The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-21

interests Of your Statr2
/" 1t did not meet with the approval Of the pco-
pie OF my state. generally speaking; but we felt
that the national question was in the hands of
the managers. and W. were not called upon to
oppose 1t specially The Electoral Commission
decided against Louisiana about Feb ID. and
from that time was impressed with the CON
viction that the national matrr was settled"
Are YOU MISC impressed with tho conviction
that II the state WINS given to Hayes by the
count Of the Returning Board the sumo Re-
turning Board had carried in Packard, and i
would give the stat" Government to Packard ?"
We had the Grcntest apprehension upon that
absolutely that the State Government would be
lost. even IL Hayes was declared President
d, , ssnnpnosr thesc Nnruhcnsions, came from ron,
rejecting the count IA far rs Packard WIS con-
crrn"d, and accepting it as far as he himself
The source Of our anxiety was the mathcmat-
ical difficulty that you suggest. and principally
our apurrlcnsion ~ the action OF tho hepub-
"Nnd YOU understood that the action Of the
Republican party leaders would be favorable to
:" W. understood II so to be-"
- that time had YOU amy assurance. eithcr
from lIa,cs or his friends, that there would be
n difference made in rrGnrd To Louisiana be-
tween Governor and Prcsidcnty'
We had onlythc reports oftnc interviews that
had boon published in the public prints. MIR.
llaycss letter OF acceptance. and only the gen
cral assurance with regard to his intention to
| ward our people NJ the South without any cN-
! press declaration rs To- the recogni'ion ~ the
/ NICHOLS ifNNnfnnfnt. | knew nNtllnE 0t tlr
Roberts interview with Hayes except what
saw in the public prints or possibly in casual
"Thrrr was nothing in his letter Of accept
| ancc about having one state go two ways was
thcr"T
| The witness hero read President Grants de-
| spntch To- Con. Augur Of Jan. II. 1871. IN which
president Grant said 4 he recognized either
| How soon after the counting " the electoral
vote Of Louisiana for Hay :. 10y the Electoral
! Commission. on the 10th ~ February. did YOU
have my conversation with any leading Re-
! nuhcans On the point q having ne louisiana
though the Electoral Commission had given
Louisiana To Hayes by the same votcf II So.
wit, :, whom did y2pg c'9nverse?'
With stanley Matthews
"M The Wormley Hotel"
Did YOU call upon Matthew's or did he call
- called upon Matthews"
by appointment made at the door Of tho
Electoral Commission room when We were lcav;
inc after the disposal OF IN" louisiana case.
| had known Judge Matthew's for "a number ~
yrHr-. and met him IN Washington alter my mr.
rival thrrr. We had hut little conversation. He
| introduced the subject OF Louisiana affairs ut
some previous meeting and told him that the
time mi ght arrive when IT would be- necessary
for III to confer upon the subject. but tina, II was
GIVE. as near as you can tho result Of that
conycr-atlon.
1t WAS walking near the Riggs House. II was n
cnsual conversations He express ing "A drsircto
discuss louisa ana affairs. Indicated that II
would probably BE- to our Interests IN under
stand the views Of Mr. Hayes witt. regard 10
Louisiana. My people had. voted for Mr., Tildrn.
and INJECTED me t. do all TINT ! could to So
euro him In his rightful position. felt unwil-
ling 10 hold q consultation of that character 80
long ~ the Tlldcn matter was not settled and
! there was any prospect Of seating him. When
that hopc passed away. On the 10th ot February.
W. We're then readyi9 discuss the subject with
lie wanted to talk to you about Louisiana
Affairs and communicate to YOU Hayes :
Il think. ms well ms ! recollcct, It was only n
casual conversation, | think he expressed a
desire To correct a misrepresentation of Hayes
views and that a conference upon the subject
would result in better UNDERSTANDING A. Ia
| what those views were Coming out Of III,
Electoral Commission room the Louisiana cas-
having been settled | think spoke first.
think said that it was about time We held tnal
To-day. lie said Yes. Where a
Wormlcys.' What hour Eight O'Clock. W
At o'clock, you were there =
Major Burke was questioned rs to what took
place during the two hours conference at tho
| Worml"y House between himself AMI Stanley
Matthews. He answered that he had memo,
rnndn ut nom" winch lie made ~ IN" time, ana
which he would prefer To- submit to the Com
mitter rather than give his present recollection
OF what took place: and by general assent. ht
was allowed time 10 nut in the memoranda.
Gen. Butler-The substance OF 1t was rs q
how Mr.. Nichols could be recognized II Hayes
Yc-. how the Government could be estah-
lish"d. We did not ask recognition. assuming
b that Hayes went IN. On the night OF III" 10th
made memorandum Of that conversation an,
submitted il TO Gen. Gihsoni a m"mhcr oi Con
gress with the consent OF Mr.. Matthews. on TN
18th 81 February. | met Mr. Matthews again 81
the 18th Of February. That memorandum wa
Mr.. Hl-,ock objected TO the witness readinl
again ms memorqnda OF the guarantees To- ID
made 10y the Nichols Government. but Gen
Butler said that he, wished to ask some ques
tons about II. and Mr. Hiscock withdrew hi
, objection. Gen Butler Temarkcd that tnrr'
9 M the facts Of this conference because Senate
e Matthews would not come and, now that h'
proposed TO get the witness g give some Of Tn
iacts Mr.. Hiscock objected. Mr.. Potter said tina
both gentlemen were right, aud the witness
could read his memoranda Of the guarantees
= which the Nichols Government was prepare,
TO make. Gen. Butler asked what was the pur
pose Of giving this memoranda TO senator Mat
E thews and MAJOR Burke replied that u was L
strengthen his hands IN arguments with the Re
publican Leaders , Gnb f. fsassgre .hsn m a. I.
1t should be established
That is what Nichols would agree 10 II
case he should remain Governor
"Now. take the first point. The acceptance o
the civil and political equality oi all men, ap'
the agreement not 10 attempt 10 deprive the
colored people OF any political or civil right
privilege or immunity enjoyed by any othci
class OF men Had there been any attempt t.
deprive the coored people Of any political p
civil right. privilege. or immunity enjoyed BY
white people Of your StateF
You had no occasion 10 promise that =
Yes because chnrges had been made by Re
publ ans. wrongtully.'
Did Mr.. Matthew'S make that chargcf'
Yes sir: Mr.. Matthews did make that charge
publicly and in print
Therefore you promised not To- do atwhcl
was Unconstitutional and Illegal The s"con'
point IN the Nichols guarantees was The en-
forcement OF the laws rigidly and impartiHlly
& - That Is also u part Of your Constitution
, and laws. isn't III Therefore you hav
strengthened his hands 10y agreeing that yol
would not act unconstliutlonully under you
Government Did you regard that MS weight
) cons Liberation y
- II WITS n somewhat weighy considcrai ION
} when you consider that there had been llttle %
, no administration of law by the authority U
: | Louisiana for yenrs past
You would have better administration unde
Democratic Government than had been admin
, istered 10y "A Republican Government and TIL
inducemeni WAS offered 10 yet Repuhlicans 4
! set up a Democratic Government ms against Re
r publican Government, Is that IT."
We certainly thought II necessary to Civ
assurance that there would DO better govern
mont" ou
/ " Did that have weight with Matthews"
| Il think Mr.. Matthews was sat SHED.
He wanted 10 argue with his follow Kcpubll
cans that you would not behave rs badly Il
! | Reuubicans aid p
| 81 eLo,,II rrafer Won vyOuld nut on nnOthe