New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-21

General Butler asked the witness 70 give statement
memoranda which he had failed to bring With HIM he
would hand them in 10 the committee.
rso ~ nat scb Win the con-
sent Of Mr. Matthews, handed to Mr. Gibson, member
Of Congress from Louisiana again met Mr. MATTHEW'S
The correspondence and memoranda Of agreement, as
already presented before the committee and published
in the report OF its proceedings read by direction
of General Butler, Mr. hiseOck objected. but their
itude should be allowed and that really 1t took about as
long to object as 10 read the dOeumeunL
Mr. Hiscock-well, want TO have some amusement
out Of tins thing, and turning 70 General Butler) you
seem 10 be having IL all
THE PLEDGES OF TUE NICHOLS GOVERNMENT.
Major Burke-The agreement was made on the 10th,
and the memoranda were made on the 18TH
General Butler read from the agreement as pnbshed
waf aac pedSe iye1 an bebaII Of he Nichols
eminent was designed TO secure.
The witness said that the agreement not TO deprive
cOlOred people OF their rights made solely for the
benefit OF northern Republicans who believed that the
Democratic rule. He said " do not know that they
had been so deprived. We sought 70 give assurances
that there would be better ate Government under
the Democrats than under the Republicans"
General Bater-Then you promised tiat you would a
would not prosecute the eolored men A-Well, you
may put what construction you please upon IL.
General Buter-PardOn me yOn we're giving great
price for the State Government; want TO know what
yon were paying ALThe agreement was fof the pur1
also the purpose Of aseeranng what tho deposition
would be ON the part Of Mr. Hayes toward our people
the pledge not 70 persecute citizens for past POLITICAL
offences
Witness-This was given for tho same purpose the
guarantees 70 the eoored people. Nothing Was SAID
about the members OF the Returning Board. did not
understand 10 20 give immunity for crime do not think
the OF the Returning Board would have been
protected by H. have sau to any person that
there was an attempt TO get In the Returning Board by
name.
General ButlerNow f. there word in that agree:
ment WGch is not In the Constitution OF the state OF
Louisiana and Of the other States A-Aud OF the party
platform.
thews In order 20 strengthen his hands in the overthrow
Of the Republican state Government except what you
were already pledged TO Ave didn't recognize that
there was any Republican State Government IN Louls
ana.
Mr.. Potter-Can it giving the Nichols government
General BniicT-Can il what you Will letting the
Alt was simply agreed that the troops should be with
drawn.
paper that you would not oppose the further counting
IN Of Hayesl Ave had no control
but will ask IL again. Now didn't you agree, In some
form OF words UNDERSTANDING in addit thls that
opposition 20 tue counting IN OF Hayesi Ave dad ae-
quiesce In Withdrawing opposition 10 Hayes after tue
Democratic party had determined TO iet tue count
OF don't ask You that. I assume that 1t was be
didn't you agree In some way, % the best 81 your ab,
TO have the Democratic party cease It's opposition To the
extent
Oil don't AJAX you how much. Did you agree. in some
10
ua 20 tho nuCnce OF your party friends aud yOut-
SELF far could control them, 10 prevent Oppos
meptY Won see can't I've thrown of the rack Before
God aud your oath h not sol Al shall state tho
assure these people that We would Influence,
far rs IL could 20. 70 remove opposition to tine hna
counting m OF Hayes.
No Potter-ODrositon Of the people to tho electoral
count Ayes, SIR
zens YOU carried out your agreement We did thal as
soon got advees from General Grant that,
the count completed, the troops would be with
eminent.
these points % Mr. Matthew's was whAI Whom did
you see next upon this suhjecti Ado you speak Of
o-Ycs. A.-Tne substance OF Il was this said 10
Mr.. Matthews that while were assured as 10 tue in
tended policy OF Mr.. Hayes toward Louisiana We felt
tnat be wOuld be unable 20 carry out sueh pohcy he
was opposed by The strong leaders OF the Republican
party aud that We feared the strong Republican leaders
like 5henan. Garfield, aOrtOn snd others, more than
we did Mr.. Hayes that felt that II hr. Hayes Was
inclined 10 carry out such policy he would De unable To
do 50 IN the Of the opposition Of HE united party
therefore that The guarantees ana assurances that
would enabled 10 hold up Ar. Hnyess hands IN IN
auguratmg and carrying out such pOlcy. but u bis
cured, nud without the Cabinet 10 was impossible 10
carry his policy Mr.. Matthews said that he could
speak those people, hat that be could say 60 his
party associates tha should seek 20 pot their party
in prr-meaning to eopardize their Presidential can
dIdate.
Q@-Preyent the count A.-Prevent the count yes.
ODD Won see before the 18th of February, other
strong party the Republican side except Stanley
Matthews, before you put IA THIS mtmOiandumt Al
had met a number OF Leading meh OF tnc Republican
parry Others Senator Cameron, then Secretary OF
War. and SIR Howe.
this memorandum Alt was not communicated, eX-
cept that general assurances were given Ia converse
oJust assdrances tnat you would not break the law
there any conversation Of the same nature as that
Any conversation looking toward the establishment OIL
the Nichols Government
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. CAMERON.
Q-Yes, the same proposition you made 90 Mr. Mat
thewsf A-The substance OF this proposition given
to different Republicans Tccollect an interview with
Mr.. Cameron, IN which substantially went over the
safne ground.
Q-But have you put the proposition in the same man
ner yOu put it 70 Mr. Matthews prior 10 the lSn A.
General n you press answer shall have 10 ave t.
Q-I do. Al had somewhat similar consultation
with MI. Cameron.
Q-fho younger or older Of that name : A.-The
Younger OF that name,
Q-You mean the Secretary Of warl Ayes, air.
Mr. But here asked question relating 10 the inter
view with Mr. Cameron, bat the witness decllued 90
matter and did nos feel az liberty 70 disclose H. Cen
erl Butler insisted upon IN answer and said that he did
questions that not proper and that he
should require an answer MAJOR Burke appealed TO the
chairman who, although he aeknoyledged that there
10 answer, did not consider ths question an Improper
one, and Thought that It ought to DO answered.
hours IN which 10 consider the question: and the best
form In which the answer should be made so as TO eou-
ion or otherwise. General Butler readily assented TO
tails
The question being waived for time General Butler
asked the witness name any other person 10 whom
ms communicated the agreement bargain between
him. as The agent OF the Democrats state government
and the Administration, PRIOR 10 tie 18th U February
The witness, after brief pause. replied: There
were only two phases OF the negotiation; the
which might be called the Cameron and the other the
Matthews. IL only told TO other Republicans gen
era Informal way. After the 18th of February, and be-
fore the 23d. substantially the same agreement
talked OF with Mr.. Foster and with other Republicans,
In the form OF DTODORltlOu with 4
cept already stated. William T. Horne
qaintanco whom had known for ten fifteen years;
10 was employed In OF the Departments at WASH
ngtOn-a Southern Republican who prOiessed 20 be In
teresed In my ~ establishing the Nichols gov
ernment IL could be done without injury
Republican party. He served a means OF commune
cation between me and Governor Thomas A. Young OF