The Compromise of 1877
- Grant wanted to run for another term in 1876 but most Republican leaders afraid by the scandals which Grant was associated with resisted.
- They sought Hayes as the next candidate, a former Union army officer and congressman.
- Democrats chose Samuel J. Tilden, the reform governor of New York
- both candidates were very similar, committed to moderate reform
- The November election produced an apparent Democratic victory
- Hayes could still win if he managed to receive all 20 disputed electoral votes
- The Constitution had established no method to determine the validity of disputed returns
- In January 1877, Congress tired to break the deadlock by creating a special electoral commission to judge the disputed votes
- Was composed of five senators, five representatives, and five justices of the Supreme Court
- Congressional delegation consisted of five republicans and five democrats
- commission voted awarding every disputed vote to Hayes.
- Congress accepted their verdict on March 2 and two days Hayes was inaugurated
- Many compromises were behind the resolution of the deadlock
- When a Democratic filibuster threatened to derail the commission's report, Republican senate leaders met secretly with Southern democratic leaders to work out terms by which the Democrats would allow the election of Hayes.
- Republicans and Southern Democrats met at Washington's Wormley Hotel. In return for a republican pledge that Hayes would withdraw the last federal troops form the South, the Southerners agreed to abandon the filibuster.
- The real agreement that won over the southern Democrats was reached well before the Wormley meeting. Southerners were granted in addition to withdrawal of the troops, generous internal improvements and federal aid for the Texas and Pacific Railroad,