Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-05-25
From At,hur's Home Gazetts.1


these il is my province nor my purpose ~ 4s.se
de but il was my lot the issue OF Inc conses'
when it came to its head and was decided, blow by
blow, on the-hiyh places of the ne d. Inc hall OF
the House Of Representatives exhlei'ed,so on tna'
eventful day, such spectacle as never had Deen
witnessed in this country, such as the world never
saw There being three candidates for the Presi-
dencv. and eneitheI of them having received the
constitutional majority giving him title TO the oice
that crisis had arrived which, In all other countries
has been decided by the sword; but which, having
been contemplated as possible by that band OF men
(inspired they surely were with wisdom not thelr
own,) who framed our happy Government, had oeen
provided tor by the peaceful exPedieni OF taxing lhe
choice of the immediate hands of the people, ana
committing it TO their own representatives. ac"h@'
not as one malgamaled body, but in their sepalde
capacity The delegations of the respective states
each united delegation casting one vote
AS the dav appointed for the election approached
the excitement of the public mind became intense;
WASHINGTON was crowded. Nightly caucuses' anu
the most anxious calculations, occupied the 1eaolhg
men of each of the three parties. 80 evenly !"
thew balanced that after the most exact scru'ihy ndu
hee Jone through with latter the probable vote OF eac
individual man had been set down win as niucn
care as if the whole result depended on MS hul'lu
nal suffrage, it concluded that the result wou'o
very possibly turn on single vote and when Inc
morning of the decision had actually come II was
generally understood that that vote was In inc haus
Of wealthy, upright and amlaoie, out NOT very MN
or vigorous, member of the New Iork delegauoh'
He had given his promise to vote for Mr.. ADAMS )
er he would remain firm to that pleoge'
The Hall was prepared for the process OF the 9lec
ton bv placing for the respective Stae oeegd-
tons each having separate table. In The semeiIcu-
lar omen space in front of the Clerks table. Before
the hour for taking their seats there, they were 10 De
seen walking about in little bands or seated III
earnestly conversing in low tone, every nina De-
ing occupied in the result of The election. Each
naTtv was sanuuine of success. Bets staked TO
q large amount The most confident predictions
were uttered, and by some OF the excited ana I'M
scrupulous parsans without most feEoclous 'hEeatS
were uttered. second Missouri contest was eX-
pected. None counted on less than forty baotings !;
some said the election would occupy weeks perhaps
months, while others said that no choice "ouid De
made, but that Congress would break up In r00.
To patriotic mind it seemed as If all the evil
mowers who sought the ruin of free Government had
gathered together at Washington, and were hurting
through the troubled air. Many persons carried con-
ceaed weapons, expecting some violent outbreak
The bar-rooms of hotels and eating houses were
crowded with guests, whose aspect BODIED no good
the country, the peaceful progress OF the gov
eminent. Many heart that loved American regu-
lated freedom treinbsd in view of the untTled eXPeT
iment, now for the first time to be attempted. Amid
such Inquiries the day OF election came. EVERY aV'
enue leading to the Capitol was filled with people,
all whose faces looked in dIrecIion and were I'LL
ed with one common expression oil grave ana inter
ested curiosity. Into the galleries which surround
and overlook the hall OF Representatives not an ad
dtional human being could by possibility be forced
and the sarcases, quite out OF sight and nearing OF
what was passing within, were erammed with watch
ing multitudes, hoping against nope, TO galn' ny
some good chance, or by dint of patience and OF
physical strength, glimpse at least OF the exciting
scene.
1t had been proposed, in debate, on the day pre-
vous that during the election, the galleries "i the
hall should be closed, they could al best accom-
modate but handful of those who were anxious to
witness the scene; but MIR. McDuffe, then prom
inent member of the House,) warmly denied the
right of Congress TO exclude people from Witnessing
Al. g 81, confa.
tives, in matter, especially, vitality affecting
them all. And when it was suggested that the ad-
mission of great and excited CROWD would lneV-
itably be productive of disorder he sprang up, and
in tones which reached hroUg the hall and galleries,
pledged himself for " the orderly department of the
People while looking such scene." His appeal
was too popular TO be successfully resisted, and the
doors were thrown open accordingly.
It was an imposing spectacle. The circular lobby
outside the BAR and into which are united bnt
privileged persons whose right s specified by law,)
as well as the hgiG, open behind the columns
of the of the Speakers seat were filled with
members of the Senate, ex-GoveTnors of States,
military and naval officers, Chose only, however,
Who had received votes o. thanks by Congress for
meritorious servIce.) foreign ministers and their at
taches, Judges of the Supreme Court-n a word,
with ali whose envied distinction it TO pass the
vigIlant scrutiny of the doorkeepers, now doubly
vigilant, and all upon the qui viUe A restless move
ment of the members within the bar, and general
murmur like the alarmed hum Of bees when their
nIVeS Is disturbed, gave token OF the state OF lever
lsh anxiety which prevailed throughout the body.
Gould any revealing spirit have opened to human
view the hopes, the fears, the boiling passions,
which tnmultuaed within those 6erce bosoms, how
would the painful interests Of the have been
yet further heightened in intensity
e At length, the Speakers hammer fell dead ST.
ence instantly prevailed, and the respective delega
lions assembled and took their around the ia
bles prepared for them.
1t was my privilege, from elevated position on
the right of the chair to enjoy full view OF all the
which caught of their positions while the first bal
lot was proceeding. Each delegation appointed one
OF their number act as Chairman, collect their
votes, and report the result The delegations voted
by pluIaities. Whoever, in each, received the most
votes, reported as the choice of that delegation.
There were twenty-four Of the groups; and when
tile votes had been gathered in each they were called
upon report, which they did in succession, vira
UOce, commencing with Maine. The silence was
like that of sepulchre. Mems breath suspen
deG, State after State uttered its voice; and OH
can ever forget the moment when the Speaker. !
standing up in his place, declared in clear sonorou
voice, that seemed 10 pierce through bone and mar
row, that JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, having received |
majority of the votes cast duly elected President
OF the United States for four years from the 4Ih of
March next ensuing.''
Then arose such shout from the galleries as
seemed TO lift the very dome of the hall. Mr.. Nc
Duffe, (whose candidate had been defeated, whose
eager hopes were blasted, and whose personal pledge
I0r ihe good order of the assembly was remembered
oy all,) sPrang In much eXciementfrom the ground,
and In voice that rang above all the tumuituous
plaudItssof The spectators, cried, 'sMr. Speaker!
move that the gallery be cleared !'' The question
was put and carried. - Yes said foreign minis
ter to another who stood by his side, " but how are
iu0iu tod ,rh FIR