Evening star., 1895-10-31
Senator Sherman's Observations on
the Controversy Of '76.
His RELATIONS TO TEE CANDIDATE
Mr.. Hayes Fitness for the Post Of
Chief Magistrate.
THE LOUISIANA INQUIRY

took an active part. 1t seems that
he does not have tine least doubt that the
republicans were right in their contention,
and that the final decision was in accord
snce with right and justice. In the chapter
devoted to the contest, he outlines briefly
the work of the Cincinnati convention of
1876, ard in this connection gives his read
ers glimpse of the men who were then
at the head of the two great parties. He
writes:
Undoubtedly, Blaine was the favorite
of the convention, but the artasonisDs that
existed between him and Conkling prob
ably defeated his nomination. l still be-
lieve that the nomination of Hayes was
not only the safest, but the strongest that
could be made. The long possession of
power by the republicans naturally pro-
drced rivalries that greatly affected the
election of any one who had been con-
stantly prominent in public life, like Blaine,
Conklirg and Morton. Hayes had grow
Ing qualities, and in every respect was
worthy OF the high position of President.
Among all the public men with whom
have been brought in contact l have known
none who was freer from personal objec-
ton, whose character was more stainless,
who was better adapted for a high ex-
ecutive office, >than Rutherford B. Hayes.
His opponent, Samuel J. Tilden, was a
man of singular political sagacity, of great
shrewdness, a money-making man, who
represent, as faithfully as any one, the
ideas of the New York politicians of the
school of Van Buren and Marcy. l knew
Mr.. Tilden personally and very favoraby,
as We were members of a board of railway
directors which frequently met. He seem
ed to take pleasure in talking with me
about political events and especially of
famous New York politicians, of whom
Sias Wright and Mr.. Van Buren were his
favoriteS."
Conditions I'm the South.
Further he writes:
1.-The admins tra ton of Gen. Grant i.ad
not been entirely satisfactory, and the
lcng continuance of the republican party
in power was an element CT weakness. The
&C compaints unavoidable in the most honest
administration, and the disappointments OF
oficeseekers, placed that party on the de-
fens.ve. The south had, by reconstruction,
been practically restored to political power,
and the body of the negroes had been sub
stantally disfranchised. though legally en-
titled to the suffrage. Riots and crimes Of
every degree were committed in the south,
notably in Louisiana, South Carolina and
| Florida. Organized mobs and violence had
| deferred many from voting and, in some
cases, had prevented even the semblance
| of a free election. The result of the presi-
| Dental elections in November, 1876 was
extremely doubtful. 1t was soon asserted
| that the majority either way would be very
small, and that the probabilities were that
IL
| Ter. chairman of the national republican
| committee, however, confidently telegraph
| ed on the morning after the election that
Hayes was elected by majority of one in
| the electoral college Further reports de-
| veloped that on account of intimidation,
| frauds and violence, committed in the cleo
| tion in Louisiana, South Carolina and
Florida the vote of each of those states
was doubtful, and could only be ascertain
| ed by the reports of the returning board.
| All of their electoral votes Were nee led
| to give Hayes the majority of one Both
| Parties claimed in each Of the states a ma
| jority of the popular vote. In the heated
| state of political feeling in those states, it
vas matter of grave doubt whether the
count of the vote might not result in vio-
| lcnce, tumult war"
The circumstances leading UP to Sena ;or
| Sherman's departure for Louisiana to as
s,st in witnessing the count of the disputed
| territory are narrated in full, and verified
| with some of the attending correspondence.
The Louisiana Case.
| Ee writes In this connection:
Pending the action of the board, 1 wrote
| to Gov. Hayes the following letter, giving a
general view of their testimony:
State of Louisiana. Executive Department,
NEW ORLEANS, November 23, 1876.
"'My Dear Sir: l have not written you
| sooner, for the progress of our visitation
will be known to you through the papers
| sooner than from my letters, and the tele-
graph office here is more public than a sher-
| IFS sale We sometimes hear of private
kilograms before they are delivered. The
acton OF the returning board is thus far
| been open and fair and only confirms the
general result known before. We are now
approaching the contested parishes. In FIVE
| of them, viz: Baton Rouge, East and West
Eel.ciana, Morenouse and Ouachta, the
| evidence of intimidation is SO well made
| out on paper that no man can doubt as to
| the just exclusion of their vote. In these
parishes alone we ought to have a majority
n M Ia he ira
| must pe excluded of all election districts
where intimida ton has affected or changed
the result. If this is done the result Will give
the Hayes electors majorities aggrra L tin g
2i,111 and the Tilden electors 2,tlS3; but in
| almost every parish the official return va
ries somewhat from the stated maiorit.es,
| and thus far Slightly reduces the republican
majority. We are now collecting the testi-
mony TO the buildoZed parishes 1t seems
| more like the history of hell than of civilized
and Christian communities. The means
adopted are almost incredible, but were
| fearfully effective upon an ignorant and
| supersutiouS people That You would have
received at fair election a large ma ajority
| in Louisiana no honest man can question.
That you did not receive majority is equal
| ly clear. But that intimidation of every
| kind and nature provided against by the
Louisiana law did enter into and control the
| election in more election polls than would
| change the result and give you the vote
| believe as firmly as that l write this. The
difficulty of gathering this testimony and
putting II in legal form has been very great,
| but believe has been fully met. The whole
| case rests upon the action of the returning
| board l have carefully observed them and
have formed a high opinion of Gov. Wells
| and Col. Anderson. They are firm, iud;cious
| and, as far as / can judge, thoroughly honest
| and consc entious. They are persol lily IA
| 1n!liar with the nature and degree of in
| timidation in Louisiana. They can see that
| the intimidation, as organized, was with a
view of throwing out republican parishes
| rather than endangering democratic par
ishes. Very truly yours.
| JOHN SHERM M
ITO this Gen. Hayes responded as follows:
| COLUMBUS, Ohio, November ~, 1876.
My Dear Sir: l am greatly obliged for
| your letter of the 23d You feel, am sure,
| as I do about this whole business. A fair
| election would have given us about forty
electoral votes at the south-at least that
| many. But we are not to allow our friends to
| defeat one outrage and fraud by another.
| There must be nothing crooked on our part
| Let Mr.. Tilden have the place by violence
| intimidation and fraud, rather than under
| take to prevent it by means that will not
| bear the severest scrutiny. l appreciate the
| work doing by the republicans who have
| gone south, and am especially proud of the
| acknowledged honorable conduct of those
| from Ohio. The democrats made a mistake
/ tv, 1t.,rr I.