New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-08
THE WORMLEY CONFERENCE.
ATALK WITH STANLEY MATTHEW'S.

lFRoH STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRDUNE.l
| CAPE MAY, N. j., Aug. 7.-Senator Stanley Mat
thews is one of the guests at the Stockton Hotel
this week Having to argue an important case be-
fore Justice Harlan at Newport, r. l.. on the 18th
of this month"; and intending TO go thence to Sara
tOga to assistin the organization Of National bar
association, the Senator visits Cape May en- route
to take dip in the surf and to consult with ex-
Senator John Scott, with whom. believe, he is as
ISOLATED counsel, and who, with his family, is
spending the season at this place.
Senator Matthews is of the few Republicans
of prominence who still believe that the Presidents
Southern policy right, and will yet vindcate
itself even measure of party expediency He
does not expect fair, impartial Judgment of that
policy now while the prevailing sentiment in the
Republican party is il is, but he does believe that
the time will come when the wisdom Of the PTes-
dents course will he universally admitted The
simple mention of the Wormey Conference sug-
geSts the prominent part which Senator Matthews
acted in the events that led to and followed that
now famous consultation, and the testimony re-
Gently given by Major Burke in New-Orleans, while
contributing very little that is new to the history
of the electoral controversy, has revived the pOpu-
lar interest in it, and has made anything which
Senator Matthews may say OH the subject more
than ordinarily interesting
81 see that Mr.. Springer has announced his
conclusions in regard to the case as he
calls it," said the correspondent of HE Tribune
to Senator Matthews, last evening, the two were
sitting together on the veranda of the Stockton
Hotel listening TO the music and that his voice Is
for impeachment"
$50 observe" remarked the Senator; 81 wonder
if Mr. Springer said IT, Aud he bases his opinion on
what the committee has learned of the Wormley
(onfarepp9f Wby fho of that hos hppu fold
over aud over again, and all the theories that any
bargain was made there have been repeatedly ex-
ploded."
81 notice that Major Burke, in his recent testi-
mony, mentions some paper which he had at the
Wormley Conference. What was Iti"
81 did not see II, but believe he did show it to
Others, among them General Garfield. II was SIM
ply statement Of tine policy to which Governor
Nichols and those who supported him were commit
ted-a sort of rough draft OF what was embodied in
the resolutions passed by the Nichols Legislature
when it obtained a Returning Board quorum"
Senator Matthews then went on TO relate the cir
cumstances which led TO his consultations with Ma
ior Burke, the preparation of the paper referred to-
and TO the Wormley Conference. l give the story
substantially in his own words:
IL first met Major Burke in New-0rleans in No
vember, 1876, when you and | were there to wit
ness the counting Of the vote" said the Senator
" He was frequently in my room, aud we talked
about the political situation very freely In ourcon-
versation asked Major Burke why it was If they,
the Democrats. desired TO get rid of the oppres-
sive rule Of which they complained, that they had
not put themselves in accord with the National sem
timeut. and made up their ticket with Hayes for
President and Nichols for Governor. Major Burke
replied that he was not Democrat and did not
wish 10 be called such asked him what he did call
himself and nc replied that he was Conservative,
opposed alike 30 the Republicans and the Democrats
He then went on TO say that he and those who held
like opinions had been forced 10 act with the Dem
ocrats because General Grant had made 10 lmpossi-
bic for a man TO be Republican IN Louisiana and
be respected.
81 defended President Grant" continued the Sem
ator " and reminded Major Burke Of his efforts to
induce prominent natives of the South TO cooperate
with his Administration. l referred especially to
the appointment OF General LoDgstreet and TO the
fact that he had been avoided by his old friends
and ncouaintances rs soon as he accepted Office at
the hands Of General Grant. Major Burke eI-
planed tins, saying that General Longstrcet was
partially 70 blame himself, but admitted believe.
that both sides had been in measure wrong. We
had several talks Of a similar character during my
stay in New-0rleans.
"Inext met Major Burke In Washington where
he appeared IN behalf Of Governor TIlden, having
especial charge Of the Of Louisiana. There we
often saw each other as the counting of the votes
advanced, and during all the early part Of the con-
test Major Burke was very sure that Mr.. Tilden
would be counted in. told him he was mistaken;
that the Electoral Commission would follow the
precedent of the Florida case, and that Governor
HAYES would certainly be elected and inaugurated.
l. .NI, IL. tIa NJ
Representatives. aud were frequently chatting each
other on the subject. Once Major Burke showed me
an open letter addressed to him by General Nichols
authorizing him to act for the Governor. aud. re-
calling our conversations in New-Oreans, remarked
that he might wish TO renew the talk on the same
subject. On the night that Louisiana was counted
for Hayes. reminded Major Burke of what had
told him, aud assured him again that Governor
HAYES was TO be the President. He was very
despondent and made very little reply. Finally ne
said the time had come when he would like 10 have
the conversation Of which he had spoken. told
him that If we were 10 talk matters over the quicker
IL was done tho better and suggested that we meet
that very night.
"When we met it was with the conviction enter
tanned by both of us that the question OF the Presi
dency was settled. That was the basis OF all our
talk then and subsequently, and we proceeded
altogether on that theory. This is an Important
point TO remember. As Governor Hayes was to be
the President Major Burke was anxious to learn.
If possible what tho people he represented had to
expect from the new Administration He spoke of
the expressions, corruption and incompetence from
which the people Of his State had suffered, and
desired to know what they had to look forward to.
al asked him." said Senator Matthews. continu-
ing his narrative. "what the people of Louisiana
would do il 1t became necessary for the Administra-
ton to sustain Governor Packard. He replied that
they would resent it, l asked him if he meant by
that that they would invite a conflict with the
Federal authorities and he said No. What he
meant was that without exchanging a shot with