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

ence 1t contained no bargain, had nothing about it
in the shape of compact It was not signed by any
body. and Major Burke was not authorized to bind
anybody on the subject. 1t was prepared simply to
show the Republicans what policy in regard to the
black people the Nichols party was already commit
! ted tor
"Those who attack the President for not sustain
ing Governor Packard forget that General Grant was
fully convinced that it was impossible any longer
to uphold State Governments in the South by the
use of troops, when they were unable TO stand
alone" l remarked, when Senator Matthews had
completed his story. 1t was popularity understood
that General Grant had to be restrained to prevent
him from Withdrawing the troops before his term OF
office expired"
81 never advised President Grant on that sub
ject" responded the Senator. 81 did call on AttOr-
neyGeneral Taft in company with two other gentle
men, to represent to him the importance of doing
nothing which should commit the incoming Admin
stration to any line of policy with regard to the
South. He replied that he did not expect that
President Grant would recognize Governor Packard
He, Judge Taft, thought it ought to have been done
in the first place. but at that time there were diff
culties in the way that did not at first exist He
advised us to call on the President and talk with
HIM about the matter. That did not think it
best TO do"
"Did you ever talk with General Grant about the
Louisiana question:
81 never went to the White House for that pur-
pOse One day when called to talk with the Pres
ident about the AttOrneyship of Kentucky,
and had transacted my business and risen to go,
General Grant asked me to be seated again, and SAID
he desired to speak with me about affairs in LOuisi
ana. He then told me that he had concluded to
modify the orders to General Augur so as to make
it his duty simply to preserve the peace. told him
that this was very important step, and asked him II
he understood what the full effect of such change
of orders would be. He said he did; that
while General Augurs duty was then to
preserve the statu quo Il remember was surprised
to hear him use that expressionl he would subse-
quenty be expected only to keep the peace. then
said to the President: Suppose the Nichols Gov
ernment after this, should by peaceable means pro-
coed to establish its officers in different parts of the
State, and to supplant Packard, what then y
That replied the President, would be none OF
my business. If Nichols can get possession of the
State Government by peaceable means. let him do
so' General Grant then said that there was no Sc
cret about this matter and he expressly authorized
me to inform the members Of the Louisiana delega-
ton. | went to the Capitol and meeting Messrs.
Ellis and Levy, told them what the President had
said to me. put it in writing, because | wanted
them to understand that the whole Republican
party, as represented by its President General
Grant, was committed to the policy which we ex-
pected Governor Hayes to pursue"
In speaking of the criticisms of the Presidents
Southern policy by leading Republicans, Senator
Matthews referred to the speech lately made by Mr.
Charles Foster, aud directed attention to the fact
that in the same paragraph in which he abandoned
the defence of that policy, he admitted that it was
necessary one. The Senator also spoke of the
events in Louisiana which resulted in the undls-
puted sscendency of Governor Nichols as 'revolu-
ton," but he evidently looks upon it as ustiiiable
revolution, for he expressed the opinion that the
people Of Ohio, or New-York, or Massachusetts,.
would have pursued a similar course under similar
circumstances. l. L W.