Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-05-15
From Arthur's Home Gazette
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
HIS ELECTION By THE HOUSE OF REPRE-

! sENTATIvEs.- SCENE.
The struggle for the vacant Presiden-
tial chair shook the Union: it kindled
strifes and gave birth to parties which are
not yet extinct among us; with these it is
no. my province nor my purpose to meddle;
but il was my LOT 10 witness the issue Of
the contest, when il came 10 its head, and
was decided blow for blow OH the high
places Of the field. The hall OF the House
Of Representatives exhibited on that event
ful day, such spectacle as never had been
witnessedin in this country, such as the orld
never saw. There Icing three candi-
dates for the Presidency, and neither Of
I them having received the constitutional
majority giving him title TO the office,
that crisis had arrived which, in all 9th
er countries, has been decided by the
sword; but which, having been contem-
plated as possible by that band of ins pir ed
men (inspired they surely were, with a
wisdom not their own, who framed our
happy Government, had been provided
for by the peaceful expedient OF taking
the choice out of the immediate hands Of
the people, and committing il 10 their own
representatives, acting, not as one ANAL
gamated body, but in their separated ca
pacity, a. the delegation, Of the respective
States; each united delegation casting one
vote.
As the day appointed for the election
approached, the excitement of The public
mind became intense. Washington was
crowded. Nightly caucuses, and the most
anxious calculations, occupied the leading
men Of each Of the three parties. So
evenly balanced that after the most exact
scrutiny had been gone through with, af-
ter the probable vote Of each individual
man had been set down with as much
caution and care as ii the whole result
depended on his individual suffrage, il
was concluded that the result would very
possibly turn OF single vote; and when
the morning Of decision had actually come,
it was very generally understood that that
vote was in the hands OF wealthy, up
right and amis5Ie, but not very firm or
vigorous, member OF the New York dele
CATION. He had given his promise to vote
for Mr. Adams; but tue eager. agita,ing
anxious question was whether he would
remain firm to that pledge.
The Hall was prepared for the process
of the election by placing seats fer the re-
spective State delegations, each having its
separate table, in the semicircular open
space in from, of the Clerks table. Before
the hour for taking their seats there, they
were TO be seen walking about in little
bands, or seated in groups, earnestly con.
versing in low tone, every mind being
occupied in the result Of the election. -
Each party was sangnine Of success
Bets were >taked to large amount. The
most confden, predictions were uttered
and by some of the excited and unscrup
ulous partisans without, most frrociou,
threats were uttered. Another Missouri
contest was expected. None counted ol
less than forty or fifty balloings some
said the election would occupy weeks
perhaps months; while others went s.
far as 10 say that no choice would he made
but that Congress would break up in
rou. To a patriotic mind it seemed as
all evil powers who sought the ruin Q
free Government had gathered together q
Washington, and were hnrlling ,hrougl
the troubled air. Many persons Car
ried concealed weapons, as expecting som
violent outbreak. The bar rooms Of ho
tells and eating houses were crowded wit
guests, whose aspect BODIED no good TO ih'
country, or the peaceful progress OF it
government. Many a heart that love-
American regulated freedom trembled il
view of the untried experiment now 70
the first time attempted. Amidst sucl
auguries the day of election came. Ever,
avenue leading TO the Capitol was fille'
with people, all whose faces looked in ont
direction, and were filled with one com
mon expression of grave and interested
curiosity. Into the galleries which sur
round aud overlook the hall Of Repre>en
tatives not an additional human bein:
could by possibility be forced, and th'
staircases, quite ont Of sight and hearin!
of what was passing within, were cram
med with watching mu!tiludes, hoping
against hope. TO gain by some good chance
or dint Of patience and Of physical strength
glimpse at lea>, Of the exciting SCENE.
1t had been proposed, in debate, on th'
day previous, that, during the election, TIN
galleries of the hall should be clnsed, a
they could, at best, accommodate but
handful OF those who were anxious 10 wit
ness the scene; but Mr. McDuffie, (,he,
prominent member of the House.
warmly denied the right Of Congress Il
exclude the people from witnessing,
they 50 pleased the acts of their own rep
resentatives, in matter especially, so vi
tally affecting them all. And when il wa
suggested tina, the admission Of so grea
and so excited Il crowd, would inevitabl,
, be productive of disorder, he sprang up
| and, in tones which echoed through tn
, hall and galleries. pledged him,elf 10
''the orderly department o. the People
while looking on such a scene" His ap
peal was too popular to he successfully re
sisted, and the doors were thrown ore
accordingly.
1t was an imposing spectacle. Th
circular lobby outside the bar. land int
which none are admitted but privilege
persons, whose righ: is specified BY law,
, as we'll as the LocIA, OF open area, be
hind the columns in the rear oftne Speak
er's seat, were filled WITH members OF III
, Senate, ex-Governors Of States, militar
and nava! officers, (lhoss only. however
who had received votes Of thanks by Con
: r.. r,er;,,rious service foreip