May 15, Attorney-General George H. Williams resigns. May 17, John C. Breckinridge, soldier and politician, dies at Lexington, Kentucky. May 20, Convention establishing an international bureau of weights and measures signed at Paris by representatives of Austria, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, United States, Argentina Republic, Brazil, and Peru. May 29, President Grant's third term letter published. June 17, Centenary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, Charlestown, Massachusetts. July 2, In the case of Tilton vs. Beecher, the jury disagree and are discharged. July 5, Francis P. Blair, Jr., military officer, dies. July 31, Death of Andrew Johnson, near Jonesboro, Tennessee. August 12, Death of Honorable Horace Binney, lawyer and statesman, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. September 14, The "Lawrence," Commodore Perry's ship, which was sunk in Lake Erie in 1815, is raised and transported to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sept. 16, The Democratic Convention in New York State declares for specie resumption. Sept. 22, Resignation of Columbus Delano, Secretary of the Interior, accepted by the President. Sept. 29, President Grant speaks in Des Moines, Idaho, against sectarian schools. November 4, The steamship "Pacific" founders and about two hundred lives are lost en route between San Francisco and Portland. Nov. 22, Death of Vice-President Henry Wilson, at Washington, D. C. Nov. 22, By virtue of his office Thomas W. Ferry, of Michigan, president pro tem., becomes acting Vice-President. Nov. 24, Death of William B. Astor, capitalist, at New York. December 6, First session of the forty-fourth United States Congress convenes. Dec. 6, Michael C. Kerr, chosen speaker of the House of Representatives over James G. Blaine, of Maine. (This was the first Democratic majority in this branch of Congress for fifteen years.) Dec. 7, Unsectarian and compulsory education advocated by President Grant in his annual message to Congress. Person C. Cheney, Governor of the state of New Hampshire. William Gaston, Governor of the state of Massachusetts. Henry L. Dawes, United States Senator from the state of Massachusetts. Henry Lippitt, Governor of the state of Rhode Island. Ambrose E. Burnside, United States Senator from the state of Rhode Island. William W. Eaton, James E. English, and William H. Barnum, United States Senators from the state of Connecticut. Joseph D. Bedle, Governor of the state of New Jersey. Francis Kernan, United States Senator from the state of New York. James B. Grooms, Governor of the state of Maryland. William P. Whyte, United States Senator from the state of Maryland. . H. Chamberlain, Governor of the state of South Carolina. Charles W. Jones, United States Senator from the state of Florida. James R. McCreary, Governor of the state of Kentucky. James D. Porter, Jr., Governor of the state of Tennessee. Andrew Johnson and Dan McK. Key, United States Senators from the state of Tennessee. Charles H. Hardin, Governor of the state of Missouri. F. M. Cockrell, United States Senator from the state of Missouri. B. K. Bruce (colored), United States Senator from the state of Mississippi. Samuel Bell Maxey, United States Senator from the state of Texas. William G. Ritch, Acting Territorial Governor of New Mexico. Samuel B. Axtell, Governor of the territory of New Mexico. John I. Routt, Governor of the territory of Colorado. Samuel J. R. McMillan, United States Senator from the State of Minnesota. I. P. Christiancy, United States Senator from the state of Michigan. J. E. McDonald, United States Senator from the state of Indiana. Angus Cameron, United States Senator from the state of Wisconsin. George W. Emery, Governor of the state of Utah. Silas Garber, Governor of the state of Nebraska. A. S. Paddock, United States Senator from the state of Nebraska. William Irwin, Governor of the state of California. Roumaldo Pacheco, Governor of the state of California. Newton Booth, United States Senator from the state of California. Total national debt, $2,232,284,531.95. Interest bearing debt of the United States, $1,722,676,300. Alien immigration, 227,498. Government pensions, $29,270,404.76. Vermont's state representative in the National Statuary Hall at the Capitol in Washington, D. C., is Ethan Allen. New Jersey's state representative in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D. C., is Philip Kearney. The G. A. R. meets at Chicago, Illinois, with John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, as commander-in-chief. M. C. Kerr, of Indiana, Speaker of the House of Representatives. The forty-fourth United States Congress convenes. The Wheeler Compromise. The United States Senate ratifies the treaty with Hawaii. Financial troubles continue. United States troops take possession of the legislative hall in Louisiana. 