Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-11-21
One Who was an Actor Gives Up the Inside
Story of the Most Memorable Po-
litca Event in
History.

4
the contest from first to last, on the floor
OF Congress, in the committee rooms, and
in the Electoral Commission. He objecs
| however, for various reasons, TO the use OF
| his name, and he cannot here be more par
| ticularly designated than by saying that ne
| is Democrat of the highest prominence in
| his party, and possible nominee for the
| Presidency in 1854.
| TiIden's Chances.
From talk OF the late elections, and OF
the increased chances of Mr.. Tilcen's NOM
ination next year on account thereof the
| conversation easily turned to the exciting
| period Immediately following the Presi-
dental election of 1876 On this topic the
gentleman soon became a free talker, as
| most men are Of great scenes or incidents
| of which they have been an eyewitness or
| in which they have been actors; and he
| soon so warmed to his work that an acute
| ear and quick brain were necessary 70 fol-
| low and commit TO memory care his
| words. The substance OF the distinguished
| gentieman's con yersation is as follows:
| almost daily my mind reyerts 10 the
| period of the contested election between
| Tilder and Hayes, and never withou,
| feeling of thankfuluess that the great con
| test was settled in peace. do not believe
| the country ever knew, or yet knows over
| What volcano it rested at that time, what
| narrow escape was had from terrific
| eruption that might have swept this re-
| public into oblivion.
a Member Speaks.
II was a member of the select Confer
| erce Committee appointed by the two
Houses in the latter part of December to
re on the count OF the electoral votes.
You will remember the House committee
| was democratic; the Senate committee Re-
| publican in complexion. The parties
| therefore stood represel ted in these two
committees which wereeto meet together
| and endeavor 20 agree upon some means of
averting the vague bat fearful trouble on
| a decision of tAe confess III the ordinary
way. All the fierce desires of both parties
were concentrated upon this little commit
[ tee Of fourteen, anu can tell you we al
| ;elt tie pressure end responsibility.
For nearly q month this committee Ia
| boI ed hard. There were ali sorts OF propo-
stioDs and schemes, some those of states
| mGnship, many OF rank partisanshp.
Meanwhile the country seemed TO be grow.
| ing more excited aboat the matter, and to-
ward the last very impatient. All sorts of
rumors filled the air and the excitement
was at high pitch. Finally, near tue
middle of January arrived, and no conclu-
on had been reached The Two commit.
tees p presenting The two partiCe could not
agree. 1t was but srX weeks 10 the inaugu.
raj day, and not practical step had been
taken toward solving the question as to
who the President should be.
S0nkIing and Logan:
AT this crisis, l am happy 70 say,
though Democrat, it was very fortunate
thing for this country that at the time
this committee was sele 1ted Senator Logan
happt ned TO be ill., He was to have been
me mher OF the committee. but Senator
Conkupg wea put on in his stead. Had
Logan been with US | do not bctieve an
agreement could have been reached. Sena-
tor Morton was an unyleldlng, lnIplacable
partisan, whose opposition 10 any plan
that might have made ii possible for I'll
en- to be seated was constant source OF
trouble, and if ne had had Logan 10 lack
him we certainly could not have got on
At ELL
You see a-bitter-- Republicans did not
wish TO give al inch; they had the gamein
their own hands: By the old method. OF
counting the electoral vote, the Scnate,
through its President, did it ALL and the
Senate was Republican In the hands OF
the Vi tDc Doudle W6Te
sufficiently formal on which to declare
Hayes and Whesler elected. And Grsnt
wss President, commander OF the Army
snd Navy.
Thorough Statesman.
Through all this committee work Mr..
Conkliug proved himself a statesman.
Well do l remember the last sitting OF this
C, mmittee. 1t wss in the rooms OF Bsp-
r, sentative Henry.B Payne, OF Ohio, at
the Riggs House We had been in sesaiVn
all the evening. aEa 1t vas now midnight.
1t had been understood by Us all that in
case We could not reach an agreement that
night we should report 10 our resnec-
tive Houses az, Inability TO agree.
We thought it useless to longer con
'inue the effort When we met in the
evening We were CN detected and fearful.
There was little prospect OF agreement,
and failure meant we knew not what and
scarcely dare think. At midnight we we're
| further than ever from agreement ca the
| Electoral Commission kill, which had long
before taken shape and become the definite
| object Of our labIrs. Mr Mrrton had Just
| tirlshed one Of his unyieluiBg, Irritating
| efforts and ali hope seemed lost. Then
| Mr., Edmpnds made the formal stGtsmeDt
| in behalf of the Senate Committee that the
| latest proposition Of tie House Committse
it dot IN mater what il was could not
| be accepted Mr. EdInuuds was the spokes-
man of the Senate Committee, and as he
finished it seemed there was nothing for
us TO do but to 20 back to the House. report
oar failure ant let events take Intercourse.
But as Mr.. EdRasds finished he said; II
believe Senator Conkling has something to
say to yoa.
The Position ExI Iafn&a-
Senator Conkliug, who was sitting a
little in the BACKGROUND, turned. so as tc,
face the party, threw one leg over the arm,
| of his chair, and IN the most quiet, essy
| manner possible began to givs his yiewA
| He spoke for full 20 minutes and do npt
| think ever listened to an address more
eloauent and effective. 1t IS impossible
| for me to give you an idea OF what he said,
more ,han to say be pictured the crtscal
| nature OF our position, the respoD slGGty
| resting upon US, the destinY OF the nation,
| that might fairly be said 70 rest in the
hsnds OF the little group gathered before
| him. He spoke as l never beard him speak
| before nor since. Though evidently with
| ont any preparation whatever, AMI without
| the cooperation of large audienoe, large
| room or formal o c.siolS be sat there with
| one leg over his chair and made sn address
| which seemed almost inspired. Every
| man present listened to il almost without
| stirring muscle, and when be had hR
| isbed there was silence for quiss nunber
of seconds.
"Not to worry yon with details, the ir'
duence of that address WAS such that in
half an hours time the disputed point had
been arranged and the report recommend.
ing the electorsl commission bill had been
signed BY every committeeman except
| Senator Morton.
| You can imagine We sll bresihed easier
| and retired to our homes in better spirits
tbsn when We assembled. OF course none
| of Us hsd any more reasons than beto-e to
| think our favorite Presidential csodidats
would be seated. but We felt a great crisis
was pact, spd there would be no civil Wal
over t5e possession of the White Hnuss.
II have always believed that hsd it mo-
besn for the fortunate Incident thai
placed Sr. Onak'ins OF our com
lIi,;et. 0, IL he had not mat'