The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-05
Alleged Agreement About the Electoral
Count


The Democratic press has been indus
triously engaged in endeavoring to create
the impression that the friends OF President
Hayes had made bargain with Southern
Representatives in Congress, to the effect
that If they would discourage filibustering in
the electoral count, the President, on COM
ing into office, would Withdraw the troops
from South Carolina and Louisiana. 1t was
further stated that written obligation to
that effect had been given by Hons. Stanley
Matthews and Charles Foster, and that it
was in the possession Of a Southern member
of Congress, and its publication would be
very damaging to the President and his
friends.
When this statement was given out, the
demand was made by the Republican press
for the letters said to have been written.
Neither Mr.. Matthews nor Mr.. Foster had
copy of the letter, but denied that any such
construction could be placed upon the notes
they had written. Senator Gordon and J ohm
Young Brown also said that the President
was no party to any agreement, and that
what did pass betweens the gentlemen in
question was upon their own authority
After considerable discussion of the proba-
bic phraseology of the letters, Mr.. Brown
himself. having the original papers, gave
them to the public, with a long explanation
OF the circumstances attending the meeting.
and the influences that operated upon him.
We omit the publication of Mr.. Browns let
ter, because it places him in contradictory
positions. He first states that he felt in
honor bound to stand by the law creating
the Electoral Commission, and to sustain its
legitimate operation, and follows this up
with the declaration that had he not been
impressed with the belief that immediate re-
lief was to have been given to South Caro-
lima and Louisiana by the withdrawal of the
troops. he would have encouraged filibuster-
ing to defeat the contamination of the count.
We give the statement of Hon. Charles
Foster OF the circumstances connected with
the letters, and the letters themselves
CLEVELAND, o., March 2S.-The Repiey
view with Hon. Charles Foster, in which
that gentleman says in regard to the COM
pact between the Hon. Stanley Matthews
and himself on the one part, and certain
Southern gentlemen on the other, there is
nothing IN it. During the final hours of the
count under the electoral BILL several South
erh gentlemen who were opposing the fill
clustering movement were soicitous tina.
they should have definite assurances from
President Hayes as to his Southern policy.
An informal meeting was arranged, at
which were present as friends of Gov. Hayes
Messrs. Sherman, Garfield, Dennison, Mat
thews and myself. The object of the meet
ing was simply to arrive at a better under
standing in regard to the policy of the in
coming administration. They, on their part.
dld not claim that the assurances they asked
Tor were to determine their action as to the
carrying out OF the provisions of the electo-
raj bill, but that they desired them as q
guarantee to their people that they acted in
good faith. For this end they desired that
Mr.: Hayes give to them only such guarantees
as he had already given to his own friends.
In reply it was stated by us that it would
De improper and indicate at this time Tor
hayes to give any assurances foreshadowing
his policy, but that we felt fully justified in
stating from our knowledge Of the views and
intentions OF Hayes that his policy would be
To favor local self-government and homt, rule
in the South. We gave no assurances as
coming directly from Hayes. We simply
stated our belief as to his course, based upon
communications from and conversations with
MIN. Whatever may have been said with re-
gard 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. There was no
written compact entered into, and the ale
cations to this effect, so far as [ have any
knowledge, are the merest moonshine. There
Delng no compact, it is simply impossible
that Hayes should approve or disap prove of
it. AT least know nothing of such thing.
We had no authority to make compact
binding Hayes, and we distinctly stated the
improperly and indelicacy of making such
compact at that time and under the crcunl-
stances. The letter written 20 JOHN Young
Brown aud Senator Gordon was the result Of
conversation had with Brown, in which
he asked for a written assurance for his fu-
ture Justification. He distinctly stated that
he did not ask this as a condition of carving
out the provisions of the electoral bill that
lie regarded that as a matter of personal
honor, and that no power could coerce him
to do otherwise than faithfully stand by the
provisions of the bill. He asked that paper
be signed by Matthews and myself, and be
addressed to him and Senator Gordon. l
expressed a willingness to accede to his
wishes, and paper was prepared, signed
and delivered.
have no recollection Of having any con-
versation with Senator Gordon OH the SUBJ
ject OF writing this letter. The letter was
statement by Matthews and myself as to
what we believed would be the policy of
President N flnali with tt,a
ern question. 1t contained nothing more
than was contained in my speech on the
subject. We did not retain copy of the
letter, and cannot give its exact contents.
The object of the publication of false reports
regarding this matter is evidently to weaken
and cripple the administration in dealing
with the Southern question, and to disaffect
southern men who were working in good
faith to uphold and sustain the President. /
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-The following
are the letters of the pledges that passed be-
tween Stanley Matthews and Charles Foster
to the Southern Representatives
Washington City, d. c., Feb. ~, 1s77.-
In an Interview with the President this
morning, in the course Of conversation on
the subject OF Louisiana affairs, he stated to
me that as soon as the Presidential count
was finished and the result officially de-
clared, it was his intention to notify Gen.
Augur by telegraph that the existing mill
tary orders, issued for the purpose of pre-
serving the status quo of the political situa-
ton, will be rescinGed except SO far as sim
ply to require the use of troops when neces-
sary to the preservation of the public peace.
He authorized me to communicate this de-
claration to Mr.. Ellis, of the Louisiana dele
CATION. STANLEY MATTHEWS.
The within was handed to us by Hon.
Stanley Matthews, at the Capitol building in
Washington, in the office of the clerk of the
Supreme Court, on the 9th Of February,
1877:
TO William N. Levy, E. John Ellis
Washington, D. c., Feb. 81, 1S77.-To
Hon. Senator Gordon and Hon. j. Young
Brown: Gentlemen-Referrin to the COIL
versation which we had upnn Southern af-
fairs, we desire to state that from our knOwl
edge OF Gov. Hayes and Of his views and
professed policy towards the South, we feel
authorized to assure you in the strongest
possible manner that he will give to the
States OF the South the government OF their
choice, in accordance with the Constitution
and laws of the United States, and that it is
our most earnest desire and wish that he
should do SO, in accordance with the views
expressed in his letter of acceptance.
Your obedient servant,
STANLEY MATTHEW'S.
Washington, February ~, 1S77.-To Hon.
J. Gordon and J. Young BroWn-Gentle-