The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-02-07
POLITICAL POINTS.

The publication in the Chicago tribune Of an
interview had by It's New Orleans correspond
ent with Maj. E. A. Burke of that city, has
attracted widespread attention, and reopened
the discussion of the old controversy touching
the electoral count. Maj. Burke it was who
acted as the representative of the Nichols
Government in Washington during that contro-
versy, and has all along been believed to be
the custodian of all the secrets there were
at the time. One of Maj. Burke's statementsis
to the effect that the Louisiana and many other
Southern Democrats we're opposed originally
to the scheme for an Electoral Commission.
but they were urged by Mr.. Tilden's represen-
tatives to "work up public sentiment in favor
of the Electoral BILL" which Mr.. Tilden sub
sequently said che had always disapproved."
The Southern Democrats, he says, were per
suaded in the first instance to acquiesce in this
electoral scheme because the Tilden managers
were convinced it was in the interest of their
candidate; when it afterward became ques-
ton whether or not the Democrats in Congress
should consent to a confirmation of the cleo
toral decision, the Democratic caucus
resolved to acquiesce, without con-
sulting the interests of Louisiana
or South Carolina and left the representatives
of these two States to do what they could in
personal way for the Nichols and Hampton
Governments Relative to Mr.. William e.
Chambers charge of conspiracy, Burke says
that MIR. Hayes was not personally represented
in any consultations that were held. and no
agreement was signed by Stanley Matthews,
Charles Foster, " or any other man" in behalf
OF MIR. Hayes. Maj. Burke also declares that
the Republicans vino were present at these
consultations never said or did ANYTHING
OF which they can be ashamed. In
answer to question by the inter
viewer as to whether there was an
understanding between Senator Conkling and
the personal representatives of Mr.. Tilden
with the object of defeating Mr. Hayes, Maj.
Burke stated that the New York Senator had
az one time prepared speech maintaining
that the Louisiana vote should be thrown out.
with the understanding that he (Conkling)
should be chosen President of the Senate,
and thus become Acting President of the Uni
ted States, pending new election to be called
that Iiden's friends were satisfied with
this arrangement, as they we're confident
they could secure Tilden's nomination and
election, while Conkling thought that, with
the control of the patronage, he could get the
Republican nomination instead of Hayes, and
meantime be President for year at least
that it was not Mr. Conkling that receded from
this programme, but the scheme was defeated
by an intimation put forth at the time that, in
case 1t should be decided that there had been
no election, Mr.. Morton would be chosen as
President of the Senate and ad-interim
PRESIDENT of the United States, because he
was man who could be trusted to secure a
fair election in the Southern States; and that
the dread of Morton, and the apprehension
that the Republicans of the South would thus |
be protected in casting their vote, led to an
abandonment of this scheme by the Tilden !