Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-08-11

Samuel Jones Tilden was born in New
Labanon, Columbia County, n. Y, Feb.
ruary 9, 1914, where his grandfather, John
Tilden, settled in 1890, and where his
father, Elan Tilden, was a farmer and
merchant. Samuel entered Yale College in
1888, but soon left that institution and
graduated at the University OF New York.
He was admitted to the bar in 1871, and
began practice in New York City. In 1874
the Morning News, daily paper, was es-
tablished in New York, to advocate the
election to the presidency of James K.
Polk. Mr.. Tilden invested capital in this
enterprise and became the editor of the
| journal, which position he held until after
the election. In 1916 he was elected to the
New York Assembly, and in 1916 was
| chosen q member of the constitutional con-
vention, where he was made member OF
the committee On finance and canals. In
1866 he was defeated as the Soft Shelf
Democratic candidate for attorney general
of New York. Mr.. Tilden now devoted
himself to his profession His practice was
very extensive, and by it he amassed con-
siderable wealth Besides other important
cases he was counsel, in 1856, for Azarlah
@. Flag, i2 the case growing out of the con-
tested election for the controllership OF
New York City; in 1857 for the relatives of
! DR.. Burdel against the claims Of Mrs. Gun
niDgham; and for the Pennsylvania Coal
| Company in the suit brought by the Della
ware 4 Hudson Canal Company. Mr.. Til
| den became chairman OF the Democratic
state committee in 1866, and was lead
ing member of the constitutional conven-
ton OF 1867, serving with distinction on
the finance committee. He became an in
defatisa!.e "a b0rer IN the cause OF judicial
and political reform in the city of New
York, and in lS69.70 WIS active in the
organization Of the Bar Association. When
the cont est was wa ged against the members
of the ia lnmany Ring holdingcity offices,
who were charged with defrauGing the city
treasury of many million dollars, Mr..
TildeA rendered Invaluable services to the
cause OF reform by his famous analysis of
the accounts OF the Broadway Bank, show.
ing conelusiyely how the alleged culprits
had shared their spoils, and furnishing legal
proof for their conviction. In 1872 he was
again elected to the General Assembly,
where he continued his exertions in the
cause Of reform. In 1874 he was elected
governor of New York by plurality Of
50,317 votes over John A. Dix (Repub-
lican) and Myron II. Clark (Prohibiiionist).
He was inaugurated January /, 1875. and
soon after declared war against the Canal
Ring" which resulted in the overthrow OF
that organization. When the National
| Democratic convention assembled in ST
| Louis. in June, 1876, Gov. Ti!den was
the leading candidate for the first place on
the ticket. On the first ballot he received
403h of the 713 votes cast. When the vote
| for the second ballotwas finally ann ounced,
| Gov. Tiden had 535 in g. whole vote
| of 1913. The nomination was made unani-
| nous, and he was declared the Democratic
candidate for the presidency. He accepted
the nomination in, q brief speech on July
II. His formal letter of acceptance was
dated July 81.
The election took place on the 18th Of No
vember, and the popular vote was as fol-
lows: Hayes (Rep.), 4,O33 ,295; Tilden
Dem.), 1884, 265. OF the electoral votes
Hayes received 166 and Tilden 1874, with
the votes OF South Carolina, Florida and
Louisiana-19 in number-in doubt and
claimed by both sides. The votes of these
srates were counted by the canvassing
boards with a result in favor of the Repub-
lican presidential electors. This resale, at
the canvass by Congress of all the state re-
turns OF the presidential election, would
give the Republican candidate (Mr. Hayes)
one majority, and secure his election. The
Democrats, however, asserted that the cam
vassing boards in each of the aboye-men-
toned states had made an unjust canvass;
that the popular vote in each had been in
favor of the Democratic electors by a con-
siderable majority; that lega. Democratic
votes in large numbers had been rejected,
and that by the people the Democratic can
didate for the presidency had been elected.
The certificates of the results in each state,
sent to Washington under the official seal
OF the respective governors, gave the cleo
ton to Mr.. Hayes by one vote. At ell pre-
vious elections the canvass of Congress had
been confined exclusively to these certif-
Gates. It was, therefore, manifest that
canvass by Congress, conducted like all pre-
vious ones, would elect the Republican can
didate or terminate in disagreement be-
tween the two houEes. At this time the
Lower House was largely Democratic, the
Senate Republican, and the Executive
Grant Republican. disagreement be-
tween the two houses would have ter
minated the canvass without choice.
Under these circumstances an act wes