Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-06-27
History of the Electoral Commission

In me summer of Is the various political par
ties OF the Union met in their respective conven-
lions 10 nominate candidates for the offices of
PRESIDENT and Vice President of the United
States. The candidates of the republican par
~ We're Tor president, Rutherford b. Hayes, of
ONO Tor vice president William A. Wheeler of
New York. The democratic candidates were :
for President, samuel j. Tillen of New York :
for wee president, Thomas A. Hendricks of In
dlana; \ third PARTY, called the independen mt
SfeehoacK party, nominated Peter Cooper, OF
New YORK Tor president, Samuel +. Cary of Ohio
ior vice fresldent The campaign which follow
e.. THESE NOMINATIONS was one OF unprecedented
bitterness and was conducted by the Republican
party upon distinct sectional issues; the old
wounds of the civil war were torn open and
threats OF "a new conflict were indulged in The
popular vote was us follows: for Samuel j. Til
den; i2Sl,26l, for Rutherford t. Haves i033, 30
for Peter Cooper, 81, 737 Tilden thus received a
majority of 26l,970 popular votes over HAYES, and
a majority of 1928 votes over both Hayes and
Cooper.
In the electoral college Isl votes were necessary
To choice. OF this number Governor Tiiden
received Isl and Governor Hayes I65 undiSputed
votes. The votes of the states of Florida Louis
iitilit. South Carolina and orcyOn-twenty-two
IN number-were claimed by both parties for
their respective candidates. II was decIared by
me Democrats that, even conceding the votes of
oregon aud south Carolina to Mr.. Hayes, Mr..
Iiidcn had fairly carried both Florida and Louis
ana, ami was entitled To 1876 electoral votes The
revision of the vote in Florida and Louisiana had
been cOntiled. since the reorganization of those
states, to returning boards, which bodies had the
power 10 manipulate the votes OF the people OF
make the result what they pleased. In cOnSe-
qurnce of this, il had several times happened in
Louisiana that the returning board had, after
lcdhNa>slng the vote announced Il result entirely
at variance with the vote at the polls. In the
present case these boards We're republican in
their composition. In the Fl Drida board there
was one democratic member but in the Louis
lana board the place of the democratic member
was vacant. ana the board refused To ill the
cancN, leaving the board entirely republican.
The returning boards did not possess the conf
hthre OF the country and ii was regarded as OF
Tue hiehe>t Importance that some restraint he
placed upon them. Immediately after the cleo
ton, Therefore, President Grant induced num-
her OF prominent Republicans To proceed To- Flor
IDA aud Louisiana 10 watch the counting -! the
democrats repaired to Tallahassee. and New Or
leans Tor the same purpp>s'. ifhc>e gentlemen had
no onlcial character, ami were without power Ia
Interfere III any way with the counting OF the
vote. Ii was hoped, however. that their presence
would act as II check upon the returning boards
aud secure "a far count, This hope was rot Dies
tined la toe realized. The Louisiana board. in
particular was composed al reckless and dI>rep-
table men and III spite OF the presence
IT the gentlemen referred 10. some of whom
gave OPEN cncouragcm aLt Ia the course of
the bHtri, returned the vote nf the state for
tthNr>. thus setting aside the popular majority
At the polls o oVrr 30 votes Tor the Democrat
IL candidates. The Fiur"a bpard 10y "A similar
course returned the vote OF that state for Hayes.
Investigations showed that the electoral vote of
south Carolina had been fairly cast for Hayes,
and II was generally conceded Ia him. The dem
ocratC Governor II oregon attempted lay trans
parent trick IL give the electoral vote OF that
STATE /" Mr. u!tr.i. a ~ thus elect him but IL
'amr - IT, the general sentiment pi the country
that the electoral vote OF pr, Jn should bt,right-
fully east tor Hayes.
This confined the real struggle To- the votes of
Florida and Louisiana Ii WAS The general con-
Nl"tnn ut tur country that both oi tap>., states
la h.'i iaiFIy CARRIED hy the dem cratic party
tu IN any - republicans gave open ~ pr-
lon u tul~ belief Inr action ui The rrtnrn
pphrt, how y sr. though evidently in defiance,
It the wgIi at The poplr. >tIll thin the let
80 "i t4'r laws under which they hal acted fht
Tpuhiic-tu lstytN Therefore. ciHIn. that such
t'ttn 3 Ma not contrary t. thu. laws Florida
All Louisiana IT must staad that neither cpu-
Sr">N nor any othrr ICY lssi .lMr {" ~ b,t,u,i