The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-06-28
PAGE OF SECRET HISTORY.

How ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Secured the
Electoral Count for Hayes.
Washington Correspondence n. Y. Times.
Senator Ben Hill, of Georgia, au-
thoriZes the statement that in his
opinion the Democrats who p6rtlc-
ipated in the Wormley conference
could haYe had no other object in
view than desire TO obtain noto-
riety. So far from having influenced
the action of the House, Senator
Hill, to use almost his own words,
said to the Times correspondent !:
81 am now about to reveal to you
the dim outlines of what will some
day form one of the most patriotic
pages in American history, and af-
ter l conclude my brief narrative
you will know just how much influ-
ence this so-callea Wormley con-
ference had in effecting the result of
the electoral count. When the de-
cision of the electoral commission
in the Florida case became known
/ became satisfied that the disputed
states would be counted in favor of
Hayes, and that the issue which
would presently confront us would
be the legal Inauguration of Mr..
Hayes as President or another rev.
olution. / consulted with few ex-
Confederates, all members of the
House of Representatives, and the
situation was thoroughly and earn
estly discussed. Not to enter int
unnecessary details, we, who had
Just emerged from a ruinOus and
disastrous war and had experienced
its devastating effects-we ex-rebels
determined TO prevent q second civ
ii war and spare the country from
all the terrible horrors that would
attend 1t. Accordingly forty-two
ex-Confederates solemnly pledged
themselves to each other upon their
sacred honor to oppose all attempts
to Illustrate the counting of the
votes for president and vice-presi-
dent. We held no caucus nor no
meeting. L called upon each gen.
tleman personally and obtained his
signature to q paper that L present
ed to him. We conducted the
movement with the greatest caution;
for we did not desire our plans
should ever be suspected. You
may judge how well the secret had
been kept when it has remained in
violate to this day. Having dis
closed these facts, you can now de-
termine what degree of importance
to attach to the influence exercised
by the Democratic members of the
Wormley conference upon the re-
suit of the electoral count. The
forty-two ex-Confederate Congress
men had pledged themselves to
abide by the decision of the elec-
toral commission several weeks be-
fore the Wormley conference took
place, so that despite the sensation
al rumors that filed the air toward
the close of the count, there never
was the remotest possibility OF
trouble. We held the balance of
power, and did not propose to per-
NIT another war if our votes could
prevent it,"
Being asked for his opinion OF
the Potter investigation Senator
Hill said. that he was in favor Of
eliciting all the facts tending to
fraud, wherever perpetrated or by
whomsoever committed; but there
it would end. The presidential ii.
tie would not be disturbed, anG
nothing would be done except wha
was Just and legal. He, personally
did not believe that President Hayel
was in any manner connected will
any frauds or irregularities. Or
the contrary, he thought he was al
honest, pure and upright man. 81
anybody attempts to inaugurate 6
revolution" said Senator Hill, II
conclusion, "the ex-rebels will put
1t down. We will not allow it."