Daily globe., 1878-02-14

aud wanted to ask Hewitt question, but
Hewitt declined to be catechised any further,
saying he was already answering question,
and now said he in conclusion: / ask the
gentleman from South Carolina, Aiken, to
tell me by what right he turns on me and
accuses me of selling the presidency.
Mr. Aiken-The gentleman from New
York has been off the track entirely, on
which I was travelling. He has simply been
giving us here the published testimony which
anybody might have read for himself. l
allude to the speech which he made on this
floor, in which he said, or in which the news
papers reported him as having said, that as
far as the gift of the presidency was in his
hands. he would rather give up the presi-
dency than see one drop of blood spilled in
defense of the Democratic party. l got
that from
the newspapers believed it then. believe
it yet Laughter Mr.. Hewitt. 1t seems that
from mere newspaper paragraph this I'M
maculate and honorable gentleman from
South Carolina, Aiken, infers that q brother
Democrat had sold the presidency. He will
be surprised to know that no such words ever
fell from my lips on the floor of this House
or anywhere else; and that when saw it
going the rounds of the newspapers, it was
one of the very calumnies that 1 contradicted
over my own name.
Mr.. Aiken-I am glad to hear it.
Mr.. Hewitt-He says he is glad to hear it.
If he has had such sentiment in his heart.
and if he had had that high feeling of honor
which should govern South CaroGnian, he
would, before making that charge on the
floor, have come to me and aked how much
truth there was in it. wear my heart upon
my sleeve, and there is nothing which
have done from the beginning to the end of
this business which l am not ready to pro-
claim and have published.
Mr.. Luttrell suggested to Messrs. Hewitt
and Aiken that it was only eight miles to
Bladenburg, the famous duelling ground,
and that, though the roads were muddy, he
thought they could get there.
Mr.. Hewitt brushed aside the intimation
and then said he would answer the question
as to what assurance had been given for the
withdrawal of troops from Louisiana and
South Carolina. On this point, he said,
after the decision of the electoral
tribunal in the Louisiana case had been an
nounced, it became apparent to me, as it
did to every intelligent person who studied
the situation, that the final decision of the
electoral commission would award the presi-
dency to Hayes. OF course felt it was a
great grievance, but felt we had submitted
that question to the tribunal and that we
were bound and concluded by its decision,
and told everybody Ishould vote to sustain
every decision of the tribunal, no matter
what the consequence might be, but I did
not see any reason why, because Mr.. Hayes
was going into the presidency, l should ig-
more the fact that there were large number
of gentlemen in the House who did not look
upon the question as l did, or that they had
/ told me the count should never be COM
pleted.
On that statement reflected, and said
to mvself, unless it is understood that the
troops shall be withdrawn from Louisiana
and South Carolina, civil war will surely
break out, for the members for Louisiana as
sured me that their people would no longer
submit to military domination. know il
they resisted, other southern States would b<
in honor bound to help them, and thought
if I could not save the presidency from
the wreck, there was not any good reason
why South Carolina and Louisiana should
not be saved from it. Thereupon, of my
own motion, I went to my friend from
Ohio, Foster, and made to hin
pretty much the same remark that nov
make. The reason why went to him wa
because he had made a speech on this foo
policy would be, and he believed it and be
ieved it. said to that gentleman, ''Ther
will be trouble unless you can satisfy thes
Southern gentlemen that this policy whicl
you have declared to be the policy of the in
coming administration will be adhered to.
. He said to me 81 do not know: it is no
my business, but I'll tell you the facts,'' h
: said II will see about it, and subsequent
ly, l think the next day, he came back t,
. me and showed letter signed by Mr.. Haye
which letter has since been published.
read it, He said .Will that be satisfac
| tory?'' l said, '.Mr. Foster, it is not MI
! you have to satisfy. 1t is other gentlemen
, To me it would be satisfactory, but yo1
1 must 90 to them and salty them that thi
t policy will be carried out. That was th
| last interview l had with Mr.. Foster on th
l subject. What followed came to me fror
other persons. l had no part in a bargain
' if it was made. knew nothing of its terms
t but I was told in Vernon
that resolution had been pu
t through the joint convention and that thes
3 gentlemen from South Carolina were salts
g fed and that there could be no good reaso
/ why the count should not proceed, did no
1 know how they were satisfied. have neve
) seen any member from Louisiana about i
. only know that they told that they wer
' satisfied, and in SO far as b ad any inflr
f ence, exerted it for the completion of th
4 count did it in the interest of peace,
r did it in the interest of my country and
e believe that did then the wisest and bel
act of my life, so far as had any connectio
e with matters. If other men made impropt
r bargains 1 know nothing of them. Have
g answered the gentleman, Mr.. Ellsworth
a question to his satisfaction?
Mr.. Ellsworth made no response, but Coz
! ger again manifested very eager desire
Q put question to Hewitt, an opportuni
d which neither Hewitt, the chairman or con
mittee, seemed inclined to give him.
l. Mr.. Durham having charge of, this bill
It Laughter and shouts of "What bill?''l
e ann not talking about politics, am talkr
% about business. ] am talking about the mi
,e itary academy bill, not the electoral bill.
j. move the committee rise for the purpose
g closing the debate on this amendment. III
a, committee by vote of 12O to 46 determine
" to rise after several motions to adjourn hs
ID been voted down.
N Mr.. Durham moved that when the Hou
I'd next 90 into committee of the whole deba
o. should close in one minute. After some co
I'd fusion and delay the House again went in
l committee of the whole, debate on the bill
close in one hour.
tt Mr.. Conger desired tolcall the attention
at the gentleman from New York, Hewett,
10 some extraordinary statements he had ma
be to what seemed, to him, very unsatisfacto
de- reply to questions asked him. If he und
x stood the gentleman right he had said, in
place on the floor, that the presidency v
it sold out but no other man sold it. The e
he tleman said the presidency had been se
out.
We Mr.. Hewitt arose to reply.