The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-02-24
WITHIN TILDgN'S GRASP
HOW HI htissEp TIIE PREsrnusoY
BY IN uoGR.
An Interesting il Not Important story
About the Strugsic in '3eyenty-SiS.


(Correspondencs Of The AVJusta Chroniie.)
COLUMBIA, ). c., February GA
few evenings since three old veterans
OF 1876 were seated around IL comfort
ab e fire puff ns their fragrant I~lavauas
and discussing the numerous exciting
events in which they had been partici-
pants. Two of them were cx-State
SeuatJIs and one iii cX-State officer of
1876. As the latter forced u cloud OF
blue smoke from his mouth and sent il
curling upwards, he said: "Did you
ever hear how near Ti.den came to re-
cciviug The electoral vote OF South
Caroltna?' His friends had heard
something on This subject, but if he had
anything new TO offer they would be-
glad to listen. "Wcll. g%entlemen," he
proceeded, "Tildcn was within one
hour of being President of the United
States The Suuth Carolina Republi-
can electors were for sale, but they
came high. The Democrats wanted
them, however, although their price
was Il little cXorbitant. The State
committee was not in a position to
purchase their votes and had little in
trrest in or desire to do 40, as lamp
ton had been elected Governor, and
the people were SO rrJoiccd over this
that National unattcrs were regarded
dS OF stnal' consequence. The National
Committee had Information OF the CON.
dltinn OF the electoral ticket, and was
ON 'Whlt more inclined to invest.
ne difficulty, however, was that the
Rev Ibl,can electors were such con-
suriinate scoundr"lS that no reliance
could be placed on their promises. 1t
wa, nccasShr! then to secure Il third
party 10 conduct negotiations. Il
broken Columbia banker, whom we
viii call Hardy, who hnd received a
part Of thu plumber Of the Radical
crowd, was selected. He soon per-
iectcd arrangements for q transfer
of the votes tr"m Hayes to ridden for
the sum of 100000. Tho Democratic
representative nc 'cdcd To the proposal
aud directed Hard, To 90 immediately
to Barnum's Hotel in Bultiinurc and call
AT room AZ, where iic would lind u
party waiting who would pay over the
amount agreed upon. Hardy arrived
promptly at Darvum's and examining
The name III the hotel register opposite
room A, liz found that il was So badly
written tina lie was unable to l., al t.
He called the clerk to his a>si-tmucr,
but this gentleman also fuiicd 10 dcci-
phcr the signature. Hardy walked up
IT, AZ ard Knocked, but receiving M
answer retired. lie stroilcd out on
the street, and while walking along
%irisurcly Al stranger placed his hand on
his shoulder and said: "Yuu arc
wanted at room A." Hardy immc-
diatcly returned, opened the door add,
~ Ina slnn,,pl inf, iln rn,,p, tIn l.,,
closed with II snap and he found him
self locked in. He awaited n short
while, when Il gentleman entered and
NJ oncc proceeded to discuss the sub
jrc, that had brought tletn together.
The terms We're quickly arranged, but
the stranger informed Hardy frankly
that he WAS unwilling to pay over so
large Il sum TO him until the vote had
been cast. To this Hardy replied that
he had promised not TO telegraph the
electors to surrender until he had the
money in hand. Time WAS getting
short. Ii WAS ihc day for tho vote To
be cast and nearly the hour. In this
emergency the stranger asked Hardy
it he would be willing 10 accept tho
pledge OF y certain private merchant
that the amount would be paid, and
send the telegram. Hardy agreed to
this, and they went in great haste TO
see The merchant, only to find that he
had left the town one iiuur before and
could not be reached. The Telegram
was never sent, the vote OF the STATE
vas given to Hayes, and that is how
ridden came within sixty minutes of
being President"
"rial's II gooi yarn" said an cx-Sen-
ntor, "but did you ever hear the real
reason why the the fight In the dual
Legislature failed to take place?
the others had heard some causes
assigned, but were not sure that
they were correct. "Wcll," the ex-
Senator continued, 81 can give You the
facts. The Republicans had laid their
plans well. They had the colored Hun
kldori Club, from Charleston, AZ you
will remember, composed Of the most
brutal aud daring class of low country
negroes, stationed in The STATE House,
near the Representatives Hall, well
armed and ready to respond To any
call. The United States troops were
on the lower floor, within easy reach
ii needed. The Republicans only had
itiy-nine members, nut Il Cunetilu-
tinnal quorum, and they could not
afford To lose IL single Representative.
These members were directed, on q
certain night, previou sly agreed upon,
to retire one at u time from the hail
and have their places takci by men
from the llunkidOiis. The United
States Lieutenant who was to COM
mand the guard that night was u bitter
Republican partisan, and had agreed
a. give all the assistance needed TO
destroy the Democrats. TIE night
arrived and arrangements TO execute
Il plan were begun, when TO The
establishment of the Republicans they
found that the officer in command OF
the troops was nc their man, and
furthermore that he refused to be- u
party to any such murderous designs.
ruc game was blocked. aud before il
could be ro.ariaugcd the leading Dem
ucrats had discovered the plot, and in
order to avoid bioodshed had left the
State House. These facts are SAID to
have been furnished several years alter
wards by f.. w. NJ. Mickey, who was
Snnakpr pI Ibn Rpmn I,n., and ,l,,