New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-15

terday by Mr.. Halstead. The latter denied
that there was any suggestion of a bargain in
his letter introducing Colonel Roberts to MIR.
HAYES. He also spoke of Ohio and National
political questions
GETTING A LETTER OF INTRODUCTION.
co1oSEL RoBERrs's CALL UPON MI. HALsTEAD-
WHAT TT WAS DESIRED TO KNOW FROM Mr..
u,yFs-No SUGGESTION OF ANY BARGAIN.
Murat Halstead, the Editor of The Cincinnati Com
..ercial who will sail for Europe to-day on the
steamship Sueva, was found in this city yesterday
making preparations for his voyage, and was asked
- n the testimony of Colonel William II. Roberts,
before the Potter Committee on Tuesday.
"Nr HalsteadD SAID the reporter, " see your
mama il used pretty freely in the examination Of
Colonel Roberts, Of New-Orleans, as to your part
m an alleged bargain by which Governor Hayes was
made PresidentP
ayes; read that on the cars this morning, and
allied at the Potter Committees rooms to see
whether they wished any further light on the sub
ieet. General Butler, being asked whether he
desired to examine me, said he did not"
"What are the facts about your giving Colonel
Roberts letter of introduction to Governor Hayes"
aColonel Roberts was the correspondent of The
Cincinnati Commercial at New-Orleans up to a few
before the opening the session of Congress On
Msway from New Orleans to Washington he stopped
At Cincinnati and called upon me- He had two OBJ
ieets to see me one was to make friendly CALL as
we knew each other we'll and the other was, sup
nose to get his pay for the work he had DONE set
fled with him and we had interesting converse
ton about the affairs in Louisiana. One thing he
told me was that he had travelled with Senator
Lamar who was then staying at one of the hotels
and who would be around to see me. Colonel
Roberts thought the situation in Louisiana very
grave and threatening, and said Lamar was OF like
opinion. He knew l was well acquainted with
Governor Hayes, and asked me what thought about
bis Southern policy in case he became President.
referred to the paragraph in the letter OF accept
snoe of the Republican nomination, and told him
that il was the expression of the individuality of
Governor Hayes. more than anything else that bad
been made public, and that if a general knowledge
of il among the Southern people would help to make
peace in the South effort should he spared to ac-
complish it's diffusion among them"
WAS the letter of introduction written during
this conversation Z"
"No: it was not written during the first CONVEX
sation we had. told Colonel Roberts l would go
around aud call on Lamar, but very soon after the
Colonel left me Senator Lamar came in, and we had
a gloomy conversation over the condition of the
country. 1t was my strong opinion at the time
that we were going straight into a civil war. L
found that Lamar held similar views, but hoped a
collision might be avoided by the exercise OF good
Iense-an article which he seemed to think was
more prevalent than l did l suggested to Lamar
that as be was going TO pass through Columbus, he
ought to stop and see Hayes. / thought talk be-
tween them would be productive of good. He said
he would be glad to do So but if he did his action
would be misrepresented at any rate, and perhaps
misunderstood. / had not thought of that
but agreed with him. He said that
Roberts, who was travelling with him, was going
to stop over and see Comfy. Roberts and Comfy
had been in Washington the Winter before, Comfy
for several months corresponding for his paper, and
they had become very well acquainted. said then
that would give Roberts a letter to Hayes if that
would help him to an interview and he might have
aehat with him."
Did Mr.. Lamar say anything. or indicate IN any
way that there were any negotiations on foot look
ing to an arrangement by which Governor Hayes
was to be seated as Presdentp
"There was nothing of the kind suggested or
thought Of Lamar simply apprehensive as to
heeonditon Of the country knew the critical state Of
affairs in Louisiana perfectly, and said that without
doubt there was imminent danger that tie spark to
kndle the fire would be very apt to be struck right
there In order to cheer him up, loaned him as he
went away Bob" IngersOlps plOus lectures on
the Gods. He is q man OF literary tastes, and
thought that might aid in making him comfortable
on the cars. told Lamar, too, that lngersOll was
just as good a fellow as he was or as was"
But, NJ. Halstead, you have not told about the
letter of introduction p
"Wen Colonel Roberts came in again and wrote
alstter to Hayes, telling him that the bearer was
Colonel Roberts, of New-Orleans, whose dispatches
giving the Democratic view ofthe state OF the case in
Louisiana had been appearing during several weeks
IN The Commercial and that he would find il desirable
70 talk with him and get the inside Of Louisiana
politics. That was the. whole Of the letter One
thng thought it worth while for Hayes to know
was the certainty. in the judgment of so cool an
observer as Colonel Roberts, that if the Returning
beard of Louisiana threw out the vote Of the in-
Inundated parishes, and gave the State to the Re-
lablieans, they would be assassinated"
Was there anything in the letter-any bargain
or arrangement-suggesting that Roberts was au-
ihorizea TO say OF do anything in hehah Of the
southern peoplep
Nothing of the kind / had never heard OF any
hieh thing Roberts had only said he thought it
might do good, if the impression had of the pur-
Pose Of Mr. Hayes if he were President could be
made known to the people of the South who, in his
part Of the country especially, he said had been so
eiien cheated that they we're not only Respondent
sut bad become desperate Ny object in giving the
elier to Roberts was that ne might give Hayes a
iull view Of the situation, from Democratic stand
pont in the Southwest. l did not expect Hayes to
n'k 70 him very freely, but it seems he did ex-
leesed Roberts to do the greater part of the talk
Colonel Roberts says you sealed the letter of
Introduction
II did, it wss from force Of habit in sealing
r'ers. They put mucilage on all the envelopes
NV and am so much accustomed 10 sealing up
e''ef az soon asit is written that suppose must