The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-29
RETURNING BOARD HAYES'S|
PROMISES.
Made by His Brother-in-Law
Matthews and Nearest
Friend Foster.
They Spoke for Hayes and
Gave Written Assurances
which Have not
Been Kept.
Here They Are--Read Them,

5aSG5 400y SaEe--AedO u50y
LOUISVILLE, March 28.-The Courier
Journal, tomorrow will publish an in
terview with Hon. j. Y. Brown of Ken
lucky who says:
Herewith | publish the letters of Hon,
Charles Foster aud Hon. Stanley Mat
thews addressed to Hon. Jno B. Gordon
and myself. The circumstances attending
their origin are in substance as follows:
On the 26th of February had an inter-
view with Hon Charles Foster in which |
said had come to request OF him written
assurances that if Hayes was inaugurated
he would restore home rule in the states of
Louisiana and South Carolina; that the
people of those states should control their
own affairs in their own way as free from any
intervention by Federal authorities as the
state of Ohio | told Mr.. Foster that
wanted to make no bargain, no agreement;
that | scorned the thought of it; that |
had declined reelection to congress, was
voluntarily withdrawing from political
life, wanted no Office that the president
could give me, and that my object was
unselfsh; but desired written assurance
from him that the policy of Mr.. Hayes
would be as indicated, and from him
specially by reason Of his very intimate re-
lations with Mr. Hayes His reply to ali
this was frank, full, earnest and salts
factoy to my friend, Gen. Gordon and my
self Indeed Mr. Foster said he had in
his pocket letter just received from Mr.
Hayes, thanking him for the speech he
had recently made. He offered this letter
to Gen. Gordon and myselfto read, but
we declined 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 lie came about midnight; said
| that by reason of his interview with Gen.
Gordon and myself he had that evening
procured meeting of some gentlemen Il
Iley's Hotel, at which also Hon. Henry
| Watterson was present, and at the con
clusion of the conference these genteme en-
had expressed great satisfaction It
what had been said to them
Ion leaving he remarked that
should have the letters next morning. Cn
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 il
could be made fuller and stronger, but
that from the honorable men who gave ii
IN good faith, it was sufficient. In an hou,
| went to his desk and he delivered me {
letter signed by himself and Matthews.
observed that it was in different handwrit
ing, read it hastily and remark to hin
! that it contained some generaHties that
did not like He replied that Mr. Matthew
, had rewritten it, and added, Brown, it i
intended to cover the whole case, and [ cal
promise you there will be no doubt abou
the fulfllment of all assurances [ hav
given you
| noticed the original letter on his desl
: and said, Sign this also?' He replied
Certainly, with pleasure AS | wa
leaving he called me back and told IN
Z that President Grant would, as soon a
: the count was completed, issue certai
/ orders to Gen. Augur in Louisiana, II
{ requested me not to mention this fact fo
several days, but expressly gave me per
r. mission to make any use of the letters
II might desire, The order referred to Wa
e issued by President Grant. | gave copit
$ of the letters to Messrs. Levy, Ellis an
e Burke of Louisiana, and to Gen. nj.
Butler Of South Carolina, with authorii
to use them whene yer they pleased.
a. The conversation and contents of th
letters were made known to many. Tt
D. confidence of Democrats in him. and in b
authorization to say what he did compose
representatives and caused them to r
Ae main unshaken to do what they thoug
was right amid the storm that was ragiI
r around them, and in the face of the ear
oi est remonstrauce of their constituents.
l.S few had faltered, the panic would ha
lt been general, the work of the commissi
ne would have been fruitless, and before tt
time, in my opinion, hurricane of W
" would have been sweeping over our "a
rs land. Hope deferred has sickened t
s'ss hearts Of the southern men. dor
nc understand, nor do | appreciate, t
OF delay of President Hayes. He oug
lal not to hesitate. The whole count
no expected this great and good work at
re- hands. 1t is impossible that the preside
3 under all the circumstances. in view of
u own utterances, and the promises of
49, friends, can refuse at once to make Lou
oe ana and South Carolina as free as Oh
ne and have the flag float over states,
Use provinces, over free men, not subjects
oi DONE the peace and prosperity of the
ict- public will be secured; if not done,
ne whole responsibility for the consequenC
whatever they may be. will rest upon p
ident Hayes, (Signed,)
ci- JOHN YoUNG Brown
THE LETTERS.
IL WAsHINeToN,D. c., Feb.
GENTLEMEN: EN:-Referring to a CONVEX