Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-27
BURKE'S BARGAIN.
FULL HISTORY OF THE WORMLEY
CONFERENCE.
At Which 1t Was Agreed Hayes Should
Abandon Packard In Return for the
Electoral Vote of Louisiana---Sherman,
Matthews. Dennison and Foster, Parties
TO the Agreement, Subsequently Ratified
by Hayes Himself
The Ne,. Orleans Committee,

i
after relating that he went to Washington in
January, 1877, at the request of Gov. Nichols,
to see what arrangements could be made to Sc
cure the recognition of the Nichols govern
ment, he submitted copy of the following
telegraphic report, which he made:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 26, 1S77.-To Gov.
+. i. Nichols, (confdentiaD We have been
one week arranging force to compel guaran-
tees securing your govt rnment. At confer
ence to-day and tonight with Sherman,
Matthews, Dennison, Garfield and Foster. we
assure peace, order, protection of law to white
and black no prosecution for past political mis-
conduct, no immunity for crime. On the
other hand by gradual process such methods as
government of the State by the withdfaE4i 6f
troops, non-interference and revocation of
military orders. As to the Senate it is SO close,
and party lines SO loosely drawn, that our
friends believe that if Kellogg
and q Democrat present creden-
tials on the 4th of March it would
greatly damage Kellog's being seated. Could
long term Senatorship remain now, and call an
extra session about the 10th of March to elect,
and then provided a vote on the admission of
the long term, Senators assure us Kellogg's ad-
mission can be prevented. This management
should not prevent the immediate election of
Eustis to the short term Senator. There may
be favorable action Of the President immedi-
ately. Gibson sick.
(Sgned) E. a. BURKE.
JNo. ELLIS.
WILLIAM L.. LEVY.
Witness said he visited the House of Repre-
sentatives, and Mr.. Ellis there stated to him
that he had received letter from Lamar stat
ing that Matthews, Foster and friends of Hayes
had made statement in regard to what they
bol,a - IL IL c
question. and would be his course toward
Packard. He, Ellis, thought it necessary to go
to Columbus, o., with view to verify the
statement that had been made. Ellis stated
that he had communicated the substance of
the statement to Gov. Nichols and had
telegraphed to Hayes, asking if
he had been fairly represented by
those claiming to be his friends. Witness dis
agreed with Ellis and telegraphed to Nichols,
stating the ultimate solution of the Louisiana
question to the benefit of his (Nicholls) govern
ment rested more with the strong, powerful
leaders of the Republican party than with
Hayes. Witness knew Hayes policy towards
the South would be conciliatory, but
told Ellis, Matthews and Foster that he
did not believe there was any man living
strong enough to carry ont such policy in the
face of a united, hostile party; that the friends
OF Nichols did not need any further guarantee
or assurances from Hayes personally, but that
they did want and must have the guarantee of
the strong radical leaders of the party; that it
was the Shermans, the Garhelds, the Mortons,
and men of that class, whose assurances they
must have, that they would allow Hayes to
carry out his peaceful and conciliatory policy
toward the Southern people. These views
witness had set forth fully in conference with
Matthews and Others on the 18th, 18th and 18th
of February, and he had announced to them
that it was their determination, unless they
could secure guarantees of the strong radical
leaders of the Republican party that they
should make united and determined effort to
defeat the electoral count. They had had rad
zeal leaders long enough.
Witness went on to say that he said to Mat
thews and ex-Gov. Dennison, of Ohio in the
hall of the House of Representatives., substan-
tally a. follows: We are absolutely deter
mined to protect and defend our State govern
ment, and while we feel that there is no dis
LOYALTY in it so far as the general government
WAS concerned, that our course exhibited pre-
vious)y had been misunderstood. We had con-
stantly sought to avoid clashing with the fed
eral authority, yet we were determined to
defend our government as against
the federal government or any.
bo.!y else, who might attempt to sustain
Packard. Therefore, with us, an attempt to
inaugurate the Packard government was bound
to plunge Louisiana into anarchy and strife.
Should this come preferred to make ma
tional issue in which our national friends would
be involved as well as ourselves. Matthews
and Gov. Dennison then asked witness
whether he had any objection to an
interview with Sherman. He said certainly
not, and they walked to the finance committee
room of the Senate, where they found Sher-
man, who said he regretted the position of
affairs in Louisiana and South Carolina. He
was very much alarmed about them, and want
ed to know what could be done to remove the
difficulties.
Witness informed Sherman that the way
to remove the cause was for the friends of
Hayes to go to President Grant and say to hi m
that the removal of the troops from Louisiana
would not embarrass Mr.. Fl ayes success but
rather facilitate his Inauguration. Mr.. Sher-
man replied: major Burke, there is no use
talking about Grant. he is surrounded by
such influences that we cannot
hope to accomplish anything through
lam Witness replied that he
had just left Gen. Grant, and read dis.
patch in which Grant said that he was satisfied
that the Nichols government was the govern.
ment that should stand; that his opinion and
sentiments were clearly against the use OF
troops and that there would be no interference
with the Nichols government; that he had not
acted because he simply did not want to EN-
barrass his successor.
Witness futher stated to the gentlemen that
if they were sincere they should go to President
Grant and say to him that it would not embar-
rass his successor, and that the withdrawal of
the troops from Louisiana would cause cessa
ton of opposition to the determination of th.
count in the House. They agreed to go to
President Grant on the following morning anC
make the representations. Gov. Dennison
Matthews and Sherman then said that Will,
they were not authorized to speak for Hayes
yet they believed the sentiments in Grant's
n o&oh Aaho t.yr Sa6 fba NIX
of Gov. Hayes.
Sherman apprehensions seemed to be will
reference to the treatment of the colored PEG
pie, to the abandonment of the Republicans OF
the State, and to the policy of the State gov
eminent towards the Republicans in case tn
Nicholl government should come into power
The conversation next turned on the ques
ators from Louisiana. Witness suggested
that the Nichols government would not cleo
it's long term Senators at the regular session o
the legislature, but would wait until the cabi
net would be confirmed, and then call an extr
session of the legislature for that purpose
Witness then suggested a conference of gentle
men who felt that they repre-
Hayes with those Representing
Louisiana so that there should be misundel
standing, and on this suggestion the conferenc
at Wormley's hotel was held the next night
the 26th of February. There we're present a
this conference, Messrs. Matthews, Garfield
Foster, Sherman, George, Carter, Levy, ELI
and witness, and as there was no person activ.
ly representing South Carolina, they invite
Mr.. Watterson, of Kentucky. to be present i
the interests of the latter State.
The conference was held in Mr.. Evart's room
but that gentleman was not present. The cor
dition of affairs in Louisiana was thorough
discussed. and the Louisiana representative
read statement of the policy of the Nicholl
government. Upon the other hand. most pos
| thews, Sherman, Garfield and Foster, Meth.
one of whom. however, stated they were a,
roqsized by Hayes to speak, b,