WILLIAM BIGLER TO TILDEN
"Clearfield, Pa., Jan. 24th, 1877.
"My dear Sir,—After a careful examination of all the plans of adjusting the Presidential embroglio at Washington, I came to the conclusion that the plan reported by the committee is the best—most certain to promote the peace and dignity of the country, and to secure your inauguration as President. In the first place it involves an abandonment of the plea for the right of the president of the Senate, and in the next it recognizes the right of the commission to go behind the certificates on an allegation of fraud. Besides, I have special confidence in one of the judges who will be selected as a Republican. He will be just and impartial in his action, with slight inclination to our side.
"The difficulty in the way of the power of the House consists in the obstacles that can be interposed against reaching the point at which that power can be safely and properly exercised. The order laid down in the Constitution must be followed. First, the certificates shall be opened. Second, the vote shall then be counted. Third, if there has been a failure to elect by the States then the House shall immediately proceed to elect a President. The counting will go on smoothly until Florida is reached, and then objection will be made and the Senate will retire. It will decide to count the vote for Mr. Hayes, and the House will reject the vote or count it for you, and then when will they come together again? Perhaps at the end of a week the House may give up Florida to go on with the count and then will come Louisiana, and this the House cannot yield without losing everything. Some say at this point the House should proceed to elect a President, but the vote has not been counted as the Constitution requires, and the assumption that there has been no election in the face of the fact that there are but two candidates, and that it is not possible to so divide the vote as to have a tie, cannot be overlooked. The plan of conceding everything but Oregon, which comes last, has been favored by some. My own impression is that you will become President by the rejection of the vote of Louisiana. That will be done by the commission, and may be done by a vote of the Senate. I think the vote in the Senate, taken at any time, would be very close on the rejection of the vote of Louisiana.
"The danger now is that the plan of the committees will be defeated by persistent debate. I have no fear of Grant. At present he would sign the bill.
"I should have remained at Washington but for an imperious demand for me in a business matter at this place.
"With much esteem I remain,
"Your friend,
"Wm. Bigler.
"Florida is becoming so clear for you that the whole matter may yet be settled by that State."