The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-02-18
WITHIN TILDEN'S GRASP.
now Ho Missed the Presidency by ono
Hour.
Correspondence .dugasta Chronicle.

COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. Ga few
evenings since three old veterans of 1876
we're seated around comfortable fire
putting their fragrant Havanas and dis
cussing the numerous exciting events in
which they had been participants. Two
of them were ex-State Senators and one
an ex.State officer of 1876. AS the latter
forced cloud of blue smoke from his
mouth and sent it curling upwards, be
said: "Did you ever hear how near
Tilden came to receiving the electoral
vote of South Carolina?" His friends
had heard something on this subject but
if he had anything new to offer they
would be glad to listen. "We)l, gentle
men," be proceeded, "Tilden was within
one hour of being President of the
United States. The South Carolina Re.
publican electors were for sale but they
came high. The Democrats wanted
them, however, although their price was
a little exorbitant. The State committee
was not in q position to purchase their
votes and had little interest in or desire
to do so, as Hampton had been elected
Governor, and the people were so rejoiced
over this that National matters were
regarded as small consequences. The
National Committee had information oi
the condition of the electoral ticket, and
was somewhat more inclined to invest
The difficulty, however, was that the
Republican electors were such consum:
mate scoundrels that no reliance could
be placed on their promises. 1t was
necessary then to secure third party to
conduct negotiations. A broken Colum'
bia banker, whom we will call Hardy,
who had received part of the plunder
of the Radical crowd, was selected. He
soon perfected arrangements for trans
fer of the votes from Hayes to Tilden for
the sum of 100000. The Democratic
representative acceded to the proposal
and directed Hardy to go Immediately
to Barnum's Hotel in Baltimore and call
at room At, where he would find party
waiting who would pay over the amount
agreed upon. Hardy arrived promptly at
Barnum's and examining the name on
the hotel register opposite room Al, he
found that it was so badly written that
he was unable 10 read it. He called the
clerk to his assistance, butthis gentleman
also failed to decipher the signature
Hardy walked up to At and knocked, but
receiving no answer retired. He strolled
out on the street, and while walking
along leisurely q stranger placed bis
hand on his shoulder and said: you
are wanted at room Az Hardy imme'
diately returned, opened the'door and,
as he stepped into the room, the door
closed with snap and he found himself
locked in. He waited short while,
when a gentleman entered and at once
proceeded to discuss the subject that had
brought them together. The terms we're
quickly arranged, but the stranger in.
formed Hardy frankly that he was
unwilling to pay over SO large 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 be had the money in hand. Time
was getting short. 1t was the day for
the vote to be cast and nearly the hour,
In this emergency the stranger asked
Hardy if he would be willing to accept
the pledge of 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 mer'
chant, only to find that he had left town
one hour before and could not be reached
The telegram was never sent, the vote Of
the State was given to Hayes, and that is
how Tilden came within sixty minutes
of being President" "That is pretty
good yarn" said one Of the ex-scnators
shut did you ever hear the real reason
why the fight in the dual Legislature
failed to take place?" The others had
heard some causes assigned, but we're moi
sure that they were correct. "Well," the
ex-senator continued, II can give you
the facts. The Republicans had laid
their plans we'll. They had the coloret
Hunkidori Club, from Charleston, as you
will remember, composed of the mos
brutal and daring class of low country
negroes stationed in the State House
near the Representative Hall, we'll armed
and ready to respond 10 any call. The
United States troops were on the lower
floor, within easy reach if needed. The
Republicans only had fifty-nine members
not q Constitutional quorum, and they
could not afford to lose single Repre-
sentative. These members we're directed
on certain night, previously agreed
upon, to retire one at time from
the hall and have their places taken by
men from the Hunkidoris. The United
States Lieutenant who was to command
the guard that night was bitter Repub
lican partisan, and had agreed to give al
the assistance needed to destroy the
Democrats. The night arrived anc
arrangements to execute the plan were
begun, when to the astonishment Of the
Republicans they found that the Officer
in command Of the troops was not theil
man, and furthermore that he refused tc
be party to any such murderous designs
The game was blocked, and before il
could be re arranged the leading Demo
Gratis had discovered the plot, and ir
order to avoid bloodshcd had left the
State House. These facts are said Il
have been furnished several years after
wards by L. w. NJ. Mackay, who was
Speaker of the Rump House, and The
ILL., IL, D,onhl;oonoU