Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-12-07
CLOSE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
Some Previous Interesting Contests.
From the Boston Traveller. ]

Should the successful CanQlOate owe his
triumph to his having received the favors OF
a small State or two, he would not stand
alone in the list OF Our consulares, tor more
than one man has been made the President
OF the United States by IL meagre majority,
cast either III the electoral college, or at
the polls, or at both places. Our first con-
tested Presidential election, in 1861, was
decided so closely that the change of two
electoral votes would have placed Thomas
Jefferson. instead of John Adams at the
head OF the Nation, as Washingtons imme-
diate successor. MIR. Adams had II votes,
and Mr.. jefferson 6S. One OF Mr.. Adams
votes came from Virginia, and another from
North Carolina; and lad those two votes
been given for Mr.. jefferson, he would have
~ votes, and Mr. Adams G0,-and the Nir-
ginian would have been elected by one ma
jority. One of the electoral votes for Mr..
Adams, chosen in maryland, was obtained
by only four majority; and, had 1t been Sc
cured for MIR. Jefferson, he would have had
50 votes, and Mr.. Adams TO- and the latter
would have been elected by one majority
There were only 1873 electoral votes at that
time, or about AZ less than one half the pres
ent number; 50 that, should the successful
candidate on the 9TH Of November, 1876, re-
ceve eight ma jOrity in the electoral college,
Adams was elected, so years since. Consid-
ering who and what John Adams was, eight
majority would be nothing to be ashamed of
on the part of either of our candidates, and
nothing to be proud of it must be eadded Mr.
Jefferson defeated President Adams in 1900
OF, when he had 73 electoral votes, and the
President 76, or a ma jority of eight, equal to
about 20 majority in 1867. In 1928, a
change Of 20 votes in the colleges would
have prevented the reelection of President
Madison, who received 1923 electoral votes,
while Dewitt Clinton got 80. In 1869,
Mr.. VanBuren would have failed of an cleo
ton had there been change in % electoral
votes, as he had but % over the number nee
essary to'a CHOICE and Pennsylvania, hav-
ing 30 such votes, gave him but small ma
jority. A change Of 5000 in that States
popular vote would have defeated him in the
colleges, by scnding 30 wing olcctnrs to the
Pennsylvania college. AS it was, Col |
johnson, the Democratic candidate for the
Vice-frcsldency, was defeated in the colleges !
because Virginia would not support him, her |
% votes being given for William Smith, of |
Alabama. Col. johnson was chosen by the |
Senate, the only instance Of the kind known |
in our history.
Great DIS were the popular ma jority and the
electoral majority given for Gen. Harrison in
college had it been possible 10 change some
eight or nine thousand votes in the three States
OF New York, Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey These States cast IS electoral votes,
which. added to the 60 such votes that Mr..
Van Buren received, would have given him
just the number necessary to 4 choice and
yet there would have been a popular ma or
ity of more than 100, 600 against him. The
tour States named gave a popular vote of
almost 100000, though their united majori-
ties for General Harrison did not much ex-
ceed 10000, New York giving him rather
more than $4,000, New Jersey about 1890,
Maine 41O, and Pennsylvania 343. 1t was
very close work, and there would have been
great trouble had the Democratic vote been '
50 increased as TO defeat General Harrison in q
he electoral college, after the people had 50
lecidely indicated their preference for him at
he polls. Some men feared that there would
De a prOnunciamentO
At the election of 1914 4j Mr. Polk was !
hosen to the Presidency through the aid of r
be New York electors, who We're 36 in num- !;
yer: and as Mr. Polk had 40 votes, and the !
lumber necessary to choice was 138,--the +
Whole number of electors being 275,-he r
would have had 1874 votes, had New York =
ecided against him. Mr. Clay had 1O5 votes; .
nd, had he received New York's vote, he ~
'ould have been chosen by 141 votes, or by f
majority of only five votes. The Demo- f
ratio popular majority in New York was n
nall-about 5000 we think so that small q,
Ilange there would have substituted Mr. n
lay for Polk as President, and thus have ~
banged the whole current of our political {,
istory for the last 80 years. The wings at y,
ibued their defeat in the Empire State, ~
rs, to the action of the liberty party in a,
inning Mr. Birney for the Presidency; and III
cOndly, to Democratic fraudulent voting in to
ew York city. 1t is probable that they were p
ght, ard that the two things were more than T,
ey could stand but it never required much Vi
kill the wings as politicians for they were :,
ways on the verge of committing suicide. ~
1S4S-49, the change of 10 electoral votes at
ould have given the Presidency to Gen. he
ASS. Gen. Taylor's vote was 1863, and o.
at Of Gen. Cass 1877; and some of the Tay- su
r votes were got by small majorites. The no
ections since 1S4S-49 do not require partic- fo
ar mention. fo
A WONDERFUL microscopic watch has been 1'
esented to Nine. MacManon by the Ecole
o.1o