Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-10

COL. BENToN's HISTORY.


in relation to the election of President by the House
of Representatives in 1926. After speaking briefly
of the remarkable and protracted contest of 1900
1901, between Jefferson and Burr, which finally
resulted in the choice of Jefferson and defeat of
Burr, Mr.. Benton proceeds:
The second Presidential election in the House of Re-
representatives. after the lapse Of quarter Of
tury and under the amended constitution which carried
the three highest the list to the House when one
had majority of the electoral votes. Gen. Jackson
Mr.. John Quincy Adams, and Mr. William H. Crawford
were the three their respective being 3d. "a, Al
and in this second struggle took place between the
theory Of the constitution and the democratic principle
and with eventual defeat to the opposers Of that principle
though temporarily successful Mr. Adams elected,
though Gen. Jackson was the choice of the people, having
received the greatest number Of votes and being undoub
eddy the second choice of several States whose had
been given to Mr. Crawford and Mr. Clay Cat the general
eecton The representatives from Of these States
gave the vote Of the State to Mr. Adams upon the argu
ment that he best qualified for the station and that
it was dangerous to institutions to elect military
chieftain-an argument which assumed guardianship
over the people, and implied the necessity Of superior
intelligence to guide them for their good The cleo
tion Of Mr.. Adams perfectly constitutional, and
such fully submitted to by the people but it was also
violation Of the demos krateo principles and that violation
was sgnaly rebuked All the representatives who voted
against the will Of their constituents lost their favor and
disappeared from public e The representation in the
House Of Representatives was largely changed at the first
general election, and presented full opposition to the
new President Mr.. Adams himself was injured by it,
and at the ensuing Presidential election beaten by
General jackson than two to one-l78 to 83. Mr.
Clay who took the lead in the House for Mr. Adams and
afterwards took upon himself the mission Of reconcing
the people to his election in series of public speeches.
was himself crippled in the effort lost his place in the
Democratic party joined the Wings hen called National
Republicans and has since presented the dsheartening
spectacle of former great leader figuring at the head of
his ancient foes in all their defeats and ngerngon their
rear in their victories. The Democratic principle
again victor the theory Of the constitution and great
and good the results that ensued 1t yindicated the
demos in their right and their power and showed that
the prefix to the constitution We the people, do ordain
and establish &c., may also be added to its admnstra
ton showing them be able administer to make
that instrument 1t re-esabshed parties upon the basis
of principle and drew party lines, then amost OBJ
liberated under the fusion of parties during the of
good feelings and the efforts Of the leading to make
personal parties for themselves 1t showed the
yative power of Government to lie in the people
more than in its constituted authorities. 1t showed that
they capable of exercising the functions of segov
1t assured the supremacy of democracy for
long time, and until temporarily lost by causes to be
shown in their proper place Finally it was caution to
all public against future attempts to govern Pres
Dental elections in the House Of Representatives
1t is part of the object of this Thirty Years View
dwell upon the conduct of individuals except show
ing the causes and the consequences of events and
der this aspect it becomes the gravity Of history to tell
that in these two struggles for the election Of President
those who struggled against the democratic principle lost
their places the political theatre the voting
members being put down in their States and Districts and
the eminent forever ostracsed from the high OBJ
ject Of their ambition subordinate may have
had its effect and upusty npreudicing the public mind
against Mr. Adams and Mr. Clay. They had been politi-
cal ayersaries co-operated in the election and went into
the Administration together Mr. Clay received the Office
Of Secretary of State from Mr. Adams and this gave rise
to the imputation Of bargain between them
1t within my knowledge flor was then intimate
with Mr. Clay long before the election and probably be-
fore Mr. Adams knew it himself that Mr.. Clay intended
to support him against Gen Jackson and for the
afterwards averred in his public speeches made this
known when occasions required TO speak of it. and
in the presence Of friends Of the impugned parties
went into the newspapers upon the information of these
friends and Mr. Clay made his Acknowledgements for
itina letter, Of which this is the exact copy:
"Ihape received paper published The 20h ultimO al
Lexington in Virginia hieh contained article stat
ing you had gentleman Of that place oppressed your
disbelief ola charge Injurious 10 touching the tate Presi
Dental election and that had communicated 10 you uneqi
poeay before the 15 of December, 1924, my determination
to vote for Mr.. adams and not for General Jackson Pre-
s,naig that the publication rds rih your authority,
deny the oppression Of proper Acknowledgements for
The Of justice rhch has prompted you 70 render n's
voluntary and Jaithfd testimony"
This letter. of which now have the original dated
Washington city, December 6th 1927 that is to say
in the very heat and middle of the in which Mr.
Adams beaten by Gen. Jackson and when the test
mony could be Of most service to him. 1t went the
rounds Of the papers, and quoted and relied upon in
debates in Congress- greatly to the Of many
Of my own party There is mistake in the date the
fact left Washington the 10Th Of December visit
to ny faher-in-aw, Col James Mcdowell Of Rockbrdge
county, Virginia, where Mrs Benton then vas, and it
before s Washington that learned from Mr. Clay him
self that hin intention to support Mr.. Adams
told this at that time Col Mcdowell and any friends
that CHANGED to be present told as my belief to Mr..
Jefferson Christmas evening Of the same year, when
returning to Washington, and making call that Illus
trious his seat Monticello and believing then that
Mr. Adams would be eeted, and from the necessity of
the case would have to fake up mixed cabinet,
pressed that belief Mr. Jefferson, using the term fam
liar in English history, Of broad Joomed !" and asked
him how il would do? lie answered, "Not at alwould
succecd~-would ruin all engaged in it." Mr.. Clay
told his ntntons to others Of his friends from early
period but they remained his friends their testimony
was bat little needed Even my own, in the violence Of
party and from relationship to Mrs Clay, seemed to
have but little effect The imputation Of bargain"
midi anLI IL = u. T..