immediately filled by ap.
pointment we're now occupying almost the entire
attention Of himself aud the cabinet, but just
as soon as these appointments were mado and
the Senate had adjourned he would at once
take up the Southern question aud solve it.
Senator Lamar in his remarks showed tue
utter Inability Of Packard to sustain himself as
Governor OF Louisiana without direct, constant
and continued support from Washington. He
said that every element in the State which
its intelligence and property and civ
ilization were united 10 the support Of the
Nichols government.
Messrs. Ellis and Levy gave various Instances
of forbearance on the part of the people Of
Louisiana under the severest trials, evidcuciog
their ability to command themselves in case tic
troops should be Withdrawn. They demonstra
ted that Packard had neither the power to ere
ate difficulty or to keep the peace. Senators
Gordon and Lamar have no hesitation in saying
hat they arc satisfied of the good will aud in.
ention of the President. The interview lasted
nearly two hours and was altogether agreeable. |