The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-29
TIE ELECTORAL BARGAIN.
What Major Burke Has to Say
About 1t.
TRLDEN ACCUSED OF FALSE
HOOD.
An Absurd story About Senator
COnkisng.
The President Acquitted OF Cor
rupt Intrigue.
CHANDLER THINKS BURKE
EvADES THE QUESTION.

New YORK, Jan. 29.-Major Burke, in an
interview yesterday at New Orleans, defended
President Hayes and the Southern Democratic
Congressman from the current charges of party
mid city. He says nothing transpired in con-
nection with the count of the electoral votes
which could in any way Improperly compro-
mise President Aayes and the Southern Demo.
cratic Congressman. In answer to the charge
the Southern Congressman did rot act in good
falth with their party, he said the people of
Louisiana had expressed no favor for the cleo
toral bill. They regarded it as means of let
ting Tilden down easy. They had been led to
expect that Mr.. Tilden and the Democratic par
ty North would claim their rights, and if need
be, enforce them. Mr.. Pelton and the Til
den managers besought the Louisiana Congress-
men and Burke to urge the Nichols Legsla-
ture and our people to work up public sen5i-
ment in favor of the electoral bill. under the
belief that Tilden' 8 rights were secured 10y it,
and we did so at their solicitations and upon
their representations. Mr.. Tilden's declara-
tor, on his dedarture for Europe, that he had
always disapproved of the electoral bill, came
from him with bad grace. At the caucus of
Feb. IL, We simply desired to know If the party
had any comprehensive plan of policy looking
to Mr.. Tilden's inauguration if not, and if
they should determine to acquiesce in the de-
ceion of the commission, we insisted that the
party should commit the Republicans to the
Wlthdrawal OF the troops: in Louisiana and
South Carolina before yielding Instead of
making any effort to save Louisiana and South
Carolina, the caucus agreed to acquiesce in the
decision of the electoral commission, and prac-
tically abandoned Louisiana and South Caro-
lima.
Regarding the counting of the vote, he said
that Mr. Tilden's manager in Washington had
schemes for defeating the count in the Senate,
and for holding a new election under the lead
OF Senator Conkling, but the party had never
| authorized them. know positively be said,
| that Senator Couklirg had speech all prepar-
| ed in favor of throwing out the vote of Lonis-
| lana. in which event he was to have been elect
| ed President of the Senate and would have be-
| came President of the United States, pending
| the new election, which would have taken pl ace
| year afterward. Mr.. Tilden's friends were
| satisfied with this arrangement, because thew
thought with his wounds still bleeding, he
| would have no trouble In securing the Demo-
| cratic nomination; and Senator Conklipg
| doubtless thought that with the control of the
patronage, he would easily shelve General
Hayes and become the Republican candidate.
What prevented an attempt to carry out this
programme, was the distrust felt by Conkling's
adherents on the Republican side. of the carpet
bag Senators from the Southern States. They
were all ready enough to slaughter Hayes, be.
cause they had become alarmed at some of his
utterances and at President Grants declara-
| tons; but it was feared that instead of support
ing Conkling, they might vote for Morton, as
| they probably would have done.
Major Burke further said he never had an
| agreement signed by Stanley Matthews Charles
Foster or anybody else. Leading Southerners
know that Matthews and Foster were upiustly
assailed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.-Wm. E. Chandler
being asked what explanation he had to make
to Major Burke's denial, said: sit has never
been charged that the written memorandum
a1thenticating the alleged bargain made at the
Wormley hotel conference of Feb rs, was
signed by Stanley Matthews or Charles Foster,
or any other Republican, but that a written
memorandum was drawn up showing that an
understanding had been reached by the con-
ferees; that this was read over and agreed to,
as substantially correct, aad that at the same
time the Southern Democrats, or some of them,
affixed their names to the paper as witnesses of
its correctness and the paper was then deposit
ed with Major Burke. l have been informed
that Gen. Garfield was not quite satisfied with
the way the bargain was expressed in the Burke
memorandum and SO he made memorandum
OF his own which he says be shall publish if
the Burke paper is made public"
Chandler says to bring matters to decisive
test he has to night sent to Major Burke the
following telegram:
Major e A. Burke, New Orleans:
Referring TO denials in recently published
interview of yours L have the honor to respect
fully ask you this question: "Were you as
representative of the Nichols government with
other Southern men and Messrs Stanley Mat
thews, John Sherman, Charles Foster and
James A Garfield IAN or any of them) and
Northern men present at conference or con-
Ierences at WormleyS Hotel 10 Washington,
about Feb: 10Th, last, concerning Louisiana at
fairs, and if so. was any written paper whether
signed or unsigned, or whether with or without
the names as affixed as witnesses of its correct
ness made then or subsequently embodying or
purporting to state the whole or any part of
any agreement, understanding or intention, re-
sultiDg from such conference OF conferences
concerning Louisiana affairs or concerning the
Packard or the Nichols government or the fed
eral troops in New Orleans, and if so, have you
now or have you ever had that paper OF a copy
thereof, is it in existence, and if so where is it
now; if not, when, where and by whom was it
destroyed, and will you or not make il or
copy of it public if you have it,
(SiguPd) w. e. CHANDLER