The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-04-05

CORES >ponlrncc or Cincinnati Enquirer.
LOUISVILLE, March 2S.-The Agent
of the Associated Press obtained an
interview with Hon. John Young
Brown, of Kentucky, who says:
Herewith 1 publish the letters OF
Hons. Charles Foster and Stanley
Matthews, addressed to Hon. John B.
Gordon and myself The circumstan-
ces attending their origin are, in brief,
as follows:
On the 10Th of February last l sent
Page from the House of Representa-
tives to the Senate Chamber for my
distinguished friend, General Gordon,
and he came over in few minutes. l
told him 1 wanted an interview with
Hon. Charles Foster, at which desir
ed his presence. l outlined to Gener-
al Gordon what l in,cnded to say to
Mr.. Foster, aud he said he would with
pleasure accompany me. We found
Mr.. Foster in the room of the Com
mittee on Appropriations. No one
else was present during the interview.
WHAT BROWN SAID TO FOSTER.
told Mr.. Foster that had, as he
knew, been voting against all dilatory
motions; had in speech advocated
the inflexible execution of theElector-
al Bill had stated in Democratic
caucus that 1 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 obligations
of honor TO stand by the result, bitter
as it was, feeling that the situation
was not chargeable to the Electoral
Bill, but to the majority of the Com
mission whom we had agree | to trust !;
told him l had received dispatches
and letters from home. from cherished
and trusted friends, conveying most
emphatic remonstrances against my
course but that with my ,nvictions
about the question, if petition.signed
by every voter in my District, should
be cent to me, requesting me to sup
port the dilatory motions, it would
not by hair alter my purpose. !
said, further, to him that there was
but one thing which would change me.
and it was, if l thought that by voting
to complete the count-which was to
result in the Inauguration of Mr..
Hayes-I would be aiding, directly or
indirectly, in perpetuatlng the usur-
pations of Packard and Chamberlain
in the States of Louisiana and South
Carolina, l would reverse my action,
and do my very uttermost to de-
feat the execution of the bill, re
gardless of consequences calanitoue
to the country, as L believed the.
would he.
furthermore told him that if l
changed my position [ knew ~Of sever
al prominent gentlemen who would
join Ge and if at that critical hour,
when the daily and hightly scenes
sur passing by far in wild excitement
and violence any thing ever witnessed
in the legislative history of the coun-
ty-lhe line of the Democrats who
were voting to execute the law should
be broken. it would result in stam-
pede among them, and Mr.. Hayes
would no more be the President than
he (Foster) would be.
Foster said he believed this. l have
the highest respect for Charles Eoster.
| believe him to be an honorable gen.
tleman, and told him it was my coh
fidence in him that had brought me to
him. He represented the District OF
Mr.. Hayes. He had just made man.
ly and patriotic speech, in which he
said that Under Hayes,i inaugurated
the flag shall float over States, moi
provinces over freemen, not subjects.
1 referred to this speech, and told him
that had come to request of hin
written assurances that it Hayes was
inaugurated he would restore home
rule in the States of Louisiana anC
South Carolina; that the people o
these States should control their owl
affairs in their own way, as free from
any intervention by the Federal auth
critics as the State of Ono.
This conversation WAS long anf
earnest. l told Mr.. Foster that 3.
wanted to make no bargain, no agree
ment-ihat scorned the thought of it
that l had declined a reelection I,
Congress; was voluntarily withdraw
ing from political life !; wanted no of
iice that President could give me
and that my object was unselfish, bu
desired written assurance from hin
that the policy of Mr.. Hayes would b
as indicated, ,and from him specialiy,b
reason of his very intimate relation
with Mr.. Hayes.
WHAT FOSTER SAID TO BROWN.
His reply to all this was frank, full
earnest and satisfactory to my friend
General CT don, and myself. Indeed
Mr.. Foster said he had in his pocket
letter just received from Mr.. Haye:
thanking him ior the speech to whic
l have alluded, and indorsing it. IL
offered this letter to General Gordo
aud myself to read, but we decline
it. He agreed to give me the desire
letter, and said he would also reques
Hon. Stanley Matthews TO sign it. ii
promised 10 meet me that nis ht at III
rooms. lie came about midnight, an
said that by reason of his interview
with General Gordon and myself, i
: had that evening procured meetin
n of some gentlemen from Louisiar
4 and South Carolina at Wormley's Ii,
q tel, at which also Hon. Henry Waite
1 son was present, and at the couclusiO
Y of the conference these gentlemen ha
z expressed great satisfaction at VIII
had been said to them. On leaving