Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-10

closely in their counts. excope ~ 70
Baker county. from which the Repub-
Leans claimed II majority. the Demo-
Gratis IS majority-the returning board
accepting the Republican claim.
In Louisian the Packard returning
board was headed by J. Madison Wells.
and this body refused to permit the
Democrats to be represented therein.
It was in session three weeks. the ex-
element all the time being at fever
heat, and finally made the following
average returns: Republican electors,
| "A, 1856; Democratic, 70.505; Republican
majority. 1891. McEnery who claimed
to be governor. gave the Democratic
electors a certificate based on an av-
l.eraee vote Of 1855 against 1878, b
Democratic, majority Of 1876.
In Oregon, the three Republican elec-
tors had an admitted majority OF the
popular vote, but on claim that one Of
the number was a federal offlce-holder
and therefore ineligible, the Democratic
governor gave a certificate to two Of
the Republican electors, and a Mr..
Cronin, Democrat. The three Repub-
lican electors were certified by the Sec
rotary of state, who was the canvass
! ing officer by law. This Oregon bust
ness led to grave suspicious against
Mr.. Tilden. who was thereafter freely
charged by the Republicans with the
use of his immense private fortune to
control the result. and thereafter. the
; New York Tribune exposed and re-
printed the cipher dispatches" from
Gramercy. which Mr.. Pelton, the neph-
ew and private secretary of Mr.. Tilden,
had sent to Democratic WISHING
statesmen" in the four disputed Sec
tions. In 1875, the Potter investigating
committee subsequently confirmed the
"cipher dispatches but Mr.. Tilden de-
MED any knowledge of them.
The second session Of the 44th Con-
gress met on Dec. 5th, 1876, and while
by that time all knew the dangers of
the approaching electoral count. yet
neither House would consent to the
revision of the joint rule regulating the
count. The Republicans claimed that
the President of the Senate had tho
sole authority to open and announce
the returns in the presence Of the two
Houses; the Democrats plainly disputed
this right, and claimed that tho Joint
body could control the count under the
law. Some Democrats went so far as to
say that the House (which was Demo-
cratic, with Samuel J. Randall in the
Speakers chair could for itself decide
when the emergency had arrived in
which it was to elect a President.
There was grave danger. and it was
asserted that the Democrats. fearing
the President of the Senate would ex-
ercise the power of declaring the result,
were preparing first to forcibly and at
least with secrecy swear in and inau-'
gurate Tilden. Mr.. Watterson, member
of the House from Kentucky, boosted
that he had completed arrangements to
have 100000 men at Washington on in
auguration day. to see that Tilden was
installed. President Grant and Secre-
tary Of War Cameron. thought the con-
dition of affairs critical. and both made
active though secret preparations to
secure the safe IL not the peaceful in
auguration Of Hayes. Grant. in one Of
his sententious utterances, said he
would have peace If he had to fight
for It," To this end he sent for Gov.
Hartranft of Pennsylvania. to know II
he could stop any attempted movement
Of New York troops to Washington, as
he had information that the purpose
was to forcibly install Tilden. Gov.
Hartranft replied that he could do it
with the National Guard and the Grand
Army of the Republic. He was told to
return to Harrisburg and prepare for
such an, emergency. This he did, and
as the Legislature was then in session,
Republican caucus was called, and 1t
resolved. without knowing exactly why.
to sustain any action of the Governor
with the resources Of the state. Secre-
tary Cameron also sent for GenI Sher-
man. and for a time went on with COM
prehensive preparations. which If there
had been need for completion. would
certainly have put a speedy check upon
the madness Of any mob. There is q
most interesting unwritten history Of
events then transpiring which no one
now living can fully relate without I'M
Justifiable violations of political and
personal condolences. But the danger
was avoided by the patriotism of prom
inent members of Congress represent
ing both of the great political parties
These gentlemen held several important
and private conferences. and substan-
tally agreed upon result several days
before the exciting struggle which fol-
lowed the introduction Of the Electoral
Commission Act. The leaders on the
part of the Republicans in these con-
ferences were Conkling. Edmunds. Free
linghuysen: on the part of the Demo-
Gratis Bayard. Gordon. Randall and
Hewitt. the latter member of the
House and Chairman of the National
Democratic Committee.
The Electoral Commission Act, the
| basis of agreement. was supported BY
Conkling in speech Of great power,
| and of all men engaged in this great
work he was at the time most sus.
pected by the Republicans who feared
that his admitted dislike to HAYES
would cause him to favor a bill which
would secure the return of Tilden, and
as both Of the gentlemen were New
Workers. there was for several DAYS
grave fears Of combination between