Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-21
T,.e Presidential ErGIsG.

proceedings Of tho Potter committee closed,
Mojor Bourke continuing lis testimony said
We had become sick and tired Of the state OF
thicgs; cheated CIT 6! tgo elections and plum
dercd, VIC determined 10: to stand it any logger,
and would have forced q military government
in preference to standing such Thugs. General
Grant modified Lis ideas otter my visit to
Wasliogtou | vas in Washington tor the
purpose of getting the troops not to Interfere,
aud got 80 order to hat effect Oh the EttrrOoon
of the Fad of March, at , o'clock.
Q. Ihcn ynu got that order on that dag,
when General Grants term expired al twelve
o o'clock that night? Now, did you not know
that Hayes called on Grant that samc day, al
! l o'clock 10 the morning
A. No, sir | did not hear OF it. Did no!
krow OF any conference between Hayes and
Grant. The telegram on the lst OF March,
1877, from Grant to Packard, in which he
states that he does not believe publio opSlon
will sustain any action by the Uoited States
Government in Lcuisaus, and that troops
would only be used to project the peace, wit
ness admitted to be correct.
Witness said that We 10 louisiana we're not
| 10 favor Of the electoral commission. We un
derstocd through crude aod logical rcssonlpgs
| that if Hayes was rccogcizod Packard would
| also have to he recognized.
Witness saw nothing 10 Hayes letter Of GO
ceptancc about State going two ways.
| Here another telegram from u. s. Grant TO
General Aueur, dated 18th of JsDuly, 1877,
was read, 10 which, while deprec stlog inter
ference on the part of the Federal Government
in State governments,yet said that the Packard
government should bs reoOgDz I'd. as the cleo
toral commission had declared them elected.
When the hope of sealag Tidep, whom we
knew to be elected, passed away On the 10Th
| of February, wo were ready to confer With
! Hayes aud see what be meant doing tor L5u's
lana. Among some Of the promises made to
| Senator Matthews were suppression OF crnc
education Of tie blacks and whites, promotion
Of friendly relations between both, acd tq1aI
civil and political rights.
The education question Of black apd white
vas DOT discussed between Senator Matthews
and myself. Nothing was said between Mat.
tbcus aud myself ABOUT the returning board.
! Witness said there was not one word in these
guarantees that are net compulsory ADD en-
bodied in the Laws o! the Ueited States ard the
State OF Louisiana.
O. Now, was this ali you offered-to put in
Hayes and Packard out? A. We offered
these for the Nichols government.
| Witness said that we did not acquescc 10 not
| opposing the c2uct when we fouod that the re.
publican party were determined to 60 on With
the court.
@. Did you AID your party friends agree 10
stop opposition to the countlug in OF Hayes :
A. We certainly cid, sir. We were assured
! by President Grant that after tho count was
com pleted the troops would be withdrawn. |
said to Mr. Matthews that while We were as.
sured that President Gracls assurances OF
President Hayes policy were veil ntecded,
yet wa waDtci these assurances from such neo
| as Garfield, Morton and Others, |hom they
| regarded more than MIR. Hayes. Tie sald &c
could not answer for them, a2d | said Then
We will place sour party 10 such position that
! peopIe would join the fillbusers AID prevent
being couoled for Hayes.
Wibcss said there we're hut !wo phases Ct
negotiations in this thins-the Cameron and
Matthews phases. That he made the ssus
rropositon CT agreement TO Cameron IS ne cid
| 10 Matthews ca tie l3!h Of February; also 70
Mr.. Foster and other lc2Giug members ct the
republican party.
q. After tic resolution pas5:d ca the 18th
OF February by Congress, deciding not TO inter-
ier1 with tic Louisiana cunt, was there any
hope for Tie republican administration 4.
30. sir, except more arrangements were made
with the democrats Of Louisiana, AL a coG
v2r;:t;on with Mr. Hewitt. ..4,. lie said the
democrats were Getc. mined e put the onus OF
| this ff:u, en- the shoulders q shG rcruoIIeao
party. The republican parry we're well aware
OF our differentiation to break up tic couat.
Witnrss said he had conversation with
Geccrsl Grant on the 2Cth Of February. He
minated that he woud not do anything u
prejudice the republican party, ADD would not
act uetil the count was declared fer Hayes.
Grant allowed US virtually to take possession Of
the State. We acted on bis limitations, aud
he submitted to them. On the Goth Of Fetru
ar7 witness sg4 he received telegram from
Mr. Ellis, OF L3uisiaus, from Congress- and
went to SIC him. lie said. Come instantly
lie told me that ne had g letter from Lamar
relative to the CONVERSATION that be (Lanar)
had With Matthews aud Foster III regard to tho
speech made by Foster. The following is .
copy Ct The letter.
WASHINGTON, February 20. 1871.
My Dear Ellis: hsvo just learned from un-
questionable authority. which [ will give il you
wish it. tbst Foster asid to gentleman, my in
forraant, that ID 9 speech be made today, which
so Significantly, but Indirectly hints ct Hayes
Southern policy, that he made it after consulta-
ton with Mr. Matthews Mr.. Hayes brother in
law, snd Mr. Matthews told him and urged him
to say squarey that Hayes would have nothing
to do or say to Packard. Foster said he would,
but he said he WAS afraid 10 take too much upon
himself 10 ssy that; but Mr.. Matthews reiterGtes
his desire that Foster should say so plumply
and further said, IF l weTo to speak, should
ssy it. because it is the truth" Foster further
said that he did not see the mode by which
Hayes could accomplish the practical recognition
of Nichols SIS Governor, to which my inform
ant replied: "Let him ssk Nichols, If With
draw the army and the gunboats, will you as
sure me that you will not establish your govern,
mert by bloodshed and bloody retaliation :! and
if Nichols makes the pledge, led him withdraw
thepc." Now, Ellis, this is the frat thing have
ever heard ss coming f!on Hsyes, directly OF
Southern man We do not want offices. but Wa
do want get cur States a3d people
available opportunity otfers to servo your peo-
pie, to spring forward q: once and SEQ if you
can't free your State? I think you should at
once see Mr Star ley Matthews, and ask him if
Governor Hayes will give you some assurance