The daily gazette., 1878-04-17
FIFTH EDITION.
Conkling speaks.
SECRET HISTORY OF THE ELECT.
ORAL COMMISSION.

THE PLOT BY WHICH FERRY WAS TO
COUNT IN HAYES. 10000 MEN UNDER
GEN. sTBEDMAN READY FOR REV
oLUTIoN-GRANT's DILEMMA
HAYES POLICY DE-
NoUNCED AS IN
| FAMOUS.
| NEW YORK, April 16.-The World of to-
morrow will publish long and important
letter from Utica, New York cores
pondent, being the sum Of a series of in
terviews with Senator Conklng at his
home in that city at intervals during the
past few months. In the course of
the interview the World cores
pondent asked: "Well Senator, l
would like to know whether you
think the true history of the Louisiana
electoral business will ever be told in
Congress, and if so, how soon?" Mr..
Conkling paused moment, then began
very slowly, warming up with his sub
iect as he proceeded eyes, l think it
will, do not see how it can be kept
down. There are too many avenues of
information opened to-day to make con-
cealment of avail much longer.
No reasonable man can doubt there
was some kind of a bargain between the
| friends of Nichols and that man Hayes,
and that Stanley Matthews and Sher-
| man were privy to 1t. "A very great
many people have become exceedingly
curious to know precisely what the bar
gain was and exactly how it was carried
out, and Yankee ingenuity will be sure
| 90 "A mn NJ l..ffT nn "a in
, formation. 1 cannot say how soon the
facts will come out, for something may
occur any day to force them TO the sur
face. 1t Will probably be best to let
them come out naturally"
"What will be the result ?"
"The result will be that the whole
country will be appalled, by the dishonor
of this administration | tell you, that
never in the history of this nation has
there been in the entire four years of an
| administration SO much corruption, bar
tering offices, rewarding of political fav-
orites, traffic with political leaders, and
bargain and sale of the electoral fran
chise rs during the past year
People will not believe ii until the proof
is shown them, but the truth viii be forth
coming. People say that Hayes is good
man and means well, but they do not
know what they are talking about. When
| all the facts are known about this admin
istration no one will attempt to excuse
the man on account of his supposed good
ness, nor yet because he is weak and
ignorant. The acts that have disgraced
this administration have all been done
before the opened eyes of the Presi-
dent"
| Mr.. Conkling then goes on to review at
great length the history of the Electoral
Commission. He says "The country
was in actual danger. Yes, l mean that
the danger was real and imminent. The
point of peril was not in the South, but
in the West. 1t was understood that the
Republican leaders had determined to
have Vice President Ferry count the
votes that all hazards and declare Hayes
elected, and the West determined on re-
lsistance.
1t was to be no child's play in that sec
ton. General Steedman had 10000 men
enrolled and assigned to regiments for
the purpose of seating Tilden in office
in case Vice President Ferry carried out
his proprosed programme. You may look
astonished, but these things are true
President Grant was at his wits end. He
confessed to me that he did not know
what to do. He was gathering some
troops at or near Washington, but he did
not know how far he could depend upon
them. Gen Sherman told him that in case
OF trouble the sympathies of a large ma
jority of the officers and soldiers of the
regular army would be with Tilden, and
that the army must not be taken Into
consideration as a dependence In any
such crisis. From these facts, and from
what was threatened and prophesied
lpublicly in those days you can imagine
how gloomy the outlook was at Republi
can councils.
The President asked my advice and
frankly told him did not believe thai
: Vice-Presiden Mt Ferry had any power tC
: declare the vote, but could m srely act il
a clerical capacity to open the envelope,
and lay the votes of the Electoral Col
iege before the joint Convention of the
two Houses for their decision. And, by
) the way, l may as well state here tha
when certain Senator came to me- anC
) said it was proposed to make me Presi
dent of the Senate In Ferrys place s,
that the the thing should not miss fire,
frankly told him that l could not accep
,, the position, and that by my Interpreta
, ton of the Constitution l should be com
PEELED to rule exactly opposite to tn
wishes of himself and friends That will
, perhaps, explain one story that is toll
| about me.