The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-10
EIGHT GOVERNORS OF ALABAMA
1874-19O1
No. -Administratio of Governor Houston
The Federal Electoral Commission
1874--19O1

The vote of Alabama was not directly
involved in the conspiracy to set aside
the election of Samuel j. Tilden to the
presidency. for whom it was cast. The
state, however shared the jeopardy pro-
vided by the conspirators for the form
of federal government. and the situation
of the times is thus brought within the
cycle of the second period OF her recon-
struction-1S7
The sister states Immediately involved
were Florida, Louisiana and South Caro-
lima. with Oregon incidentally related.
When election day. November 7, arrived
each of the states of the south had a
carpetbagger governor-Stearns in Flor
ida, kellogg in Louisiana and Chamber
lain in South Carolina. The governor of
Oregon was a democrat. The carpetbag &
governments in the three southern states
had set up in each returning board
whose province was plenary, to hear and
determine cases of protest and contest of
elections. That is to say. the state re-
turning board could canvass. compile and
throw out the returns of precincts and
counties. Under the ruling of the federal
electoral commission. it became the final
arbiter of elections, superior to the courts
The returning board of Florida was COM
posed of the secretary of state, scalawag
rative of Tennessee, the controller carpet
bagger native of Delaware and the attor-
ney general, scalawag native of Vir-
ginia The board of Louisiana was COM
posed of ]. Madison Wells, native of
MI Ior icl, yeJl hao orr %
the renowned racer, Lexington" and so
prepared him for the match that he was
beaten on the Metarie track by lie
compte," his half brother. Having OBJ
tanned some ready money, the head groom
opened first class gambling house in
New Orleans. He became lieutenant gov
ernor and ex-officio governor, when the
policies of President Grant toward this
state fully matured. Militia General An
derson, scalawag, was the other white
man on the board. The other two men,
bers were negroes. one doorkeeper of a
gambling house and the other waiter at a
cafe. The returning board In South Caro-
lima consisted of the secretary of state, a
negro; the state treasurer, negro; the
adjutant and inspector general, negro;
the controller general and the attorney
general. Three of the number were can
didates before the polls and all were of the
same political party or gang.
The result of the October elections In the
loyal states had prepared the public
mind for the election of Tilien on Novein-
ber q At o'clock on the morning of
the sth the New York Herald, independent
and notoriously accurate in its election
figures and forecasts, announced the
safety of Tilden. All the metropolitan
press except two or three behind the
scheme. concurred in that view That
night bonfires blazed in the west in honor
of Tilden.
The chairman Of the republican national
committee, Zach Chandler, of Michigan.
who also was a member of the cabinet.
was most robust partisan. He was a
leader in the organization OF the Fremont
campaign of 1856. Chairman Chandler tel
egraphed to his party leaders in Florida
and certain editors in other sections when
the midnight dispatches reported the de-
feat of Hayes. "Claim everything,,
The verified reports showed Tilden had
1874 unchallenged electoral votes to 163 for
Hayes. Twenty-three electoral votes were
in dispute, four from Florida, eight from
Louisiana, eight from South Carolina and
three from Oregon.
The popular vote proved to have been
more than quarter OF a million in favor
of Tilden even after the southern states
returning boards had manipulated the pre-
cinct returns TO s,iit their party.
Congress assembled In the first few days
of December while the whole country
awaited in almost suspense the conclusion
of the disputed election. Evidently the
President must be Tilden. democrat, elect
ed, or hayes. republican defeated. OF
General Grant. hold over dictator.
The Senate stood 4s republican TO g
democrats. The Senate thereupon re-
pealed the ''22d rule" the rule that re-
Quired every contested electoral vote to
be thrown out. This action was eaui, A.
lent to denial to Tilden of the right q.
contest the returns Of the radical, car-
petbagser and negro returning boards Of