Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-11-23

ltfeaves achasm IN my arrangements wi ich |
cannot be adequately hi.ed up. had en-,
deavored tocou,pose nadministra,i ion whose |
talents, integrity, names and dispositions
should at once inspire unbounded confidence
in the public mind, and ensure a perfect har>
mony in the conduct Of the public business. |
lose you from the list aud am not sure of
all The others. Should the gentlemen nho |
possess the public confidence decline taking
part in their affairs, and force us TO take
persons unknown TO the people, the evil ge-
Mus OF this country may realize his avowal
that 'he will beat down the administration.
The return OF MIR. Van Benlhuysen, one OF
your electors, furnishes me confidential
opportunity Of writing this much TO you,
which l should rot have ventured through
the posl-oflice o, this prying season. We
shall, OF course, see you before the fourth of
March. Accept my respectful and affection
| ale situations"
! The letter ~, in great measure, incom-
prehensihle. 1t indicates nolhing but MIR.
Jeferson's extreme terror and spprshen sion
lest Ito should be disappointed in his antici-
pated elevation 10 the Presidency. IL dis.
plays the tact of the ostrich and the sinceri.
| ~ Of refined Jesuit What does Mr. JEFF
! ierson mean 10y the declaration that he had
formed a cabinet, Of which Mr. Burr was to
be a member What when he says-"I
| LOSE YOU FROM THE LIsT:" Can any
man believe that Mr.. Jefferson expected to
he elected President, but that Colonel Burr
would be defeated and that, acting upon
such state Of facts, lie had already selected
the members of his administration, and that
Mr.. Burr was one of them. The SUPPOSE
tion is absurd but without such a supposi
tidn, what becomes Of the truth of Mr.. JEFF
ferson's declaration when he says-''l feel
most sensibly the loss we sustain OF your aid
| in our new administration. Ii leaves chBsm
In my arrangements which cannot he ade
quately filled ups II this letter is careful>
iy read and analysed, its object may be com
pretended. Ii was written IA few " eeks be-
fore the balloting was to take place in Con-
gress. Mr.. jefferson expresses doubt as Ia
the vote MIR. Burr will receive, but consid-
ers II certain that he will have "lour or FIVE
votes at least above MIR Adams" Four
days after this letter he writes in a very diff.
ferent tone 10 friend.
Mfr. Jefferson to Mr.. Madison.
"WAsHINGToN, Dec. 10, 1900.
"Dear Sir,-Mrs. Browns departure for
! Virginia enables me 10 write conlidcntIaly
what would not have ventured by the post
at this prying season. The election in
South Carolina has in some measure decided
! the great contest. Though, as yet, we do
not know the actual votes of Tennessee X en-
/ lucky and Vermont yet " e believe the votes
TO be, On The whole, Jefferson 70; Burr 70 !;
Adams 90 Pinckney Ga. Rhode Island
Withdrew one from Pinckney. There is pos
sIblity that Tennessee may withdraw one
from Burr, and Burr writes that there may
he one vote in Vermont for jefferson But
| hold the latter impossible, and the former
not probable; and there will be an absolute
parity between the TIVE republican candi-
dates. This has produced great dismay and
gloom on the republican gentlemen here, &
i'm he fpfla IiSts bp a.
clare that they will prevent an election, and
will name President Of the Senate pro TEN,
by what. they say, would only be a stretch
OF The constitution. The prospect of pre-,
venting this is as follows: Georgia, North
Carolina. Tennessee, Kentucky, Vermont, |
Pennsy lvania and New York can be counl ed |
on for their vote in the House of Represents
Of Maryisnd, and Linn Of New Jersey will |
come over"
The preceding extract shows that MIR.
Jefferson entertained TO doubt "that there
would be an absolute parity between the two
candidates." notwithstanding his
noubiIng remarks on that subject 10 Colonel
Burr. Hopes were also entertained "thai
Mr.. 8aer of Mary land and Linn of n Jersey
would come over" Reference will hereaf-
Ter he made TO these Two States. The result
of the electoral vote wns as Mr. Jefferson an
tcIpated Seventy three republican and
sixty five federal.
Although he ballots for president and Y ice
president had not been examined officially,
yet ii was we'll known that there was tie
between Mr.. Jefferson and Col. Burr.
On the S,h OF February, 1901, Mr.. Bay
ard, in the House sf Representatives, offer
ed resolution declaring that, in case ofa tie,
the House would continue To ballot until a |
choice Of President was made IL was re-
ferred to select committee, and, on the |
lOih, 1t, with other rules 10 govern the House !
during the baloting, was adopted The Sc |
nate passed a resolution that the ballots
should be opened with closed dsers. Viii |
liam Ii. Wells Of Delaware, OF The Senate,
and John Nicholas of Virginia, and Jobn
RuIledge of South Carolina, Of The House of
Representatives, were appointed leIIers.
On The lltb OF February The ballots were
opened During the performance of this ce-
remoDy most extraordinary incident oc-
CURED. AS il is known TO but few now liv- |
ing, and never been publicly spoken of, il !
has been deemed proper 10 record it here, as |
part OF the history of that exciting contest. |
The Aurora Of the 10th February, 1901, |
remarks, that "the lellers declared that there |
was some informally in The votes of Gcor- |
gIa hut, believing them 10 be true votes, res |
ported tnem as such" No explanation of |
The nature Of this iniorma!iIy was given; ner |
is il known that any has ever been given |
since. Had il been announced at the time, |
there can be no doubt that il would have pro. |
we'd fatal 10 the election Of Mr.. Jefferson |
Whether the interest Of our country would |
or would not have been thereby promoted, is |
moi question for discussion here.
By the Constitution Of the United States |
at that time, 1t was provided, Art. 2, sect. |, |
hal in "