Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-08
FROM THE BOSTON cEHTfNEL.
CHOICE OF PRESIDENT
h Me HOUSE OF Represelltntires nv co.a....

BY the House of Representatives. of Coooress
Inc choice OF President of the United States for
the second time since the adoption of the Constiu-
ton, devoving this year on the House OF Represen-
tatives, we give the following outline of the rules
adopted by that body, in 1851, when the first choice
was made by tina, body. aud when the Electoral
votes for President were 10 for Mr. JEFFERSON
and 10 for Mr.. BURR.
The declaration of the votes took place in the
Senate Chamber, on Wednesday, the Ilth Febrno
ry. After the declaration that a choice had rot
oeen made by the Electors. and that it deyolved OH
the House OF Representatives, the House convened
III ITS own chamber, and furnished seats for the Sc
nate, as 1citneSSeS. The House had previously
adopted rules, that it should continue TO ballot
without interruption by other business, and SHOULD
NOT ADJOURN, BUT HAVE A PERMANENT sEs-
SION UNTIL TIKI CHOICE BE MADE; and that the
doors OF the House shall be closed during the bal
lotlns' except against the officers of the House
The following was directed tn be the mode of
balloting.
Each State had ballot box in which the mem
beTS belonging to it, having previously appointed a
teller, put the votes OF the Sate the teller on the
part OF the United States having then counted the
o'eS' duplicates "i the result were put by him into
two general ballot boxes. Tellcrs being nominated
by each State for the purpose of examining the ce-
neral ballot boxes, they were divided into two parts
TO whom one examined one of the general ballot
boxes and the other examining the other Upon
comparing the result and finding them to agree the
votes were stated to the Speaker, who declared
them to the House"
The number of States was 16-nine necessary
to choice. On the first ballot, Mr.. J. had 8 States
MIR. g. 8, and two were divided.
The first ballots took place about four O'Clock.
P. Nj. Seven other ballots, with similar results.
utcecded, when respite took place, during which
the Members retired to the Hobbies aud took refresh
mcnt. Mr.. Nicholson Of Maryland being unweU
had bed provided for him in ore of the lobbies to
which the tccrs took the baloting box of the state
for his vute. At three O'Clock in the morning of
the 18th, two other ballots took place. and at four
O'Clock in the mornings the twenty first trial, sever
al OF the members coming in with their night caps
on. Al twelve at noon, OF the 9th, the 18th bal
lot took place, when the House adjourned TO the
next day. having probably, in secret session, dis
peDsed with the rule FOR the permanent sessions
On Friday the 18th the House proceeded to the
hHitcM ballot, without choice and again adj
lourned to the next day. On Saturday the 18th,
the balloulngs had the same result On Tuesday,
the 18th, at the hrty-sixth ballot, the Speaker de-
clared at one CLOCK that Mr.. JeGtrson was cleo
ted, having the votes of New York, New jersey,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Ten
nessee, North Carolina, Maryland four votes for
Mr. b. and four blanks, and Vermont one vote for
Mr.. J. and one biG1tt vote. Thus ended the scene