Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-06-14
a Hit Of secret History from senator
Hill OF Georgia.

Senator Benjamin II. Hill Of Georgia makes
an interesting contribution to the history Of
the exciting period preceding the Inaugural
ton of President Hayes. He clears upa mys-
terry which has always hung over the course
of Southern Democratic Congressman at that
time All at once a conservative influence
seemed to emanate from their midst, which
held in check the factious tendencies of the
Northern Democrats, who were steadily NOV
ing toward anarchy and civil war The lat
ter were as much astonishcd at the new dem
onstration rs the Republicans and no expla-
nation came from any quarter, except the
vague conjecture that there had been some
sort of bargain between a portion of the
Southern Democratic Congressman and Re-
publican representatives of Mr.. Hayes From
this arose the talk subsequently made by
some Democratic leaders and by VIM. Z.
Chandler about the "Wormley conference, ~
the paper" there agreed upon, etc, etc
The story relative to this "Wormley con-
ference" it will be remembered, was that
while the excitement pending the last days of
the electoral count was at its height, and GER
tain Democrats were loudly asserting that
they could yet prevent the completion of the
count-a few prominent Southern Democrats
met an equal number of Mr.. Hayes's friends
at the Wormley Hotel in Washington, at
which it was mutually agreed that the Demo
Gratis should permit the electoral count TO be
completed, in favor of Mr. Hayes, and in
consideration thereof the Republicans guar
anteed that when Mr. Hayes became Presi-
dent he should withdraw the troops from
South Carolina and Louisiana, and permit the
establishment of the governments of Hamp-
ton and Nichols in those States.
That this Wornley gathering had anything
to do with the peaceful solution of the Presi-
| dental problem, or that it had any import
ance or authority whatever, Senator Hill now
absolutely denies. On the contrary he says
that weeks before this reputed conference
was held ~ of the Southern Democratic mem-
bers of the House had entered into a solemn
agreement to prevent filibustering in the
House over the count, with its consequent
disturbance and possible civil war. The fol.
lowing is his statement rs made to a core.
spondent of the New York Times:
Il am now about to reveal to You the dim
outlines of what will some day form one OF
| the most patriotic pages in American history,
and after | conclude my brief narrative you
will know just how much influence this so.
| called Wormley conference had in affecting
| the result of the electoral count. When the
decision of the Electoral Commission in the
Florida case became known, | became salts.
fed that the disputed States would be decided
in favor of Hayes, and that the issue which
would presently confront us would be the lie.
gal Inauguration of Mr.. Hayes as President
| or another revolution. | consulted with few
| ex- Confederates, all members of the House OF
| Representatives, and the situation was thor
oughly and earnestly discussed Not to en-
ter into unnecessary details, we, who had Just
| emerged from ruinous and disastrous wal
and had experienced its devastating effects
we ex-rebels determined to prevent second
| civil war and spare the country from all the
terrible horrors that would attend it. Ac
cordingly ~ ex- Confederatess olemnly pledged
themselves to each other upon their SACRED
honor to oppose all attempts to Illustrate tn,
counting of the votes for President and Vice
President We held no caucus nor no meet
ing. | called upon each gentleman personal
w and obtained his signature to paper tina
| presented to him. We conducted the move
ment with the greatest caution, for we die
not desire our plans should be even suspected
You may Judge how well the secret has been
kept when it has remained inviolate to th
day. Having disclosed these facts you cal
now determine what degree of importance t,
attach to the influence exercised by the Dem
ocratic members of the Wormley conference
upon the result of the Electoral count Tn
- ex-Confederate Congressman had pledged
themselves to abide by the decision of tn
Electoral Commission several weeks befor
the Wormley conference took place, so that
despite the sensational rumolS that filled tn
air, toward the close Of the count, there new
err was the remotest possibility of trouble w
held the balance of power, and did not pro
pose to permit another war if our votes coul
prevent it,"
Being asked for his opinion of the Potte
investigation, Senator Hill said that he was i
favor of elicting all the facts tending to es
tablish fraud, wherever perpetrated or b.
whomsoever committed but there it woul
end The Presidential title would not be dis
turbed, and nothing would be done excep
what was just and legal He personally, di
not believe that President Hayes was in an
manner connected with any frauds or irregu
larities. On the contrary, he thought he wa
an honest, pure, and upright man. IF any
body attempts to inaugurate revolution,
said Senator Hill, in conclusion, ''the eX-reb
els will put it down. We viii not allow ii. "