Shady American Elections of 1876
The most corruption ridden, heinous and questionable presidential election in American history had only just begun. During the presidential campaign, Rutherford was blasted by Tilden's opposition labeling him thief, briber and a drunkard. Eyebrows were raised in states controlled by Republican about voting fraud; armed and dangerous bigoted white democrats had enveloped the South thwarting blacks from voting in elections. Hence in the aftermath, South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida were judged too close to call. With these states still in-pending, Tilden was short of one electrical vote of 185 as written in the constitution to win an election. Hayes captured 165 electoral votes; now he just needed 20 electoral votes to win from these mentioned three states to attain the president's seat. The crisis began slowly leading up to the threat of a civil war which finally concluded behind the curtain deal, popularly known as Compromise of 1877 as per which Hayes was the elected president whilst withdrawing federal troops in the South which ended with Reconstruction (King).
Elections 1876
The United States of America celebrated its birth year, 1876 after a perplexing and troublesome scandal over the rightful candidacy of the president. Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican winner won the electoral vote while losing the popular vote, 185 to 184 with considerable help from a series of election rigging stints in South, but the recounts were confirmed by Electoral Commission in Washington as a valid party vote. Meanwhile every living historian reading through the history certainly agrees upon Samuel Jones Tilden (the Democratic candidate) as the deserving winner from the elections in what is known as the most corrupt ridden elections in American history (Harmon).
Southern whites had total control over the southern states by 1876 with the exception of Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina. Their preferable method of restoring peace and white rule was by terrorization and violence. Often, Federal troops were dispatched to south to maintain peace and protection of Freedman and his followers. But with the passage of time, congress was less than enthusiastic and willing to safeguard the rights promised to Freedman as per the 14th amendment. Freedman wielded significant influence even after eleven years subsequent to Civil War in South Carolina government. But their rule was being met with forceful antagonism. Hence, efforts were made to prevent their participation in elections after 1876 elections. Congress was at cross roads about whether to support Freedman and his advocates or cancel its Reconstruction policy and give white southerners sovereignty over ruling citizens of South Carolina (Ladenburg)
With 110, 744 legitimate black voters and 74, 199 legitimate white voters, the election of 1876 were the closest in American election history. Both Democrats and Republicans asserted their triumph in election of 1876. Both asserted that rival party had played unfairly. Both asserted their contestants as legitimate governors and began setting up office in Washington DC. Both governors hailing from Democrat and Republican Party, namely Daniel H. Chamberlain and Wade Hampton respectively, gave presiding speeches. Hampton had the backing of influential white people and democratic clubs whilst Chamberlain had the backing of black people of South Carolina and needed Federal troops to keep his office. His office could be taken as per the presidential order. The president got the advice as:' for eight years, we have strived to sustain Negro rule in south presided by carpetbaggers, but as is apparent, it has shown dismal results and ruined the party. Statesmanship is all about assigning the best at command and reaching popular contentment' (Ladenburg)
Restoration of White Rule to the South
The president was in a quandary about whether to dispatch troops to South Carolina due to the fact that 1876 was now a presidential election year. Rutherford Hayes, the Republican in that election obtained 165 electoral votes and Samuel Tilden, the Democrat obtained 184 electoral votes. The bone of contention was 20 votes between Republicans and Democrats as Washington received two distinct sets of returns from Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana. In case, the disputed twenty votes were given to the Republican Party, they would sweep the election, while even if one vote was obtained by Tilden from the Democrats, they could win the election (Ladenburg).
In order to solve this conflict,...
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