The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-10-11
THE CRISIS IN 1876.


was that which arose as the outcome
of the presidential contest in 1876.
The closeness of the contest developed
much excitement which as the canvass
of the returns of the various states
proceeded developed into bitterness, and
threatened to terminate in civil war
The inside history of the settlement
of that contest is for the first time
given to the public in current maya
zine article by Milton 81. Northrup,
who was secretary of the special COM
mittee of the house, which was ap-
pointed to act in conjunction with a
similar committee from the senate, to
devise some means for the ,peaceable
settlement of the contest. The house,
it will be remembered was Democra-
tic and was controlled by Mr.. Tilden' S
friends, while the senate was Repub-
Hcan These two committees, which
consisted of seven members each from
house and senate, was the outcome of
a resolution introduced by Representa-
tive McCreary of Iowa, who was after
ward member of Hayes cabinet and
later judge of the United States cir
cult court. The strain had been drawn
somewhat more tense owing to the
fact that Vice President Wilson was
dead, and Senator Ferry of Michigan,
presided over the senate, and Mr..
Tilden's friends held that he was not
vice president and hence had no au-
tnOrity to count the electoral vote
and declare the result. The real ques-
ton hung upon the counting of nine
teen votes from three southern states
Of which two sets were returned. If
these were given to Hayes it elected
him by one majority, if they were put
in Tilden's column he would have 81
majority. Several propositions came
up before the senate and house COM
mittees as to the mode of settlement of
the difficulty. One scheme was to re-
fer to a commission of five of the
supreme court justices. But this was
objected to and after many conferences
and much discussion the famous cleo
toral commission to consist of five SEN
ators five members of the house, and
five supreme court justices was decid
ed upon. When this was finally Sc tied,
there was an equally long discussion
as to how the justices of the court
should be selected. There was objec-
ton to making Chief Justice Waite
member and he was dropped from
the roll The writer gives important
features from the discussions INDUCED
in, and it is plain to see that the
Democrats wanted David Davis
member of the commission. The other
four justices were to consist of two
Democrats and two Republicans Some
of the Republicans objected to Davis,
but the Democrats argued the FIVE JUS
tices would give their decision in the
matter strictly according to the evil
dence submitted, irrespective of party
feeling. There was much discussion
friends Won their point and it was de-
cided that the four justices should be
taken, and they select the fifth, and it
was generally agreed that this meant
David Davis The debate in congress
over the bill was memorable one,
and many Republicans believed that
T1 hn inn of
as president. But there was nothing
else to do but accept it. Time was
swiftly passing, the 4th of March
would soon be at hand. The defeat of
the bill meant that there would be two
claimants for the presidency, and this
would mean civil strife worse than
that from which the country had just
emerged. The Democrats were COR
respondingly happy. They had gotten
things as they wanted them and con-
fidently believed that the formation
of the commission meant the declaring
of Tilden president But fate decided
otherwise. Just on the eve of the pass
age of the measure, came the news Of
the election of Justice Davis to the
United States senate by the Democratic
members of the Illinois Legislature
assisted by two or three independents.
This put an end to all thoughts of
Davis on the commission, but thu
matter had gone too far for either
party to honorably recede and SO the
bill passed, Justice Bradley was Sc
lected as the fifth member, and tn
justices voted according to their poll
tical alliances rather than their judi
cial positions, just as everyone, Demo
Gratis doubtless included, had felt the
would. But Davis name had done
great work, for it is doubtful if an.
other name could have brought the tw
parties together to an agreement a
that time and 80 saved the natio
from terrible civil war that woul
in all probability have followed tn
disagreement.