River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-04-05
THE PRESIDENTIAL COUNT.
The Pledges Made for President Hayes.


John Young Brown of Kentucky has
by consent of the writer's made public the let
tiers OF Stanley Matthews and Chas. G.. Foster
of Ohio, whereby fllibustering was prevented
and the Presidential count completed. The
following are extracts from Browns letter, ex-
planning how the letters came to be written:
On the Goth OF February last sent page
from the House of Representatives to the Sem
ate Chamber for my distinguished friend,
General Gordon, and he came over in few
minutes. told him that wanted an inter-
view with Hon. Charles Foster, at which de-
sired his presence. | outlined to General
Gordon what | intended to say to Mr.. Foster,
and he said he would with pleasure accom-
pany me. We found Mr.. Foster in the room
OF the committee on appropriations. No one
else was present during the interview. told
Mr. Foster that had, as he knew, been vOt-
ing against all dilatOry motions; had in a
speech advocated the Infexible execution of
the electoral bill had stated in the Demo-
cratic caucus that would so vote if were the
only man from the South to do so; that the
vote was approved by my judgment that felt
under the obligations OF hOnOrtO stand by the
result, bitter as 1t was, feeling that the situa-
ton was not chargeable to the electoral bill,
but 10 the majority of the commission, whom
we had agreed to trust. told him had re-
ceived dispatches and letters from cherished
and trusted friends, conveying most emphat-
ic remOnstrance against my course, but that,
with my convictions about the question, il a
petition signed by every voter in my district
should be sent to me requesting me to sup
port the dilatory motions, it would not by a
hair alter my purpose. | said TO him that
there was but one thing which would change
me, and il was if ~ .ght by voting to COM
plete the count was to result in the in
auguration OF Mr.. Aayes, would be aiding,
directly or indirectly, in perpetuating the
usurpations of Pao 1ard and Chamberlain in
the States OF Louisiana and South Carolina,
would reverse my action, and do my very
utmost to defeat the execution OF the bill re-
gardleSs of consequences, calamitOus to the
country as believed they would be.
THE result of this interview was that Fos-
/ ter and other Republicans conferred together
and the next morning Foster brought him an
! unsigned letter as he Brown insisted on
written pledges. Brown made some changes
| in the draft and his letter cOntinues;l
I, In an hour l went TO his desk and he de-
livered me letter signed by himself and
Matthews. l observed that it was in differ
ent handwriting, read 1t hastily, and remark
/ ed that ii contained some generalities | did
not like. He replied that Mr.. Mathews had
| rewritten il, and added, "Brown, IL is in
tended to cover the whole case, and l can
promise you there will be no doubt about the
fulfllment of all the assurances have given
| yOu." Noticed the original letter on his
| desk, and said, "sign this also" and he re-
| piled, Certainly, with pleasure" As | was
/ leaving he called me back and told me that
/ President Grant would, as soon as the count
was completed, issue a certain order
/ 10 General Augur in Louisiana. He re-
Quested me not 10 mention this TACT for sew
ersl days, but expressly gave me permission
/ TO make any use az the letters / might desire.
/ The order referred to was issued by President
Grant. gave copies OF the letters to Messrs.
Levy, Kills and Burke, OF Louisiana, 62d 10
General NJ. c. Butler, Of South Carolina, with
/ authority TO use them whenever they pleased.
When | saw that the Democratic victory so
| 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 nv heart.
Had believed that the policy OF Hayes it in
augurated, would not relieve them from hate
tn and unrepublican supervision by thearmy,
and the further plundering and oppression by
men alien to them in birth and sympathies, /
should never have voted as did. Hon. Charles
Foster secured the Inauguration OF President
Hayes.
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
Democrats in HIM and in his authorization TO
say what he did, composed the representa-
tives and caused them to remain mistaken to
do what they thought was right amid the
storm that was raging around them, and in
the face % the earnest circumstances of their
constituents. II a few had faltered the panic
would have keen general; the work Of the