Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-07-05
A STORY OF 1877,

Mr.. John F. Mines publishes in th,
New York World, of the 10Th inst. lors
| interview with Gen. Stewart L. W ot
ford, u. S. District Attorney, who il
explaining his reasons for accepting that
office, when he might have aimed high
er, let's out some very interesting secret
history concerning tho Presidential con
troversy in 1877. We quote as follows
I'm regard to my acceptance of the
| district attorneyship, can explain that
| by letting you into the secret of little
bit of history, which may astonish you
as 1T certainly would astonish the quie
citizens of New York. You KNOW now
| much excitement attended the decisic n
of the Electoral Commission that Mr..
Hayes had been elected President in the
place of Mr.. Tilden. The air was imme-
diately filled with rumors Of armed resist
1t was openly stated that in all the Dem
ocratic States bodies of men wore being
marshalled and drilled for revolution
Threats We're made here and at many 9th
cr points that Mr.. TilGen would be inaug-
urated on the 4th of March ia spite of
Grant and his army, that the custom
houses would be siczcd to create Il reve-
nue. and that tho Democratic President
would be seated By a grand popular up
rising.
"Ncw York, it-was plain would be the
central. point of the new revolution. Mr..
Tilden would take the oath on the steps
of the City Hall ut the hands Of one OF
the Democratic judges, and simultaneous
ly the Gust cmI House and tie Sub-Treas
ury would be seized. Boasts were made
that the business men of New York
would mako no opposition, but acqnicsce
in the situation from fear of their homes
being given over to an lncendiary mob"
t'Do you think General, there was any |
truth in these rumors2"
ri am afraid there was only too much !
truth in them. Had the series of great |
mass meetings that were pro.
posed for all the large cities been
leld there is no telling how far the pass
ons of the multitude might have been kin,
lied and to what extremes they might
lave gone. / know that Prcside. Grant
md isadviscrs were very much afraid of
he result. But Grant, although he was
luxious, never hesiiated about the course
le was to ~ursue. He had Determined to
Use every soldier and sailor and gun at
lis command to put down anything like
Democratic rebellion. If it had been |
nybody but Grant who stood in the way
'ilden might have been inaugurated and
ave gotten possession of the revenues in
Dite of Congress and the Electoral Com
rission.
"When tho rumors Of possible trouble
rst got afloat the President felt the need
having some one at this point who would
,e that the laws of the United States |
ere promptly and fearlessly executed
@ consulted with his friends and dectl-
that it was best to have soldier in !
lis of1ice-somebody who had smelt
)wder and would not be afraid of a New ,
ork mob. I was sent for to Washing
N and there consulted with the PeeSi | ,
mt and Cabinet and his military advis 5
s in regard to the situation. Grant
Id mo frankly that there might be trou-
c here; that he was seriously anxious, i
view of the irritation of tho public ,
ind; that if there was an attempt at q
tho blame might be laid AT =,
S door, and that he was determined to :,
cure tho Inauguration of Nr. Hayes at Q,
| hazards. re then asked mo to accept +,
Q position of United States District NJ
,torney at New York and insisted that
was my duty to do so. He freely adj tr
itted the possible perils of the position, =,
d that might be placed so that my G
rye and Judgment could alone avert W
,ublc since any attempt to inaugnrate al
:. Tilden must be crushed out on the I'll
,t. Under these circumstances and by w