otive. When the
redemption (?) of the State was an accomplished fact they, no doubt,
felt that they were entitled to share in the fruits of that redemption.
Their idea evidently was that the State should be made to pay for its
own salvation and redemption, but the only way in which this could be
done was to have the people's money in the State treasury appropriated
for that purpose otherwise than by legislative enactment. This, as I
have already stated, is only a conjecture, but, under the circumstances,
it is the most reasonable and plausible one that can be imagined.

The case of Treasurer Hemmingway is conclusive evidence that in point of
efficiency, honesty and official integrity the Democratic party had no
advantage over the party that was placed in power chiefly through the
votes of colored men. What was true of Mississippi in this respect was
also true,--in a measure, at least,--of the other reconstructed States.

CHAPTER XVII

THE HAYES-TILDEN CONTEST. THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Although the action of the returning boards in South Carolina,
Louisiana, and Florida, gave Mr. Hayes a majority of one vote in the
Electoral College, the Democrats, who were largely in the majority in
the National House of Representatives, were evidently not willing to
acquiesce in the declared result,--claiming that Mr. Tilden had been
fairly elected and that he ought to be inaugurated.

Hon. Henry Watterson, of Kentucky,--who was at that time a member of the
House,--delivered a fiery speech in which he declared that a hundred
thousand armed men would march to Washington to see that Mr. Tilden was
inaugurated. The situation for a while looked very grave. It seemed as
if there would be a dual government, Hayes and Tilden each claiming to
be the legally elected President. To prevent this was the problem then
before Congress and the American people. Conferences, composed of
influential men of both parties, were being frequently held in different
parts of the city.

The creation of an electoral commission to pass upon and decide the
disputed points involved was finally suggested, and was accepted by a
majority of both parties. The name of the originator of this suggestion
has never been made public; but it is believed by many that Senator
Edmunds, of Vermont, was the man, since he was the principal champion of
the measure in the Senate. Subsequent events appeared to indicate that
Hon. Wm. M. Evarts of New York, was also an inf