The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-30


Adjourned. bl LII
what Charles Foster and John Young
Brown Say IA to Their Correspond.
cnce.
Mr.. Foster said to an interviewer:
An informal meeting was arranged, at
which were present, as friends Of Hayes,
Messrs. Sherman, Garfield. Dennison. Mat
thews, and myself. The object OF the meet.
ing was simply to arrive at better under
standing in regard to the policy OF the In
| coming Administration. They, on their
part, did not claim that the assurances they
| asked for were TO determine their action rs
| 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. 10 this end they desired
that Hayes give to them only such guaran-
tees rs he had already given to his own
| friends. ... .....-.
In reply 1t was stated by us that it would
| he improper and indicate ut this time Tor
Hayes to give any assurances foreshadoWlng
his policy, but that we felt justified in sta
ting, from our knowledge OF the views and
intentions of Hayes, that his policy would
be to favor local self-government and home
rule in the South. We gave
| NO ASSURANCES AS COMING DIRECTLY FROM.
| ...s HAYES. >
| We simply stated our belief rs to his course
| based upon communications from and con-
versations with him. Whatever may have
been said with regard to the withdrawal Of
troops was simply in the nature Of belief
that such would be the result OF the policy
which we believed the President would
adopt.
| MR.. BROWN
writes as follows to the Courier-Journdl:
said further to him [Foster] that there
was but one thing which would change me,
and it was il thought that, by voting
tto complete the count which was to result
in the inauguration Of Mr.. Hayes. l would
be aiding directly or indirectly in perpetu-
ating
THE usrRPArIoNs OF PACKARD AND CHAMBER
LAIN
in the States Of Louisiana and South Caro-
lima, I would reverse my action and do my
very utmost to defeat the execution OF the
bill, regardless OF consequences, calalnitouS
to the country as believed they would be.
furthermore told him that il I'chan ged
nv position knew Of several prominent
gentlemen who would join me, and ii at
that critical hour, when the daily and
nightly scenes, SURPRISING by far ir wild
excitement and violence anything ever wit
messed in the legislative history OF the
country, the line OF the Democrats who were
voting to execute the law should be broken,
it would result in stampede among
them and Mr.. Hayes would no more be the
President than he (FoSter) would be. Eos
ter said he believed this. I have the highest
respect for Charles Foster. believe him
to be an honorable gentleman, and told
him that it was my confidence in him that
had brought me to him. He represented
the district OF Mr.. Hayes. He had Just
made manly and patriotic speech, in which
he had said that under Hayes, II inauSu-
rated. the flag shall float over States, not
provinces over freemen. not subjects.
referred to this speech, and told him
had come to request OF him written assur-
ances that il Hayes was lnaugurated be
would restore home-rulc in the States Of
Louisiana and South Carolina; that the peo-
pie 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. This conversation was
long and earnest. | told Mr.. Foster that
wanted to make no bargain. no agreement:
that I scorned the thought OF it; that I had
declined reelection to Congress, was
voluntarily withdrawing from political lie,
wanted no office that President could
give me, and that my object was unself-
| ish, but desired a written assurance from
him that the policy of Mr.. Hayes would be
as indicated, and from him especially by
reason OF his very intimate relations with
Mr. Hayes. His renly to all this was frank
full, earnest, and satisfactory to my friend
General Gordon) and myself. Indeed, Mr.
Foster said he had in his pocket letter
| ii pc
MIN for the speech to which have alluded,
and endorsing it. He offered this letter to
General Gordon and myself to read, but
we declined it. He agreed to give me the
desired letter, and said he would also re-
quest Hon. Stanley Matthews to sign it. He
promised to meet me that night at my
rooms. BE came about midnight, and said,
| by reason of his interview with General
| Gordon and myself, lie had that evening
procured meeting OF some gentlemen from
| Louisiana and South Carolina at Wormley' i
Hotel, at which also Hon. Henry Wattcrson
was present, and ut the conclusion OF the
conference these gentlemen had expressed
great satisfaction at what had been said to
them. On leaving he remarked that should
have the letters the next morning. .,-
On the next day he came TO my desk IN
the House Of Representatives and handed
ME an unsigned letter. read it, took my pen
and erased one paragraph: told him that it
could be made fuller and stronger, but that
from honorable men who gave it in good
faith it was sufficient. In an hour | went
to his desk and he delivered me letter
signed by himself and Matthews. I OBJ
served that 1t was In different haudwri-
ting, read it hastily, and remarked to him
that It contained some generalities did not
like He reDlpd that Mr. Matthews had
written it, and added Brown, it Is in
tended to cover the whole case, and can
promise you there will be no doubt about
the ful1ilment OF all the assurances I have
given YOU"
Had I believed that the policy of Mr.
Hayes, If inaugurated, would not relieve
them from hateful and unrcpubican super
vision by the army, and the further plum
derng and oppression by men alien to them
III birth and sympathtes, should never
have voted as did. Hon. Charles Foster
secured the Inauguration OF the President.
But for his speech and these letters the re-
suit would never have been reached The
conversation and contents OF the letter were
made known TO- many. The confidence Of the
Denlocl ats in him and in bis authorization
to say what he did composed representa-
tiYcs. and caused them to remain unshaken
in doing what they believed was right amid
the storm that was raging around them and
! in the face OF earnest remonstrances OF their
constituents. .. ~" t.:t. ..., g
| +, In conclusion, will say that have full
faith in the fulflment Of the assurance con-
tanned in the letters OF Messrs. Foster and
Matthews. They are honorable, men. /
cannot believe that they would attempt de-