The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-03-29
The Foster and Matthews Com.
pact.

CLEVELAND, March 2S.--The ReyisW
Of Fostoria, o., will tomorrow contain
the following interview with the Hon.
Chas. Foster:
Reporter--lIave you anything you can
say relative to the alleged compact be.
tween yourself and Stanley Matthews on
the one part and certain other gentleman
on the other part2
Mr.. Foster-So far rs any compact /,
concerned, there is nothing Of it. During
the final hours oi the count, under the elec.
toral bill, several Southern gentlemen
who were oposing the lIibusiers were
solicitouS that they should have definite
assurances from Hayes as to his South.
ern policy. An informal meeting was
arranged at which there were present, as
the friends Of Hayes, Messrs. Sher.
man, Garfield, Dennison, Matthews
and myself. The object was sim.
ply to arrive at a better un.
deFstanding in regard to the policy Of
the incoming President. They, on their
part, did not claim that the assurance
they asked was to determine their action
as 10 the carrying out of tho provisions
Of the Electoral bill bnt that they desired
them Us guarantee to their people that
they acted in good faith. To this end
they desired Hayes to give them only
such guarantees as he had already given
his own friends. In reply it was slated
BY us that 1t would be improper and in.
delicate al this time for Hayes to give
any assurances foreshadowing his policy,
but We felt fully justified in saying from
our own knowledge Of the views OF Gov.
Hayes that his policy would be to favor
local sell.governnent and home rule in
the South.
Rep.-You did not give any assurances
as coming from Hayes?
Mr.. E.-NOt directly, or as to them. we
simple stated our belief as to his colesc
based on the communications from con.
versations with him.
Rep.-Was any assurance given as to
the immediate and unconditional with.
drawal Of the troops from the Southern
States.
Mr.. F-Whatevcr may have been said
with regard to the withdrawal of the
troops, was simply in the nature OF be.
Lief that such would be the result OF the
policy which We believed the President
would adopt.
Rep.-You say there was no written
compact entered into.
Mr.. F,-There was no written compact
and all allegations to this effect, so far as
have any knowledge, aae the merest
moonshine.
Rep.-l see it stated that copy of the
compact was sent to Hayes, and that he
approved it. Have you any knowledge
Of any such?
Mr.. F.-Therc being no such compact.
it was impossible that Hayes should an.
prove or disapprovc Of IT. At least, |
know nothing OF such thing.
Rep.-l understand, then, that this
meeting was merely an informal one, in
which yourself and some other friends in
come degree in the confidence Of HAYES
made representations 10 these men as to
the pacific intentions OF the incoming
President toward their section, that tbey
were based on verbal and written commr.
nications you had with Governor Hayes,
but were not regarded in the nature Of a
compact to which he was pledged.
Mr.. F.GExactly. We had no authority
to make compact for Goyerno, HAYES
and we distinctly stated the indelicacv OF
making such a compact under the cir
cumstances.
Rep.-What about the letter written
to John Young Brown and Senator Cor.
don by Matthews and yourself?
Mr.. F,-That letter was the result OF A
conversation that had with Brown. in
which he asked some written assurance
for his future justification. He distinct.
ly stated that he did not ask this as a
condition OF carrying opt the provisions
Of the electoral bill, that he regarded
that as matter Of personal honor, and
that no power could coerce him 10 do
otherwise, than stand by the bill. Hel
asked that the paper be signed by Matth-
ews and myself, and be addressed to him
and Senator Gordon. Iexprepzed will
ingness to accedeto his wishes, and the
paper was prepared, signed and deliver.
ed. l have no reccollection of having
any conversation with Senator Gordon
on the subject OF the writing Of this let.
ter.
Reporter--What was the nature of
that letter?
Mr.. FIT was statement by Mr..
Matthews and myself as to what we be.
lieved would-b be the policy OF the Pre,i.
dent in dealing with the Southern ques.
tion. Il contained nothing more than
was said in my house on the subject. We
did not retain copy Of the letter, and | |
cannot give its exact contents.
Reporter--What is your opinion as to
the object Of the publication Of false re.
ports regarding this matter.
Mr.. Fits object is evidently to
weaken and cripple the Administration
in dealing with this Southern question,
and to disatIect the Southerners who are
working to uphold nnd sustain tho
President.
Crop Reports.
In