Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-02
DID GRANT BELIEVE THAT TIL
DEN WAS EIBCTED?,

Mr.. George Washington Childs Says SO.
From an Arttel- M Mr.. CLIds in the Ro1
Y0Tk Tribttne.
Gen. Grant was staying with me during
the canvass Of the election between Til
den and Hayes. and on the morning Of
the momentous day he accompanied me
to my office. In a few moments an emf
nent Republican Senator and one or two
other leading Republicans walked in, and
they went over the returns. These
leaders said "Hayes is elected" an opin-
ion IN which the others conceded. Gen.
Grant listened, but said nothing. After
they had settled the matter IN their W
minds he said: 'Geutlemen, it looks 10
me asifM Mr.. 1Ilden war elected" He after
ward sent for me in Washington and said !:
'sThis matter Is very complicated.
and the people viii not be satisfied unless
something is done in regard 10 it which
Will look like justice" Now" he con-
tinued, 81 have spoken of an electoral
commission, and the leaders Of the party
are opposed TO it, which l am sorry TO see.
They say that If an electoral commission
j., appointed you might as well count 10
Mr. Tnten. J would ooner have Tilden
rhun thai The Republicans should have q
President VINO could be stigmatiZed as q
.rolg. IL were Mr.. Hayes Z would not
haven't unless IL was settled in some way
outside OF the senate. This matter is OBJ
posed by the leading Republicans in the
House and Senate and throughout the
country"
President Grant invited the leading
Senators 10 dine with him that day to get
their sentiment. lie said to me: "YOu
see the feeling here. / md them almost
universally opposed to anything like an
electoral commission" l named a lead
ing Democrat in the House who was, per-
maps, II Of the most prominent men in
the country, a man OF great influence and
Of great integrity of character. whom it
would be well tor Gen. Grant to see in the
matter, and the suggestion was acted on.
! sent for this gentleman and put the
dilemma to him In President Grants
name as folloWs: at is very hard for the
President and very embarrassing as TO
men on his own side that this matter
GOes not seem to find favor with them as
well as to have Democratic opposition.
Republicans think you might as well
count Yilden in, but as the feeling
throughout the country demands as hon
est a count Of the thing as possible, this
electoral commission ought to be APP
pointed" The answer at once was that
the Democrats would favor il, and it
was through that gentleman and
Gen. Grant that the matter was
carried through. Grant was the
originator Of the plan. He sent for
Mr.. Conkling, and said with deep earnest
ness: ''This matter is a serious one, and
the people feel it very deeply. | think this
electoral commission ought to be ap-
pointed" Conkling answered, "Mr.
President, Senator Morton (who was
then the acknowledged leader of the SEN
ate is opposed to il. and opposed to yO6r
Efforts; but il you wish the coinmiss on
carried, l can do It," He said, 81 wishjt
done"
Mt. Conkling took hold OF the matter
and put it through. The leading Demo
Gratis l ave spoken of took the initiative
in the House and Mr.. Cnnkling in the
Senate. Gen. Patterson, of Philadelphia,
who was an intimate friend of Gen. Jack
son, and a lifelong Democrat, was also
sent for. He had large estates in the
South and a great deal of influence with
the Democrats, and particularly with
Southern Democrats. Gen. Patterson
was upward of 80, but he came down
there aud remained one or two weeks,
working hard to accomplish the purpose
IN view. After the bill had passed and
was waiting for signature, Gen. Grant
went TO a State fair in Maryland the day
il should have been signed, and there was
mueh perturbation about it.
Gen. Grant acted IN goods Gath through
out the whole business. It has been said
that the changing complexion oftbe court
threw the matter into Hayes hands, and
if the court had remained as il was.
Tllden would have been declared Presi-
dent. Gen. Grant was the soul OF honor
in this matter, and no one ever accused
him or even hintad that he was untruth-
mi in sny way. |, for one, don't believe
that no could FOIL q liz 0~ aas dacaftfuIlv