The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-28

the campaign III DEObSCtuB ouE5GifSS hsbtaA5o
Republican frauds and in exposing rascalitie,s
have ee carried It out if we bad the money"
With reference to the plan to exact IRON from
Senators as the price OF her freedom, Major
Burke said: II had no authority to make any
bargain on that subject, but, my credentials
from Gov Nichols authorized me to make in
quiry and report the facts. | was informed
by @ Representative from Louisiana that
leading Republicans close to the admlnllstIa-
tion then in power had come to the conclusion "a
Louisiana, and only bayonet rule could place
the Packard government In power They we're
willing and disposed to abandon him IT they
could strengthen their waning power IN the
United States Senate. On my arrivalin Wash
ington these facts were communicated to me,
and one of the Republican gentlemen was
communicated by name.'
"Who was it?'
81, D. Cameron, then Secretary OF War. [
had several verbal communications on the
subject and only one interview with him at
which the situation OF Louisiana was dis
cussed and the methods by which the Mich
oils government might be permitted to main-
tain itself we're talked about. This conversa-
ton took place ct private house, when I
should prefer not to locate. Mr.. Cameron, l
believe, was fully impressed with the conv1c-
tion that the Nichols government should
prevail In Louisiana, even before any cues
lions of exacting consideration were deter
mined upon by him or his associates. To Rep
resentatiye Gibson we generally communl-
Gated intelligence that we desired to be lald
before Mr.. Hayes. The representatives or
Louisiana and myself worked in harmony in
all these negotiations, but Gen. Gibson was
especially serviceable in the interests OF the
State in representing the condition OF affairs
to Mr. Hayes, Secretary Cameron, and others.
At that interview | found Mr. Cameron pretty
thoroughly advised with regard to the condi-
ton Of affairs in Louisiana, and apparently I'M
pressed with the conviction that the Nich 7. y,
government should prevail. Practical diff
culties were touched upon, such as the dc
creasing power OF the Republican party III
the United States Senate, and that the Re-
publicans would naturally, as party ques.-
zion, oppose any action IN Louisiana that Ina
would lessen their power In the Senate. The
difficulties presented In case OF the vote OF
the State was declared for Hayes were also
discussed. and [ told Mr.. Cameron that we
could present the legal theory upon which the
claim Of Nichols to the State government
could be maintained, while at the same time
the Returning Board might legally count the
vote for Hayes; that the laws and constitu-
ton provided for no such machinery aS q Re-
turning Board for counting the vote OF the
State. Preparations were made to Issue o
memorial for that subject, but the difficulty
arose as to whom 1t should be addressed. 1t
was found impracticable and Unnecessary to
prepare this memorial. Mr.. Cameron was in
definite on the subject OF exacting the two
scholarships. It was understood that the Sc
lection of United States Senators would be ex-
acted from US In case our government was
permitted to prevail. Yet there was no agree
ther consideration was deferred, because
Columbus Delano had been sent to Columbus
on the subject. I had no reason to think
otherwise than that Mi. Cameron was SOllCl-
tous for Mr. Hayes
ibid Mr.. Cameron say that he would not be
satisfied unless two Republican State SEN
ators should be selected?"
eft SO impressed me-"
"Did he impress you that If that were &C.
corded he was willing that the Nichols gov
eminent should standp
sit impressed me that it would tend to re-
move the difficulties in the way of establish
ing the Nichols government. Senator West
was informed of such determination. This
interview did not partake of the character OF
q negotiation. It scarcely reached q point
where it could be called negotiation
sDid Senator Cameron and his associates
insist upon the inauguration OF Hayes and the
election OF two Republican Senators from the
State Of Louisiana, while there was anotae1
party that was satisfied with the inauguration
Of Hayes, leaving thesenatorship to take care
q "That was about it,
.epp edo you know whether or not MI. Sherm an
was acting With Cameron in reference to The
seDatorships?"
II believe he was. The gentleman who in
formed me OF Senator Cameron's views was
Randall L. Gibson, although he personally
expressed his Misrepresentation OF That scheme
NY information was that MI. Cameron ant
Mr. Sherman were acting in concert. Although
Mr. Sherman did not say in words that they
required, or would require, the election 0
Republican Senators, yet, when he brough
up the subject he created the impression OF
my mind that he was inclined to do so. pro
posed to dispose OF the subject by postponlnt
The election OF Senators until after the selec
ton of Cabinet"
"After the arrangement to advise you
friends to stop tilibusterng under the assur
ance that the Nichols government would b
sustained by the Hayes administration, oil
you see Mr.. Cameron again I"
81 did on one occasion. We found that MI
FfamnrDn AGAINST PRESIDENT Gran
had issued his Instructions for the Withdrawal
Of the troops. Gov. Penn and Gen. Gibson
he was the obstacle to the proper transmits
sion OF these Instructions. was informe
that Mr.. Cameron and Kellogg had gone
the telegraph office in Washington, and ther
caused the instructions which had been issue
by President Grant to be withheld. MI
Cameron said, when Gov. Penn and Gen. Git
son pleaded with him to Withdraw his oppe
sition and let the orders go, that he would b
id If he would, or words to that effect
that he would resign his office Of Secretary {
War first; that the order should have gon
through him; that he had been friendly to u
until we had sought to trick him, meaning b
that, seeking to get the order from Grant fo
the removal of the troops before Hayes cam
into possession.
"Was any indication given as to who thes
two Senators should be ia the State Of Louis
lanai"
Mr.. Hiscock cross-examined Majo Burke g
some length, trying to show that before Ger
Grants term expired he was favorable to til
Nichols government; that this change, in hi
opinion, from his previous opposition and il
Prevention on behalf OF the Packard govern
g ment took place about January 6, the tim
when Grant declined Kellogg's request fo
troops which he had never done before. TIL
Major admitted that he believed that MI
Hayes was favorably disposed toward tn
Nichols government previous to the guara1
tees Of the Wormley conference; but he sal
explicitly that he believed that Sherman an
Garfield were both induced to change thei
course in favor of the establishment Of tt
Nichols government in consequence Of tn
assurances that were exchanged at the Worn
ley conference.