Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1893-01-26

How It Was uade Possible For
Hayes to b President.

How It Was uade Possible For
Hayes to b. President.
Il has always been COMMANDED that
Mr.. Hayes wss not righthally electsd
President. BIZ. that he was seated BY
fraud. The Presidential election Of
1876 occasioned ono Of the most criti-
cal disputes to which the working Of
our political institutions has ever given
rise.
After the election it was found that
thesvote in Florida and South Carolina
was very close and the result uncertain,
and that in. Louisiana, though the
majority Of the vote cast was unques-
tionably Democratic, the result might
be reversed under the power Of the
State returning Board to throw out
returns vitiated by alleged violence
and fraud.
The Republican National Commit
tee decided TO adopt fraudulent means
to promote the election of Republican
electors, If fair means wouldnot avail.
A conspiracy was Matched in New
York to throw out some Of the Demo-
cratic votes in the three States in
which the result of the election was in
doubt and return Republican electors.
As result, in Florida, South Carolina
and Louisiana two sets of certificates
were issued and sent to Washington,
one for the Republican electors. Pre-
vious to this committee Of Republic
cans had been sent to New Orleans to
witness the canvass in the interest Of a
''fair" count. The Democratic Ma
tional Committee also sent commit
te, there. among whom wore John M.
Palmer, Henry Wattcrson, Samuel j.
Randall, VIM. K. Morrison, Oswald
Ottendorier, Of New York, and Colonel
j. q. Broadhead, Of Missouri.
There was much dispute and con-
tention over the returns, and many
claims and protests. No agreement
was reached, and after stormy period
Of fIibustering two sets Of certificates
were issued. There had been a con-
troversy pending for some time in
Congress in regard to the matter Of
counting and declaring the electoral
votes Of the several States, and the
matter was still unsettled when the
returns of Florida, South Carolina and
Louisiana were presented to Congress.
A joint committee Of the two houses
was created TO devise a method for
settling such disputes as might arise.
Out Of this was born the Electoral
Commission. Five members Of this
commission were to be appointed by
each house. The Associate Justices Of
the Supreme Court for the First, Third,
Eighth and Ninth circuits were desig-
mated to act with them after agreeing
upon a fifth Justice to be added to
their number. In this way the COM
mission was made up Of Senators Ed
munds, Morton, Frelinghuysen, Thur.
man and Bayarl---three Republicans
and two Democrats ; Representatives
Payne, Hunton, Albeit, Hoar and
Garfeld-three Democrats and two
Republicans, and Justices Clifford,
Field, Strong and Bradley, the last
named being the one agreed upon by
the others.
The Democrats who voted for the
bill creating the electoral commission
expected that David Davis Of illinois,
would be the Hfth Justice on the Com !
mission aud the 18th and lust chosen
member of that body. Instead, Davis |
suddenly conceived an ambition to go |
to the United States Senate, resigned
his justiceship and became ineligible.
1t was then that Joseph Bradley of
New jersey became the bulance Of
power. He was Republican. The
decisions of the contested returns were
all in favor of the Republican claims
by vote OF 8 to and Hayes was de-
clared elected. A word from Samuel
j. Tilden at this time would have
created a revolution, but Tilden was
patriot, rs well as a statesman and
politician, and he refused to lend him
self to violentmeasures. Hayes Cabi-
net consisted of VIM. NJ. Evarts of
New York, Secretary Of State John
Sherman Of Ohio, Secretary Of the
Treasury; George w. McCreary Of
Iowa, Secretary Of War; Richard w.
Thompson Of Indiana, Secretary Of the
Navy; Carl Schun Of Missouri, Secre-
larry Of the Interior; David M. Key Of
Postmaster General, and
Charles Devans Of Massachusetts,,
Attorney General.