The Republicans felt sufficiently secure to deliver a slim majority to Hayes. Such, at any rate, was what the Republicans asserted. The Democrats alleged a miscount. They also alleged miscounts in the two other Southern states still controlled by Republicans, Florida and Louisiana, where the Hayes side similarly claimed majorities. The counting became crucial when the country as a whole returned a popular victory for Tilden and the tally of electors from the uncontested states tipped narrowly in Tilden’s favor. If Tilden could overturn the result in any of the three contested states, he would become Grant’s successor; Hayes needed all three to win the White House.Grant sought to ensure a fair review of the ballots. Following reports of potential intimidation of review boards in Florida and Louisiana, he ordered Sherman to strengthen the army’s presence there. “See that the proper and legal boards of canvassers are unmolested in the performance of their duties,” he said. “Should there be any grounds of suspicion of fraudulent counting on either side, it should be reported and denounced at once.
What do You think about The Man Who Saved The Union?
