Mr. Tilden was nominated on the second ballot. The campaign that
followed proved one of the most memorable in our history. When it came
to an end the result showed on the face of the returns 196 in the
Electoral College, eleven more than a majority; and in the popular vote
4,300,316, a majority of 264,300 for Tilden over Hayes.
How this came to be first contested and then complicated so as
ultimately to be set aside has been minutely related by its authors.
The newspapers, both Republican and Democratic, of November 8, 1876,
the morning after the election, conceded an overwhelming victory for
Tilden and Hendricks. There was, however, a single exception. The New
York Times had gone to press with its first edition, leaving the result
in doubt but inclining toward the success of the Democrats. In its
later editions this tentative attitude was changed to the statement
that Mr. Hayes lacked the vote of Florida—“claimed by the
Republicans”—to be sure of the required votes in the Electoral College.
The story of this surprising discrepancy between midnight and daylight
reads like a chapter of fiction.
After the early edition of the Times had gone to press certain members
of the editorial staff were at supper, very much cast down by the
returns, when a messenger brought a telegram from Senator Barnum, of
Connecticut, financial head of the Democratic National Committee,
asking for the Times’ latest news from Oregon, Louisiana, Florida and
South Carolina. But for that unlucky telegram Tilden would probably
have been inaugurated President of the United States.
The Times people, intense Republican partisans, at once saw an
opportunity. If Barnum did not know, why might not a doubt be raised?
At once the editorial in the first edition was revised to take a
decisive tone and declare the election of Hayes. One of the editorial
council, Mr. John C. Reid, hurried to Republican headquarters in the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, which he found deserted, the triumph of Tilden
having long before sent everybody to bed. Mr. Reid then sought the room
of Senator Zachariah Chandler, chairman of the National Republican
Committee.
While upon this errand he encountered in the hotel corridor “a small
man wearing an enormous pair of goggles, his hat drawn over his ears, a
greatcoat with a heavy military cloak, and carrying a gripsack and
newspaper in his hand. The newspaper was the New York Tribune,”
announcing the election of Tilden and the defeat of Hayes. The newcomer
was Mr. William E. Chandler, even then a very prominent Republican
politician, just arrived from New Hampshire and very much exasperated
by what he had read.
Mr. Reid had another tale to tell. The two found Mr. Zachariah
Chandler, who bade them leave him alone and do whatever they thought
best. They did so, consumingly, sending telegrams to Columbia,
Tallahassee and New Orleans, stating to each of the parties addressed
that the result of the election depended upon his State. To these was
appended the signature of Zachariah Chandler.
Later in the day Senator Chandler, advised of what had been set on foot
and its possibilities, issued from National Republican headquarters
this laconic message: “Hayes has 185 electoral votes and is elected.”
Thus began and was put in motion the scheme to confuse the returns and
make a disputed count of the vote.