South Carolina's 7 electoral votes were among those disputed in the 1876 election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden.1 On the face of the returns Hayes won the state; unofficial results listed by the Hayes Presidential Library show 91,870 votes for Hayes and 90,896 for Tilden.2 For governor, Democrats nominated Wade Hampton III against the Republican incumbent, Daniel H. Chamberlain, and polled 92,261 votes to the Republicans' 91,127.3 The South Carolina Encyclopedia reports that Democratic leaders later admitted in memoirs to repeat voting and other illegal tactics, and that Edgefield County reported two thousand more votes than it had eligible voters.4
The Republican-controlled State Board of Canvassers declared the votes of Edgefield and Laurens counties invalid, and for four months the state had two legislatures and two governors.5 Two sets of electoral certificates reached Congress; the electors led by C. C. Bowen and John Winsmith had voted for Hayes.6 Objections filed against the Bowen electors argued that no legal election had been held and that federal soldiers near the polls had prevented a free election.7
The Electoral Commission, in a report signed by its eight concurring members, found that the Bowen electors' votes, certified by Governor Chamberlain, were to be counted.8 It held that neither it nor Congress, when counting electoral votes, could inquire into the circumstances under which the popular vote was cast.9 The House sustained the objections and the Senate did not, so the decision stood.10 In April 1877, Chamberlain resigned as governor.11
The electoral votes of four states were disputed. Congress referred the matter to the Electoral Commission, which it established for the sole purpose of determining the winner of the election. The Electoral Commission gave the decision to Rutherford B. Hayes.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 1876, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.
Sources for each sentence
Each numbered entry quotes the words that support that sentence, as they appear on the linked page.
- Back to sentence 1
*The electoral votes of Florida, Louisiana, Oregon, and South Carolina were disputed.
archives.gov/electoral-college/1876 Rhode Island 4 4 - 4 - South Carolina* 7 7 - 7 - Tennessee 12
archives.gov/electoral-college/1876 - Back to sentence 2
On the face of the returns Hayes, a Republican, won
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544 South Carolina Tilden 90,896 / Hayes 91,870
rbhayes.org/hayes/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-1876-election - Back to sentence 3
They nominated for governor Wade Hampton III, South Carolina's highest-ranking Confederate officer
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544 the Republican Party achieved its highest vote total of the entire Reconstruction period for incumbent governor Daniel H. Chamberlain
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544 The Democrats polled 92,261 votes and the Republicans polled 91,127 in 1876.
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544 - Back to sentence 4
or his victory was owed to ballot box stuffing, repeat voting, and illegal voting. All these tactics were admitted by Democratic leaders in their memoirs
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544 Edgefield County reported two thousand more votes than it had eligible voters.
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544 - Back to sentence 5
the Republican-controlled State Board of Canvassers seized the opportunity to grab the election. They declared invalid the votes of both Edgefield and Laurens Counties
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544 For four months South Carolina had two legislatures-each one debating bills and passing laws. The state had two governors as well
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544 - Back to sentence 6
the certificates from the State of South Carolina were read. There were found to be two sets of certificates.
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm C. C. Bowen, John Winsmith, and their associates were appointed electors at the time and place prescribed by law, cast their votes for Hayes and Wheeler
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 7
No legal election was held in the State, no registration law having been provided by the legislature
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm a legal and free election was prevented by the presence of soldiers of the United States near the polling places
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 8
It was signed by the eight concurring commissioners, and found that the votes of Bowen, Winsmith, and their associates, named in the certificate of D. H. Chamberlain, governor, were the votes provided for by the Constitution
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 9
There exists no power in this Commission, and there exists none in the two Houses of Congress in counting the electoral vote, to inquire into the circumstances under which the primary vote for electors was given.
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 10
The Senate, after debate, decided that the decision of the Commission should stand as the judgment of the Senate, while the House decided that the objections to the decision be sustained by the House.
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3/html/GPO-HPREC-HINDS-V3-10.htm - Back to sentence 11
In April of that year Chamberlain, knowing that the federal government would not maintain him in office, resigned.
scencyclopedia.org/sce/?p=6544
Sources checked on October 3, 2026
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