Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1882 — Garfield and the “Visiting Statesmen.” [ARTICLE]

Garfield and the “Visiting Statesmen.”

A correspondent of the New Orleans Times-Democrat writes: A strange story comes to me from the death-bed of the late President Garfield. It is to the offect that while yet in his full senses, but "convinced that he could not recover, he expressed not only regret but deep contrition for the part which he had borne in depriving President TiMen of the office to which he was elected in 1876It will be remembered that Mr. Garfield was one of the “visiting statesmen” who thrust themselves into the canvass of the vote of Louisiana in that year, bringing out “evidence” of “bulldozing” in some of the rural parishes, and in particular that of the old colored woman whom Mr. Garfield examined, “ not,” he said, “as a Judge, but as a lawyer.” It is now related that, feeling that he could not recover, that his death must take place within a few days, he talked with his attendants about his public career as well as his personal affairs. It is said, on authority that I have no reason to doubt, that he showed himself sincerely penitont for the part which ho took in the great .fraud of 1876. Ho regarded that as the one great stain upon his public caroor, and ho made some reference to documents which he felt sure would serve to mitigate the judgment of posterity upon him. He expressed the greatest apprehension that at "no distant period an avenging Nemesis would visit upon his party and friends a terrible revenge for that wrong. Thoso who listened to him were his personal and political friends ; they regarded the words and emotions of Garfield due to the effect of physical weakness and long suffering, and agreed to be silent regarding them. But in the quarrels that have arisen between the Stalwarts and Half-breeds they have been repeated, and*at length the subject of discussion in private circles. At no distant day some authorized publication on the subject may be expected.