The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1878-06-29
4 PACE OF SECRET HISTORY.
How Ex-Confedcrates Secured the
Electoral Count for Hayes.

How ES-C0nfedcrates Secured the
Electoral Count for Hayes.
Washington Correspondence New YOrl:
TINES.
Scuator licr Hill, Of Georgia,
authorizes the statement that in his
opinion the Democrats who participated
in the Wormlcy conference could have
had no other object il view than de-
sire to obtain notcriety. So far from
having influenced the action Of tho
House, Senator Hill, to usc almost his
own words, said to tho Times cor
respondent: ~ am now abou: to ro.
veal TO you the dim outlines of what
will some day'form one of the most
patriotic pages in American history,
a1d after [ conclude my brief narrative
you will know just how much influence
this so-called WCrmlc7 conference had
in eiFecting the result Of the Electoral
count. When tho decision Of tile
Electoral Commission in the Florida
case became kncSu, became satisfied
that tho disputed States would bc de-
cidcd 10 favor Of Hayes, aud that the
issue which would presently confront
us would be the lcga! Inauguration Of
Mr.. Hayes as President Or another
revolution. | consulted with few cx.
Confedcratcs, all members Of tho House
Of Representatives. and thc situation
was thoroughly aud earnestly discussed
Not to enter iutC unnecessary details,
we, who had just emerged from a
ruinous aud disastrous war, and had
experienced its devastating cftGcts-wc
cx.rebcls determined to prevent
second civil war and spare the country
from all tho terrible hcrrUrs tha. would
attend It.
Accordiugly,449 <,COalulcratcs sol.
cmnly pledged themselves to each
other upon their sacred honor to oppose
all attempts to Illustrate the counting
Of the votes for President and Vice
President. We held 10 caucus nor no
meeting. IcalIed upon each gentle
man personally aud obtained his sig.
nature to pupcr that l presented to
him. We conducted the movement
with the greatest caution. for We did
not desire our rlal. even to be suspect
ed. You may judge how well the
secret has been kept when it has re-
maiucd iuviOlatc to this day. living
disclosed these facts. you eau now
determine what degree Ot importance
to attach to the ibuucucc exercised by
the Dcnoctatic mcm tcrs Of the Worm.
ly conference upon the result Of the
electoral count. Tho forty.,wo cx.
Confederate Cungrcssmcn had pledged
themselves 10 abide BY the decision Of
the Electoral Commission several
weeks before the WUsmIy conference
took place, 50 that, despite tho sen.
satiOnal rSmcss that filled the air TO.
ward til. close Of the count, there
never was tho rcmotr,t possibility OF
trouble. We held the balance Of power
aud did not propose to permit another
war il our votes could prevent it,"
being asked for his opinion Of tho
Potter Investigation Senator Hill said
that hc was iu Cavor Of clicitiug all the
facts tending 10 establish fraud,
wherever perpetrAted or BY whose.
cycr committed ; but there it would
end. The Presidential title would not
bc disturbed, and nothing would DO
done except what Was just aud legal
lie, personally, did not hclscvc that
President Hayes was in any manner
connected with any frauds or Irregular
tiles. On tho contrary, hc thought
10 was hoacst, pure and upright man.
i" If anybody attonpts to iaausuratc 4
revolution, said Senator Till, in con-
clusioa, "thc tx-rcbels will put it
down. We will no, ALLOW it,"