The Portland daily press., 1877-03-29
The Southern Pledges.
What Representative FOs-
ter says about Them,
JOHN YOUNG BROWNS VIEWS.
Foster and Matthews Letters.

Stanley Matthews and himself on the one part,
and certain Southern gentlemen on the other,
that there is nothing in it, During the final
hours of the count under the electoral bill sew
eral Southern gentlemen, who were opposing
the hlibusterlng movement, were sOlicitous
that they should have definite assurance from
Hayes as to his Southern policy. An informal
meeting was arranged at which we've present,
as friends of President Hayes, Messrs. Sher-
man, Garfield, Dennison, Matthews and HIM
self. The object of the meeting was simply to
arrive at better understanding as to the pol
ICY OF the incoming administration. They, on
their part, did not claim that the assurances
they asked for were to determine their action
as to the carrying out of the provisions OF the
electoral bill, but that they desired them as a
guarantee to their people that they acted in
good faith. To this end they desired that
Hayes should give to them only such guaran-
tees as he had given to his own friends.
la reply it was stated by us that it would be
improper and indicate at this time for Hayes
to give any assurance foreshAdowing his policy,
but that we felt fully justified in stating from
his policy would be to favor local self govern
ment and home rule in the South. We gave
no assurances as coming directly from Hayes.
We simply stated our belief as to his course,
based upon communications from and c0nver-
sations with him. Whatever may have been
said with regard to the withdrawal of troops.
was said simply in the nature of a belief that
such would be the result of the policy which
we believed the President would adopt. There
was no written compact entered into and ale
cations to this effect, so far as l have any
knowledge, are the merest mooUshlue. There
being no compact it is simply impossible that
Hayes should approve or disapprcve of it. At
least, know nothing of such a thing. We
had no authority to make the compact binding
on Hayes and we distinctly stated the impro-
priety and indehcacy of making such COM
pact at that time and under the circumsta noes.
The letter written to j. Young Brown and Sena-
ator Gordon was the result Of a conversation 1
had with Brown, in which he asked for written
assurances for his justification. He distinctly
stated that he did not ask this as a condition
of carrying out the provisions of the electoral
bill that he regarded that as matter of per-
sonal honor. and that nolpower could coerce him
to do otherwise than faithfully stand by the pro-
visions of the bill He asked that the paper be
signed by Matthews and myself, and be adj
dressed to him and Senator Gordon. L ex
pressed my willingness to acceed to his wishes,
and the paper was prepared, signed and deliv-
cred. have no recollection of having any con-
versation with Senator Gordon on the subject
OF writing this letter. The letter was state
ment by Mr.. Matthews and myself as to what
we believed would be the policy of President
Hayes in dealing with the Southern question.
1t contains nothing more than was contained
in my speech on the subject. We did not re-
tain copy OF the letter and cannot give its ex-
act condition. The object of the publication
of false reports regarding this matter is evil
IDENTIFY to weaken and cripple the administra.
ton in dealing with this Southern question
and to disaffect the Southern men who were
working in good faith to uphold and sustain
the President.
John Young Browns Statement.
To-morrow's Courier-J ournal will contain an
interview with Hon. John Young Brown of
Kentucky, who says:
Herewith [ publish letters of Hon. Charles
roster and Hon. Stanley Matthews, addressed
to Hon. John B. Gordon and myself. Circum-
stances attending their origin in brief as
follows:
On the 18th of February last sent page
from the House of Representative to the
Senate Chamber for my distinguished friend,
Gen. Gordon. He came over in few minutes.
We found Mr.. Foster in the room of the COM
mittee on appropriations. No one else was
present during the interview. I told Mr..
Foster had, as ne knew, been voting against
dilatory motions had in speech advocated the
infexible execution of the electoral bill had
stated in Democratic caucus, that would so
vote If L were the only man from the South to
40 so, that such vote was approved by my
Judgment, that felt under an obligation of
as it was, feeling that the situation was not
chargeable to the electoral bill, but to the ma
Jority of the commission whom we had agreed
to trust; that there was but one thing which
would change me and that was, if 1 thought
that by voting to complete the count which was
o.
would be aiding directly or indirectly in per-
Pet p"u,ons vi dokar9 an1
South Carolina, in which case L would reverse
my action and do my very utmost to defeat the
execution of the bill regardless of the conse-
quences, calamitous to the country as 1 believ-
ed they would be, and told him it was my con-
fdeuce in him that had brought me to him
He represented the district of Mr. Hayes. l
told him had come to request of him written
assurances that if Hayes was inaugurated he
would restore home rule in the states of Louis
lana and South Carolina, that the people of
these states should control their own affairs in
their own way as free from any intervention BY
the federal authorities as the state of Ohio.
rms conversation was long and earnest. I
told Mr.. Foster l wanted to make no bargain.
no agreement, that scorned the thought of it,
that had declined a reelection to Congress-
was voluntarily withdrawing from political
life, wanted no office that a President could
give me- and that my object was unselfish, but
desired written assurance from him that
the policy OF Mr.. Hayes would be as indicated,
intimate relations with Mr.. Hayes.
His reply to all this was frank, full, earnest
and satisfactory to my friend, Gen. Gordon,
and myself Indeed, he came to my room that
evening and on leaving said should have the
letters IN the morning. Next day he gave me
seutatives gave copies OF the letters to
Messrs. Levy, Ellis and Burke Of LOUISIANA.
and to Gen Mcbride of South Carolina with
authority to use them whenever they pleased.
When saw that the Democratic victory 20
fairly won was lost, my deepest concern was
for my suffering Southern countrymen. To
contribute to their deliverance from bondage
was the passionate ASPIRATION of the heart.
Had believed that the policy of Hayes, if
inaugurated, would not relieve them from the
hateful and unrepnblcan supervision by the
army aud further plnndering and oppression by
men alien to them IN birth aud sympathies I
should never have voted as 1 did. Hon. Chas
roster secured the Inauguration of the Presi-
dent. But for his speeches and these letters
the result would never have been reached.
Inc conversation and contents of the letters
were made known to many. The confidence of
thu Democrats in him and his authorization to
say what he did composed the representatives
and caused them to remain mistaken in doing
what they believed was right amid the storm
that was raging about them, and in ia &c of the
earnest remoDstrance of their constituents If
few had faltered the panic would have been
general, the work of the commission would
nave been fruitless and before this time in nv
opinion hurricane of war would have been
sweeping over the land. do not understand
nor do | appreciate the delay of President
Hayes. He ought not to hesitate. The whole
country expected this great and good work at
his hands. Passionate men are heaping in
vestiyes on the heads of those Democrats who
voted to stand by the electoral bill.
This pains me, but causes no regret for NV
action. In conclusion Twill say that have
full faith in the falfllment of the assurances
contained in the letters of Messrs. Foster and
Matthews. They are honorable men and can
not believe they would attempt deliberate de-
ception. They are the intimate friends of the
President, they know his views and expressed
them in these letters. An honest construction
OF their language means that the autonomy of
Louisiana and South Carolina shall be restored
1t is impossible that the President under all the
circumstances in view of his own utterance
and the promises of his friends, can refuse al
once to make Louisiana and South Carolina as
Ohio, and have the flag float over states not
provinces, over freemen not subjects. If done
the peace and prosperity of the republic will be
secured. If not done the whole responsibility
for the consequences, whatever they may be-
will rest upon President Hayes
(Signed) JNo. Young BROWN.
The Letters.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Washington, d. c.. Feb. 26.
Gentlemen Referring to the conversation
had with you yesterday in which Gov. Hayes
policy to the status of certain Southern states