1876 January, Alexander H. Rice, Governor of the state of Massachusetts. Jan., Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa. Jan., Joshua G. Newbold elected to the United States Senate to succeed Governor Kirkwood of Iowa on his resignation. February 3, Grant vetoes the Custody of Indian Trust Funds Bill. Feb. 10, Reverdy Johnson, lawyer and statesman, dies at Annapolis, Maryland. Feb. 14, Patent granted to Alex. Graham Bell on Elisha Gray's invention to transmit the voice through telegraphic circuit. Feb. 16, The United States Congress appropriates $1,500,000 for the completion of the Centennial Buildings at Philadelphia, Pa. Feb. 22, Convention of the Greenback Party at New Haven, Conn. March 1-2, Convention of delegates meet at New Orleans, Louisiana, relative to immigration in the interests of the Southern and Western States. Mar. 2, The House of Representatives impeaches by resolution the Secretary of War W. W. Belknap, who resigns. Mar. 4, Kansas abolishes all distinction of color in the laws of the state by act off its Legislature. Mar. 17, William H. Barnum, of Connecticut, elected to fill the unexpired term off Senator Ferrer, deceased, in the United States Senate. Mar. 27, Grant vetoes the fifteenth bill submitted by Congress during his office Mar. 29, John M. Stone, Acting Governor of the state of Mississippi. Mar 31, President Grant vetoes the bill for relief of B. G. Tyler and E. H. Lucket His veto is passed over. Mar., Settlement in Apache County, Utah, by Mormon colonists. April 3, The O'Conner Bill authorizing commissioners of safety to be appointed for railroad transportation becomes a law in California. Apr. 4, Impeachment articles against Secretary of War Belknap presented to the United States Senate. Apr. 5, The Senate rejects the President's appointment of Charles A. Dana as Minister to Great Britain. Apr. 10, Alexander T. Stewart, merchant, dies at New York. Apr. 14, Statue of Abraham Lincoln unveiled at Lincoln Park, Washington, D. C. Apr. 18, Grant vetoes the Reduction of the President's Salary Bill. May 4, Grant's message justifying executive absence from the seat of Government, upon precedents. May 7, The Emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro II, visits the United States, arriving in New York and later meeting President Grant. May 10, Professor Bell publicly explains the methods of his telephone before the American Academy of Arts and Sciences of Boston, Massachusetts. May 10, President Grant, accompanied by Dom Pedro, Emperor of Brazil, opens the Centennial Exposition, at Fairmount Park, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. May 17, General G. C. Smith, of Kentucky, nominated by the Prohibitionists at Cleveland, Ohio, for President and G. T. Stewart, of Ohio, for Vice-President. May 18, Peter Cooper, of New York, nominated for President, and United States Senator Newton Booth, for Vice-President. He declining, Samuel F. Cary, of Ohio, is substituted by the National Greenback Convention held at Indianapolis, Indiana. May 22, Secretary of War Alphonso Taft resigns his portfolio to become Attorney-General of the United States. May 26, President Grant vetoes the Recording in the District of Columbia Bill, passed by the Congress. May 31, Letter of acceptance of the Greenback nominee, Peter Cooper, for the Presidency published. June 1, Attorney-General Edward Pierpont resigns his office. Jarrett and Palmer, special train from New York to San Francisco, in eighty-three hours and thirty-four minutes. (This was a chartered train, making record time to date.) June 7, Mount Hamilton selected as observatory site at Santa Clara County, California. June 9, Grant vetoes the Relief Bill submitted by Congress for his signature and approval. June 12, Women's International Temperance Congress meets at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. June 14, The Republican National Convention meets at Cinciniati, Ohio, and McPherson, of Philadelphia, is chosen permanent chairman. June 15, Great Britain surrenders the forger, Ezra D. Winslow. June 16, Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio, nominated by the Republican Convention for the presidency on the seventh ballot, receiving 384 votes to Blaine's 351. William A. Wheeler of New York is unanimously nominated for the vice-presidency on the first ballot. June 20, Secretary of the Treasury B. H. Bristow resigns his office. Massacre of General George A. Custer near Little Big Horn River, Montana, with his forces of 278 soldiers by a band of Indians under Sitting Bull. June 27, President Grant suggests July 4 as a day of public religious services. June 28, The National Democratic Convention assembles at St. Louis, Missouri, with General McClernand as permanent president. Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, receives the nomination on the second ballot as the standard bearer for the party. June 29, Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana, nominated by the Democrats for VicePresident by acclamation at St. Louis, Missouri. une 30, President Grant vetoes the Internal Improvements Bill. June 30, Iron diaphragm first used by Bell. une, Bell's telephone exhibited at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. June, Senator Morrill, of Maine, appointed Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. Tuly 1, Interest bearing debt of the United States, $1,710,685,450. July, Alien immigrants arriving during the year, 169,986. Amount paid out in pensions by the Government for the year, $27,936,209.53. July 4, The first Centenary of American Independence. July 8, The Republican nominee for the presidency, Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio, accepts by letter. July 11, President Grant vetoes the bill for relief of Nelson Tiffany. Passed over the President's veto by Congress. July 11, Postmaster-General Jewell resigns. July 12, James N. Tyner, of Indiana, appointed Postmaster-General. July 13, President Grant vetoes the Pension Bill. July 15, The letter of acceptance