The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-03-29

lHe stanley MattneWS-F0Ster Agreement
There has been goo deal of talk ant
even threats among the Southern member
since the Cabinet decided to send commits
sion to Louisiana, concerning the existence
OF an agreement made on behalf of President
Hayes by Charles Foster and Stanley Mat
thews, OF Ohio. Ever since the decision oil
the Cabinet there has been whispering that
certain Southern representatives had in theil
possession a document which would force
Mr.. Hayes to recognize the gubernatorial
claims OF Nichols and Hampton; it was
limited at that it was a written dynamite
which would not appear well in print, and
which, if published, would show that the
South in refusing to join the Northern Dem
ocratic fiiibusters to defeat the count, had a
/ guarantee that by such policy they would
secure home rule for themselves.
Now the sum and substance of this Wri-
ting is the opinion in writing OF Stanley
Matthews and Mr.. Foster, that each believed
that President Hayes would see that the
rights OF the Southern people to self-govern-
ment would be respected. Both are warm
personal friends OF the President. enjoy his
confidence, and are generally well acquaint-
ed with his views on subjects OF public poll
cy. 1t appears that during the excitement
incident to the Electoral count, Mr.. Foster
made a speech in the House which was ac-
cepted as foreShadowing the Southern policy
OF President Hayes. The speech attracted
! considerable attention at the time. 1t
breathel the spirit OF moderation, reconcilia-
ton and pacification. A day or two after it
was delivered Mr.. Hayes wrote to Mr.. Foster
quite briefly, in which he said that he thank
ell him for the very delicate way in which
he had reelected his views on the floor of the
House, and that, had he the opportunity Mr..
Foster had, he would have made similar
eAunciation of his views. This letter Mr..
Foster showed to- quite q number of South
ern leaders, and it created considerable ex
citement. Meanwhile the Electoral! Com
mission had rendered Its decision in the
Oregon, case. and all chances Gov. Tilden
had previously had for attaining to the Presi-
dency had dissolved. There forthwith
cropped out feeling among the Democratic
members to antagonize the completion of
the count until after the 4th of March
through the interposition of dilatory mo-
tions. The Northern Democrats generally
favored the adoption OF that line of tactics,
and plead with their Southern friends to
unite with them to defeat the final declara-
ton OF the count. Frequent caucuses were
held, but there was such division of senti-
ment on the practcability of the movement
that it failed to be adopted as party meas
ure.
| All this time Mr.. Foster and Stanley Mat
thews were extremely solicitous to prevent
the ends OF those disposed to filibuster As
an argument to the Southern men that they
stood in their own light, Mr.. Foster author
ized the leaders of that section to announce
to their colleagues the endorsement Pres-
dent Hayes had given his (Foster's) concilia
tory speech. Taking the speech as the cue,
and the letter endorsing it, almost as mark
ed and defined line Of policy, General Cor
don, of Georgia, and other leaders advised
the Representatives from the South that it
was poor wisdom to defeat the count, mas
much as the outlook was that President
Hayes meant to pursue policy toward the
| South in such marked contrast to General
Grants that it might be for the good of their
section to accept the findlng of the Electoral
Commission and let the count go on.
Next General Goreon visited Foster and
asked him to give him some written assur-
ance, to show his colleagues that Governor
Hayes would pursue the policy indicated in
MS (Foster's) speech. Accordingly Stanley
Matthews drew up a paper, covering one
sheet OF letter paper, in effect that from his
personal knowledge Of Governor Hayes
opinion on the Southern question, he felt he
could assure the Southern representatives
that the policy of President HAYES would be
o'sS'' e'o WEN ltdu W lfOIIlC RUE
in the South. This paper Matthews and Eos
ter signed and gave it to General Gordon.
1t was not attested to by any others. but
several leading Republicans to whom it was
shown endorsed it. This was the only agree
ment or instrument OF any kind ever given.
The Southern men have for week been
proclailning rather loudly that the President
had not kept faith with them. The truth is
he never intimated to them what he would
or would not do What probably led them
to believe that the Foster Matthews agree
ment was made with any reference to
pledge on his part was the letter he wrote
Alr. Foster, thanking him for giving express
sion to his views on the floor OF the House,
There is no doubt but that tile President. /
I'M his own good time and own way, means
attno distant day to restore order and civil
goEernmeAss in the South that he will keep
tife pledge made with the whole country in |
hls inaugural. He does not evidently pro-
pose however, to withdraw the troops from
the State Houses of the disputed govern
ments in such "a precpitate manner as to
give the action the look Of their having been |
driven ont. If the Southern men who are
here would go quietly home and learn a lit
tie patience it would be much better for
their section than hanging around hotel lob
bies speaking of a violated agreement to
which the President never was party.
The following extract taken from speech |
Of Stanley Matthews delivered in Cincinnati |
on Saturday night is interesting reading in |
connection with this subject:
s'And now, my friends, independent of |
the question of personal obligation to which
| have alluded as operating as motive on
the part OF the Southern Democrats, there
was another expectation in their minds which
generally influenced their conduct--the expec
tation that sfser all it would OF be bad
thing for the South to have Hayes President;
that perhaps they had made mistake in not
thus previously assist ting him in the election.
At any rate, it was the expectation that his
Inauguration would be the Inauguration for
them of new cra-an era when peace should
be substituted for arms, Cancellation should
be adopted instead of words of repulsion:
when an effort should be made to bind the
Union together, not merely by bonds of law
and force, but by means OF interest and
kindness and friendship and fellowship. 1t
was that the dove of peace 1.-THE speaker
pointing to the dove over his headl should
spread its white wings, and, with the olive
branch borne from the North to the South,
furnish to them the emblem and the pledge
OF peace, and honest good local sef-govern-
ment and prosperity. Applause. They
founded these expectations On the letters Of
acceptation OF President Hayes and his as
in his inaugural 81 oshington