The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-10
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 27, 1877.


Major E. A. Burke, one of the most
prominent Conservatives in the State,
who engineered the State count and rep
resented the Nichols government in
Washington last winter, upon being in
terviewed in reference to Chandler's let
ter has stated that the Republican states
men who visited Louisiana. Immediately
after the election undoubtedly gave
Packard, Kellogg and the returning
board strong guarantees that the Packard
government would be sustained by the
administration if the State should be
counted for Hayes, and it would not be
difficult to prove the times and places
where such assurances were given and
the parties to the same.
Our State Central Committee wfs in
possession of some of Mr.. Chambers
guarantees to the same effect, which
were, 1 think, delivered to Mr.. David
Dudley Fields commission in Washing
ton. ALL these gentlemen and MIR.
Chandler were aware of the fact that
some of these very statesmen, together
with the principal leaders of the Repub-
lican party, recognized the impossibility
of keeping these guarantees, and whether
they found out that Mr.. Hayes could not
be brought to sustain their assurances or
whether the fear of defeat of the count
instigated them, it is certain that the
most binding guarantees were given by
the leaders Of the Republican party that
Mr. HAYES would, if inaugurated, restore
the South to local selfgovernment, as
indicated in his letter ofacceptance, and
adopt policy ofjustice anu conciliation
instead of military interference and bay
.onet rule.
These guarantees were known to every
Republican Senator, Representative and
public man in Washington before the
electoral court was completed, and they
became parties. to it by their silence and
acouiescence. General Grant had said
the sentiment of the country was clearly
against the further use of troops in up
holding State governments, and that, in
his opinion, the Nichols government
should stand and would stand, because
it was supported by the best elements OF
the State, and he authorized me to say
that he wished his views to be made
known. Grant followed that declaration
by ain assurance that the troops would be
withdrawn. and informed me that he
would say so to Kellogg and Darrell,
who were then in the next room. He
discussed with myself and others the de-
tails under which we guaranteed no vio-
lence. Nichols was to issue, and did
issue, with Grants approval, a proclama-
ton to re-assnre the colored men and
Republicans. That such an order was
not received by General Augur can best
be answered by Mr. Chandler and the
hundreds of Republicans who besieged
the White House and elaine ! that such
action before the Inauguration would en-
danger the Presidency.
No doubt Mr.. Chandler and many of
his associates thought that Hayes would
join them in violation of the guarantees
which the Republican party was eager to
give when the Presidency was in peril !;
but I say, advisedly, that the South did
not fear Hayes, as it appears we had a
higher opinion of his truthfnlness, hon
esty and patriotism than his former sup
porters. We did fear the remorseless
and vindictiye power of the Republican
party leaders, like Mr.. Chandler, whose
malignity is written in bold letters in
every campaign in this State since 1870.
Louisiana sought simply to know if the
leaders would let Hayes alone. If any
bargains were made the Republican party
leaders, so recognized then by the whole
country, were the parties to them. If
any bargains were made by Mr.. Hayes l
never heard ofthem.
As to the re-opeping of the Presiden:
tial issue we consider it closed. The old
combination between Senator Conkling
and Democratic Senators, which offered
to Louisiana and the country defeat of
the electoral count and new election
under Conkling, may be revived with a
view of opening the electoral question,
but ] think it impossible.