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Election of 1876 Four House Vote Counting Passes

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 700.00 USD
Election of 1876 Four House Vote Counting Passes
<B>Election of 1876 Four House Vote Counting Passes</B></I> The outcome of the hotly-contested Presidential election of 2000 was up in the air for six weeks. That is nowhere near as interesting as the election of 1876. The Republican Rutherford B. Hayes ran against the Democrat Samuel Tilden. Both had clean political backgrounds. The election was close and when the votes were counted, Tilden held 51 percent of the popular vote. The Republicans challenged the voting in South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida. Many votes for Tilden were disqualified, giving Hayes the lead. Then it was the Democrats' turn to complain. Florida sent two rival sets of electors to Washington and thus it was up to Congress to decide the matter. The Democratic House and the Republican Senate couldn't agree, so a special 15 member Electoral Commission was appointed. A compromise was eventually reached (two days before the inauguration) giving Hayes the Presidency but removing Federal troops from southern soil, a decision that gave whites the political control of the south they had lost after the Civil War. This lot contains four "Admit Bearer" passes to the Gallery of the House of Representatives for four different "Counting the Vote for President and Vice-President" sessions in February of 1877. They are printed on white and colored cardstock, 4.75" x 3" in size, and are in good condition. Deaccessioned by the Chicago Historical Society which received them as a donation in 1910. A fascinating lot of items from America's most controversial election. Lot:259