# Conspectus of the History of Political Parties and the Federal Government/Conspectus of Political History/Hayes

Hayes’ Administration.
Conciliation.—The most prominent feature of the opening of the administration of President Hayes was his disposition to conciliate the disaffected feeling in the south, and accomplish, by mild means, what force and repressive legislation had failed in. He appointed a former confederate officer, David M. Key, of Tennessee, Postmaster-General, and made Carl Schurz, a leader of the Liberal Republicans in 1872, Secretary of the Interior. He, also, very early in his administration, removed the government troops from Louisiana and other states, and left the latter to themselves. During a tour of the southern states, soon afterward, he made several speeches, in which he declared his desire and purpose to bring about a better state of feeling and a more cordial union. His inaugural address indicated his desire for such a state of things, and for the reform of some of the abuses of the civil service. He had foreshadowed these views in his letter of acceptance of the nomination. Some Republicans thought he carried conciliation too far. These called themselves “stalwarts.”
Civil service reform.—An attempt was early made to revive and extend some of the regulations of the civil service reform, partially established in the previous administration. Several orders were issued and strict obedience claimed, and, by them, considerable fluttering among office holders was caused; but they were, after a time, construed into nothing of any force, and were gradually relaxed, if not abandoned.
Enforcement of election laws.—The most exciting party contest of the administration grew out of Democratic efforts in defeating the law authorizing the use of United States troops to keep the peace at the polls. The employment of deputy marshals, for the same purpose, was sought to be defeated. The means resorted to were the attachment of “riders,” or conditions to the military and civil appropriation bills, requiring that the troops should not be allowed at any election in any state, and that the marshals should not interfere in the elections. The Republicans resisted the conditions, and the bill failed in 1879, making an immediate extra session necessary. The contest was not then settled, and continued into the following session in 1880.
Negro exodus.—A striking feature of the movements of 1879, was a very general negro emigration, usually called “exodus,” from the lower Mississippi river states and from the Carolinas. The earlier emigrants, and the larger number, went to Kansas. Later, a considerable number went to Indiana. A committee, to investigate the character and causes of the movement, was appointed by the Senate; it ascertained that the causes were in some cases political, and in some pecuniary.
Resumption.—On the 1st of January, 1879, specie payments were resumed, after about eighteen years of suspension. The certainty that resumption would take place at the appointed time, without any difficulty or derangement of business, set it in operation, practically, some months before the time. The premium on gold was very small, and many private business houses were paying specie when desired. All apprehensions and prophecies of evil proved chimerical.
Refunding.—By authority of Congress, the six per cent. bonds were refunded, at different times, at five, four and a half, and four per cent. The new bonds were freely taken, and soon commanded a premium in Europe, as well as at home.
Tammany.—There were threatening divisions in both parties at the New York election of 1879. The Tammany Society, of New York City, which had long led the Democracy of the city, except for a few years after the exposure of Tweed’s peculations, ​opposed Mr. Robinson, the Democratic nominee for governor, and thus defeated him.
Independent Republicans.—A large number of Republicans were opposed to Senator Conkling’s control of the party in that state, and refused to support the nominee for governor whom he favored, Mr. Cornell, and very nearly defeated him in spite of the help of Tammany. These were Independent Republicans, called by the Regulars “scratchers.”
Nominations, 1880.—On the 2d of June, the Republican national convention met at Chicago; James A. Garfield (O.) and Chester A. Arthur (N. Y.) were nominated for the positions of President and Vice-President. Two important features of this convention were, (1) the recognition of the right of delegates to represent the opinions of their districts irrespective of the instructions of state conventions; and (2) the overthrow of the attempts at changing the traditional policy of the country, which prohibits one man from serving as President more than two terms.
The national convention of the National party (Greenback) met at Chicago on the 9th of June, and selected as candidates for the two highest executive offices, James B. Weaver (Ia.) and Benjamin J. Chambers (Tex.) This ticket was acquiesced in by most of the element which constituted the Labor party.
The Prohibition national convention was held at Cleveland, Ohio, June 17th. Neal Dow (Me.), for President, was nominated by acclamation. A. H. Thompson (O.) was chosen for Vice-President.
On the 22d of June the national convention of the Democratic party met at Cincinnati, Ohio. General Winfield S. Hancock (Penn.) was nominated for President on the second ballot, and William H. English (Ind.) for the position of Vice-President, was chosen without opposition. The Tammany wing of the Democratic party in New York acquiesced in the nominations. A platform consisting of twelve resolutions, was adopted by a unanimous vote. [See D. and Pl.]