That oath I am determined to respect and honor.

I shall not only do all in my power to see that the Constitution and the laws of the land are obeyed and enforced,--both in letter and in spirit,--but it is also my determination to see that every American citizen is protected in the exercise and enjoyment of his rights, as far as it may be in the power of the President to protect him." Such a declaration, accompanied by an honest effort to carry the same into effect, even if he had been unsuccessful, would have carried the name of R.B.Hayes down in history as one of the greatest and most brilliant statesmen our country had ever produced.

But, he was not equal to the occasion, and therefore failed to take advantage of such a golden opportunity.

On the contrary, he decided to live up to and carry out to the very letter, every pledge, promise, agreement or bargain that had been made in his behalf, which involved the dishonor of his own name and the disgrace of his country.

Packard, for Governor of Louisiana, and Chamberlain, for Governor of South Carolina, were voted for at the same time that the Hayes electors were voted for in their respective States.
Each of these candidates polled a much larger vote than that of the Hayes electors.