The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-23
FOSTER DID US A FAVOR.
AN INCIDENT OF THE HAYES CAM
PAIGN RECALLED.

Letter Signed by the New Secretary
and Stanley Matthews Promising
That the Troops Should bs With
drawn From Louisiana and South
Carolina if Hayes Was Inaugurated.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-The democrats
IN congress recall with satisfaction the fact
that the newly appointed Secretary of the
treasury helped to secure home rule for
Louisiana aud South Carolina in 1877.
GOV. Fosters speech in the House in Feb
rusrv. 1877, was the first declaration of the
Haves' southern policy. "The flag," said
Gov Foster, "should float over states,
not provinces; over freedom, not
subiec.s.n This led to the negotia~
tons between Gen. Gordon of Georgia
and John Young Brown of Kentucky, with
Gov Foster. which resulted in breaking
the deadlock then exiting in the House
over the report of the electoral commission
in seating Mr.. Hayes and in freeing the
south from the federal bayonets which
President Harrison, Speaker Reed and other
republcan leaders of to-day would like to
send south again.
MR.. BROWNS STORY.
John Young Browns account Of the me-
rotiations is as follows: ''Several days
after Mr.. Foster had made his speech, dur
ing which be had received letter from Mr.
HAYES commending and thanking him for
il Gen. Gordon and Mr.. Brown met Mr..
Foster in the appropriation committee
room, and told him that if the line of the
democrats who were voting TO execute
the electoral commission law should be
10 In efo 10
MIR. Hayes would no more be President than
he Mr.. Fcster) would be. Mr.. Foster said
he believed this"
AN ASSURANCE WANTED.
Mr.. Brown then spoke of Mr. Fosters
patriotic speech, and told him he had come
to request Of him written assurance that
if Mr.. Hayes was inaugurated he would re-
store home rule in the states of Louisiana
ard South Carolina. After some reference
to Mr.. Hayes letter, Mr.. Foster agreed to
give written assurance, signed by him.
self and Stanley Matthews. ION
the next dav," continued Mr..
Representatives and handed me an unsigned
letter. read it, took my pen and erased
one paragraph, and told him it could be
made fuller and stronger, but for the hon
orable men who gave it in good faith it was
sufficient.
THE LETTER SIGNED.
"In an hour afterwerd / went to his desk
and he delivered me letter signed by Mr..
Matthews and himself. Mr.. Matthews also
signed a letter, differing slightly from the
otter, and assured Mr.. Brown that the
order afterward issued for the with
drawal of the troops would be made
as soon as Mr. Hayes election was declared.
With Mr.. Fosters permission, copies of the
letters were i{fFen to Messrs. Levy and Ellis
OF Louisiana, Butler of South Carolina, and
Others. The count then proceeded, Mr..
Hayes was declared elected the troops were
Withdrawn, and the Packard and tine
Chamberlain governments abandoned to
their fate.n
THE LETTERS.
The letters referred to are one signed by
Messrs. Foster and Matthews and the other
by Gov. Foster alone, dated Feb 26 and q,
1877, and are as follows: 'Referring to the
conversation had with you yesterday, in
which Gov. Hayes policy as to the status
OF certain southern states was discussed, we
desire to say in reply that we can assure you
In the strongest possible manner of our
great desire to have adopted such a policy
as will give the people of the states of South
Carolina and Louisiana the right to control
their own affairs in their own way, and tc
say further that we feel authorized from
our acquaintance and knowledge of Gov.
hayes and his views on this question tc
Bedge ourselves to you for him that such
Will be his policy.n