The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-19
AGE MAY INTERFERE
GENERAL LONGSTREET MAY BE UN-
ABLE TO FILL AN OFFICE.

Poiitics-The Compact OF New Orleans
and How 1t Was Rept~
There is much reason to doubt tho
authenticity Of the story sent out recent
ly that President Mckinley will ap-
point General Longslreet as one Of the
commissioners Of Pacific railways to
succeed Wade Hampton of South Caro-
lima Viewing the matter in its various
lights, it is highly improbable that
man already past the age of 80 and fee
bic in health will be given such an ar
duOus task. He is almost infirm, SO
much SO, in fact, that his daughter new
er permits him to get out of her sight
for more than few moments at q
time. At public demonstration in
Cincinnati two years ago he tainted
away twice from physical exhaustion
after a short walk, and when doctor
was called to see the venerable soldier
at the Burnett House he gave it as his
opinion that ON account Of his patients
eenility the chances Of his recovery
were slight. Still he rallied and recov-
cred, and when his loving daughter led
him by the hand through the corridors
Of the hotel to a carriage that took them
to southern bound train she said that
her father would never appear at pub
lie reception again.
Here is story about this Georgian
that has never been in print. 1t was
told some years ago by very near kins-
man Of the aged warrior. II may or it
may not he true. Said this gentleman,
IN the course Of conversation about
the war and its southern leaders:
II do not know who is to write the
history Of what am going to tell.
General Longstreet has not, and some
months ago when ! talked with him
about il he told me that he had never
discussed it and that in his book he had
eschewed all reference to the matter.
"In 1868, after the election Of Cen
eral Grant to the presidency, there was
. conference Of nearly all the big lead
ers Of the oonfederacy in one Of the par
lors Of the st. Charles hotel in New
Orleans. There were IL or more present.
and the meeting. which was held be-
hind closed doors, lasted for more than
. week. When it did adjourn, it had
been resolved that, SO far as they could.
they would throw no obstacles in the
way Of the national government; that
they would advise their southern friends
TO desert the Democratic party and join
hands with the Republicans, and in this
way the federal offices would 60 to the
OK confederates, instead of the ghouls
and carpet baggers that then infested
that country. General Longstreet, a col
lege mate of General Grants and a per-
sonal friend of many years standing,
notwithstanding the fact that each had
commanded contending forces during
the civil war, had seen the great soldier
ut Washington few weeks before, and
he then had recommended such course.
It was agreed at the New Orleans confer
ence, almost without opposition, that
these southerners should cooperate with
General Grant and bring about speedy
settlement OF all differences then exist
ing.
''The gentlemen participating in this
conference went to their homes, Cen
eral Longstreet went to Washington.
He had no difficulty in seeing the pres
ident soon after his arrival. A few days
later he was appointed United States
marshal for the southern district of
Georgia. His nomination was confirm
ed, and the general accepted the posi-
tion. The country knows about the
howl that was raised all over the re-
gion south of Mason and Dixon's line
because of Longstreet desertion. He
had been lifelong Democrat. He had
voted with the Wings before the war,
but had recanted and had come back in
to the Democratic fold, exhibiting much
contrition. He was one of the heroes Of
the Confederacy. He had gone to his
Georgia home in 1865 with enmity and
malice ia his heart toward the Repub-
lican party, which was then to him a
party of rascals. And for him to 20 in
to their camps four years later was an
act mover TO h. condoned. That is the
way the southerners thought. Some still
look at it that way. Newspapers teem-
ed with denunciation; stump speakers
thundered t.ieir excoriating sentences
from all CO. -ners and cross roads, and
private families heaped obloquy on his
name around tho family hearth. But he
was undeterred by these demonstrations,
and up to the expiration of his commits
sion he remained unseduced by such
popular clamor. The other Confederates
who had entered into the compact to
take offices and thereby show the ad-
ministration that they were ready to
act in peace were frightened away by
the indignation created by Longstreet's
acceptance, and finally they became the
traitors, If traitors there were. Long
street had been sent ahead to blaze the
way. The fogs had become thick and
the road dangerous. and his followers
halted behind when they had promised
assistance.
"And during all the years since then
this gallant old man has carried his
heartaches well. He has never divulged
the secret. 1t may come out some day,
and then woe be unto few southerners
who have reviled his glorious name. "