The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-18
Who Bought the Presidency

vate organ of Mr.. JOHN KELLEY, bitter
personal enemy of President Tilden, we
cut an article headed with the above ques-
ton. When conservative paper, such as
the Express, makes an assertion that may
seem to be at variance with general knowl-
edge or belief, and supplements the plain
statement by re.itteration, reliance may
be placed upon it. That the presidency
was purchased by the occupant OF the
White House there has been no doubt, but
positive proof of the transaction has not
been forthcoming until now; and the Er-
press says it has seen such proof, and that
the papers sustaining it are in New FORK.
The bare assertion of the Express in
this matter is conclusive evidence of the
truth Of its statement, and will furnish ad-
dtional subject matter for investigation by
the Potter Committee. Let that committee
finish its work before it makes its report
to the house, and thoroughly sift this fresh
testimony brought forward by Mr.. Kelley.
The Express says:
Samuel j. Tilden did not buy the Presi-
dency. He was fairly elected TO it by a
majority of oyer quarter million votes, and
lacked but one electoral vote OF a majority
In the electoral colleges without counting
the votes OF Florida and Louisiana, which
belonged to him, the former by majority
of over 700C and tho latter by majority
of over 500. He had the best reason for
not buying an Office which belonged to
him already, and which he had every rea-
son for thinking would be given him as the
President. elect by the decision Of Con-
gress. If Weed aud Pelton and Mar
bic and other men dabbled in negotiations
with Republican officials In Florida and
South Carolina looking to q purchase of
electoral votes, it must be remembered. !,
that ;they acted confessedly without
Tildens knowledge, and without authority
from any one; ., that they had no money
with which to pay for the votes in question;
3, that Iilden forbade the negotiations as
soon as they came to his knowledge; and,
4, that the votes of both States were final
ly given to Hayes. That Tilden never
tried to purchase them is proved beyond
reasonable question by the strongest posi-
BILE testimony. That he tried to buy them
is q supposltion too preposterous TO be
maintained. Believing himself fairly
elected, and that he would obtain the Office
in a legitimate way, he had no motive for
making q purchase. But Tilden is not a
fool. He is one Of the most sagacious
lawyers in the country, long headed, pre-
terDatuTally cautious, timid to the point of
AFFECT cowardice. That he should have
consented to arrangements for the pur-
chase of electoral votes, knowing that had
they been purchased the fact could not
havp hnpD FONT dow opA Al or
the crime would have been instantly laid
at his door and proved against him, is ab-
solutely incredible.
Tiden did not buy the Presidency. nor
try to buy it. Did Rutherford B. Hayes
buy the office?
We answer, Yes.
Hayes was a defeated candidate. He
lacked nearly 100000 votes of popular
majority. He required the electoral votes
OF Florida and Louisiana in addition to
those he already had in order to obtain
majority OF one vote IN the electoral col
Ieges- The morning after the election IN
November, 1876, The Republican friends
aud agents Of Hayes commenced opera
tons u secure the electoral votes Of these
two States by means of q corrupt mani
pulation Of the returning boards. BY a
series OF unparalleled frauds, forgeries, aud
perJuries Democratic votes enough were
thrown out in both States, and the returns
were so changed as to secure the desired
end. These corrupt and criminal acts are
matters Of history. The proof of them is
beyond question. They were planned by
Republican leaders who acted in the in
terest of Hayes. They were executed with
the knowledge and full consent of his per-
sonal friends aud advisers. In Louisiana
John Sherman acted as his confidential
agent and promised offices to men who
bad had hand in these fraudulent trans
actions on condition that they would keep
silent about the business and help carry it
successfully through. Offices were viz
tually promised, almost 10 express terms
It not 10 writing, to men who took part in
fraudulent transactions in Florida, as has
been confessed by William Il. Chandler
and was reluctantly drawn from Minister
Noyes. And after Hayes became Presi-
deHt he ratified all the agreements of his
agents. by appointing to Federal office or
regarding IN some other 1ody almost eUeyy
nan lohO lad a hand an the .truudaAent
acts by a0tich the electoral Uotes Of those
States l0ere obtained. His O1vn conduct IN
putting these men, many Of t0hOn9 acre no
fOri0uSiY unfit for places Of tr1lSt, into Fed
PGt to a gigantic bargain for the Presi.
deacy, and that he approved and adopted
the acts Of his agents.
That Hayes bought the electoral votes
OF Florida and Louisiana is demonstrated
beyond a question by the facts; / that
they did not belong to him; ., that his
agents bargained for them; 3, that he OBJ
tanned them; and f. that be paid for them
by Federal appointments. IF stronger
proof of purchase is wanted, here tbs:
1T Will be remem bered that after the
Electoral Commission refused to 90 behind
the returns 1t was organized to examine
and report upon, there was astroug OPPOSE
ton to proceeding with the count of the
electoral votes in Congress. Some South
ern members in particular were angry, it
is alleged, and for the best of reasons. rs
the vital interests of their States were im-
perilled; and filibustering to prevent the
count actually began, with threatening pos
sibities of mischief to the Republicans
The Republican leaders were frightened
lest their criminal schemes would miacarry
and they should be punished for their
guilty acts. A conference at the Worm
ley Hotel was held between SouthernDem
ocrats and few of the leading representa-
tives Of Hayes. The facts respecting the
various interviews held for the purpose Of
inducing the flbustering Democrats 10
permit the count to go on were brought out
by the Potter Committee. These facts left
no doubt that bargain was made between
some Southern Congressman on the one
hand and Republicans who acted in behalf