[Sidenote: The decisions of the Commission.]
The view of the counsel for the Republican candidates prevailed with a majority of the Commission. By a majority of a single vote the Commission gave all the electoral votes of the four "States" from which double returns had been received to Hayes and Wheeler, and since the decisions of the Commission were final unless negatived by both Houses of Congress, and the Republican Senate, of course, sustained the decisions of the Commission, there was nothing for the Democrats to do but submit or have recourse to violence. Threats were freely expressed of having { 294} Mr. Tilden take the oath of office, and then conducting him, under the support of a large armed body, to the White House and installing him there. But it was observed that the Southern Democrats did not participate in these menacing declarations, and it was soon learned that Mr. Tilden himself would not lend himself to any such desperate movement. Moreover, the existing President had, with his usual promptness and decision, prepared himself to meet all exigencies, and had let it be known that he would uphold the decisions to which Congress and its Commission might come by any power necessary to accomplish the result.
[Sidenote: Mr. Hayes declared President.]
In the early morning of March 2d, the count was completed, and Hayes and Wheeler were proclaimed by the presiding officer of the Senate, Mr. Ferry, elected President and Vice-President of the United States by a majority of one electoral vote. The popular vote for the electors was about eight millions three hundred thousand. Of this vast number the Tilden electors had received the majority by about two hundred and fifty thousand, according to the Republican count, and by about three hundred thousand, according to the Democratic count. It must be remembered, however, that it is quite possible for the candidate of one party to receive a popular majority throughout the whole country, and the candidate of the other to receive a majority of the electoral votes, simply because the popular vote is counted, in electing the electors, by "States" and not in the aggregate.
[Sidenote: The truth in regard to the election.]
The truth in regard to the whole transaction of the election probably is that the Democrats did in some places in the South intimidate voters; that the Republican "State" canvassing officers, making this a justification, or an excuse, did throw out votes that ought to have been counted; and that the existing law of { 295} elections, administered by Republicans, was capable of being so interpreted as to give legal warrant to all that was done by them. A perfectly fair election in the "States" of Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina, with the law of suffrage then obtaining, would probably have resulted in a popular majority for the Republican candidates for electors. Accepting the law of suffrage as then existing for the basis of our reasoning, it will have to be conceded that the Republicans were in the right both morally and legally, and that the title of Hayes and Wheeler to the offices of President and Vice-President was entirely sound and unimpeachable. They were inaugurated on the 5th day of March, 1877, without any attempt at resistance or disturbance from any quarter.