published of the Republican nominee for the vice-presidency, W. A. Wheeler, of New York. July 20, President Grant vetoes the Post-Office Statutes Bill. July 22, Congress declares the trade dollar no longer legal tender and authorizes $10,000,000 of silver to be minted for coinage in exchange for legal tender notes. July 24, Hendricks, the Democratic nominee for the vice-presidency, submits letter of acceptance. July 31, The Democratic nominee for the presidency submits his letter of acceptance. August 1, Colorado, the 38th state admitted to the Union. (Formed from a portion of the territory ceded to the United States by France, by the treaty of April 30, 1803, and of that ceded by Mexico, by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1948. Aug 1, The United States Senate acquits W. W. Belknap of impeachment articles as Secretary of War. Aug. 2, Two hundred thousand dollars appropriated by Congress for the completion of the Washington Monument at Washington, D. C. Aug. 4, President Grant vetoes his sixteenth Relief Bill. Aug. 15, Grant vetoes another Relief Bill submitted by Congress. Aug. 15, President Grant vetoes the bill authorizing improvements in Washington, D. C., and the Indian Public Lands Sale Bill, the latter being passed over his veto. Aug. 15, First session of Congress adjourns. Aug. 19, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honorable M. C. Kerr, dies at Rockbridge Alum Springs, Virginia. September 2, Hallett's Reef (Hell Gate), New York, blown up. Sept. 6, Bronze statue of General Lafayette, gift of the French Republic to New York City, unveiled. Sept. 9, Treaty with the Hawaiian Islands takes effect. Sept. 27, Death of General Braxton Bragg at Galveston, Texas. October 12, A number of American whaling ships lost in the Arctic ice. Many lives lost. Oct. 17, President Grant, by proclamation, orders disorderly and turbulent gatherings in South Carolina to disperse. Oct., Kansas fruit attracts national attention and awarded first prize at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Penn. November 6, The Republican and Democratic candidates of Louisiana both clain the victory in the election. Nov. 7, The presidential election held in all the states of the Union. December 4, Congress meets in second session, with Thomas W. Ferry presiding the United States Senate. Dec. 4, Samuel J. Randall, Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives elected over James A. Garfield, the Republican candidate, by a vote of 162 to 8: Dec. 5, Eighth annual message of President Grant sent to Congress. Dec. 5, The Brooklyn Theater, New York, burned with a loss of 295 lives. Dec. 6, Baron De Palm's body cremated at the crematory in Washington, D. C. Dec. 6, The country becomes greatly disturbed by election disputes, the returning boards giving Hayes 185 electoral votes to Tilden's 184. Armed Communists parade in Chicago, Illinois, carrying red flags. Lake Front University, at Lake Front, Illinois, opened. Kentucky legislature establishes a Bureau of Agriculture, etc., also reduce legal interest rates of interest from 10% to 8%. The Prohibition Party nominates General Smith of Kentucky, candidate for the Presidency. By act of the Legislature the death penalty is abolished by law in the state of Maine. Naturalization of many Swedes in the state of Maine. Hot Springs, Arkansas, established. Dr. S. H. Stevenson, of Chicago, Illinois, the first woman admitted as a delegate to the American Medical Association at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. James G. Blaine, United States Senator from the state of Maine. Mason Brayman, Territorial Governor of Idaho. John I. Routt, Governor of the state of Colorado. Grand Army of the Republic meets at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John F. Hartranft, Commander-in-chief. The Woman's Rights Party appears. Prohibition Party, composed of the advocates for legal and compulsory prohibition, and equal franchise or suffrage for voters regardless of sex. Popular and electoral votes for President: Samuel J. Tilden, New York, Democrat, 4,284,885. Rutherford B. Hayes, Ohio, Republican, 4,003,950. Hayes, Electoral Vote, 185. Total electoral vote, 369. Votes for Vice-President: T. A. Hendricks, Indiana, Democrat, 184 votes. Wlliam A. Wheeler, New York, Republican, 185 votes. G. T. Stewart, Ohio, Prohibition. D. Kirkpatrick, New York, American. Total Votes, 369. Hayes and Wheeler declared elected. Postal Treaty with Japan concluded. Termination of the English Extradition Treaty announced. Andrew Johnson's wife, Eliza McCardle Johnson, dies. mes A. Garfield sent by President Grant to New Orleans, with Senators Sherman Jad Matthews, to look after the counting of Louisiana vote. Fenjamin Harrison receives the Republican nomination for Governor of Indianą. William McKinley elected a member of the National House of Representatives from Ohio. The National debt of the United States, $2,180,395,067.15. 1877 January 4, Death of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, at New York. Jan. 5, Convention of Extradition concluded between the United States and Spain, at Madrid. Jan. 15, Grant vetoes the Homestead Entries Bill. an. 17, Plan agreed upon by joint congressional committee for counting the presi ential electoral vote. an. 20, American steamer "George Washington" lost,-stranded off Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, and number of people lost their lives. |