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Instant History By Chuck Ross This is the latest in our series on Presidential elections, con cerning in the election of 1876. This was our Centennial year But, with the Civil War recently ended and a good part of the South still under the “boyonet rule” of Reconstruction, it was hardly a time of national patriotism and unification. The Twenty-Third Election (1876) Grant’s second administration was even more corrupt than his first. His Secretary of War resigned to escape impeachment and his private secretary was saved from conviction of fraud only through presidential inter vention. Yet, despite the continu ing scandals, Grant was ‘‘will ing” to run for a third term. Dismayed by this possibility, the Congress passed overwhelmingly a resolution which ended any thoughts of another term for the President. (1) The Republicans hastily sought a successor to Grant. Who were the leading candidates, and who was the eventual nominee? (2) The Democrats had two serious contenders, and com promised by putting both on the ticket. Who were the candidates, and what w’as the main issue between them? (3) What were the results of the election of 1876? (4) The results were disputed. How was the issue resolved? (5) Other than the naming of the President, another major event resulted from the Disputed Election. What was it? Answers (1) The major contender among the Repbulicans were Congressman James G. Blaine, the “Plumed Knight', and Senator Roscoe Conkling, the favorite of the administration. The two dead-locked in the balloting, whereupon the Re publicans chose a compromise candidate. Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio. (2) For the Democrats, Governor Samuel J. Tilden o New York was a “hard money man and the choice of t e reformers; Governor Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana was for “soft money” and the spokesman for the West. Since reform was the major issue, and the Democrats’ best chance, nomination went to Tilden Hendricks given the second place the on the ticket. 13) On the first count, Tilden had a 250,000 popular vote margin over Hayes and at least 184 electoral votes, one short of a majority. These votes did not include those of Florida, Louisi ana, South Carolina and Oregon, all in dispute. Both political parties sent prominent men to investigate the states’ results and, while there was evidence of irregularities and even outright fraud, it appeared that Hayes had won in Oregon and South Carolina, Tilden had a majority in Louisiana, and both men were nearly even in Florida. Had these results stood the 8 electoral votes of Louisiana alone would have given the election to Tilden. But, in each of these four states, two sets of election results were submitted, one favoring the Republican claimant, the other the Democrat. Thus, it became the task of Congress to settle the dispute. (4) Congress established an Electoral Commission to make the decision. The Commission, fifteen strong, was composed of five Senators, five Representa tives from the House, and five Justices of the Supreme Court. Of the ten members of Congress, five were Republicans, five were Democrats. Of the five Justices, four were appointed; two Republicans, two Democrats. The four then chose Justice David Davis, a liberal Republi can who was believed to favor Tilden, but, it was hoped, would provide non-partisan arbitration between the two solid voting blocs of seven from each party. However, just prior to the convening of the Commission, Davis resigned from the Court to accept the seat of Senator from Illinois. His place was taken by Justice Jospeh Bradley, a hard-core Republican. With all hopes for objectivity dashed, the Commission voted on each of the disputed states’ returns on strict party lines. The eight Republi cans out-voted the seven Demo crats, all of the Republican electors were certificed, and Hayes won the Presidency by one electoral vote. (5) The decision, which gave 185 electoral votes to the Republicans and 184 to the Democrats, was not only close, it was clearly partisan. Tilden could have fought the tainted verdict. He had a Democratic House of Representatives on his side and the Southern states were outraged. But, Tilden was ill. and he feared another outbreak of violence. Stating, “I would prefer four years of Hayes’ administra tion to four years of civil war”, he accepted the decision. Getting the Democrats and the Southern states to accept was another matter. Only the promise of ending carpetbagger rule in the South and withdrawing Federal troops from Louisiana and Florida, the last “occupied’’ states, led the Democrats and the “Solid South” to agree to Hayes’ election. Although Hayes denied being any part of the bargain, he withdrew the troops shortly after taking office. Reconstruction was over. Cherokee 7, Polk Central 2 Cherokee secured a state playoff spot as the second-place team in the Appalachian 1-A Conference as they defeated Polk Central 7-2 Thursday afternoon. Gary Maney threw a two-hitter to complete the Braves’ regular season at 12-7 and 8-4 in league play. Cherokee will now meet the Smoky Mountain champ Hayesville in the first round playoffs, while Appalachian winner Tryon hosts Andrews Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Harmon Field. A GRADUATE Among the 1980 Montreat- Anderson College graduates is Michael Lantz Sprouse of Tryon, an Associate in Arts Degree. The Bulletin, 10c Per Copy ***«*w Columbus Cutlery Quality Cutlory by Case and Parker SHARPEN Knives, Scissors, Axes, Garden Tools, Etc. Buy-Sell— Trade Antique Pocket Knives Hours: Mon., Wed., Frl.: 8:30 to 5:00 Located Opposite Smith’s Supermarket Mills St., Columbus, N. C. Tryon Daily Bulletin, Mon. May 19. I 980 Miss Cora A. Fisher Miss Cora A. Fisher, 88 1017 Patton Ave., Hendersonville died Friday at 3:10 * Margaret Pardee Hospital after an extended illness. She was born in Polk County and was a daughter of the late Andrew Jackson Newman Fisher. A retired nurse (RN) she had made her home in Hendersonville for oyer 65 years. She was a member of me Hendersonville First Baptist Church. Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Frail Durham and Mrs. Frank K. McFarland, Sr., both of Tryon. Also several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Saturday at 4 p.m. in McFarland Funeral Chapel with the Rev. T. G. Proctor officiating. Burial was in Tryon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Margaret R. Pardee Hospital or your favorite charity. Landrum Girls 13th In Class A State Track Meet The Landrum Girls Track Team placed 13th with 9 points in the State Class A Track Meet Thursday in Columbia. Tammy Thompson was 3rd in the high jump; Judy Hefner was Sth in the 100 meter hurdles and Sonya McDowell was 6th in the 100 yard meters.
The Tryon Daily Bulletin (Tryon, N.C.)
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May 19, 1980, edition 1
11
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