Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-09-10
TFrom the National lnteliigeneer.l
cor. RENTONS HISTORY
Election Of p.

One OF the latest extracts nom COL Bentons book pub
hshed by the New York Evening Post, Is in relation TO
election of President by the House of Representatives
1898. After speaking briefly Of tn" remarkable and pro-
,raeted contest Of isoo-isoi, between Jefferson and
Burr which finally resulted in the choice Of Jefferson and
defeat of Burr, Mr.. Benton proceeds:
TSe second Presidential election in the House Of Repre
senatyes after the eapse Of quarter OF century
and under the amended constitution which carried the
three highest the list TO the House when had
majority Of the electoral votes. Gen Jackson Mr. John
Quincy Adams, and Mr. William H. Crawford were the
three their respective being % 81 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 M Adams elected, though
Gen jackson the choice of the people having re-
ceved the greatest number Of and being undoubted
the second choice Of several States whose votes had
been given Mr. Crawford and Mr. Clay lat the general
elecon) The repi from of these States
gave the OF the State to Mr. Adams upon the argu-
that he best qualified for the station and that
il dangerous institutions TO elect military
cheftain-an argument which assumed a guardianship
over the people, and implied the necessity of superior
intelligence guide them foi their good. The cleo.
ton of Mr. Adams perfectly constitutional and such
fully submitted by the people but il also violation
of the demos krdteo principle and that violation sig.
nay rebuked All the representatives who voted against
the will of their constituents lost their favor and disap.
peared from public life The representation in the House
of Representatives largely changed the general
election and presented full opposition the Presi.
dent. Mr.. Adams himself injured by it, and at the
ensuing Presidential election beaten by General Jack
son than two 10 one-l7s to SIS. Mr.. Clay, who
took the lead in the House or Mr. Adams and Afterwards
took upon himself the mission of reconcing the people TO
his election in series Of public speeches. himself
crippled in the effort lost his place the Democratic par
ty, joined the Whg, then called Nstiona Republicans
and has since presented the dhearng spectacle of
mer great leader figuring the head of his ancient foes in
all their defeats and lingering their in their
ries The Democratic principle again victor the
theory OF the constitution and great and good the
results that cnsued Ii indicated the dCnos in their
right and their power and showed that the prefix the
constitution, AVE- the people, DO orian and establish"
&c, may also be added to its administration, showing
them to be able to administer make that nstru
1t rees;ablished parties upon the basis OF principle
drew anew party lines then almost oblerAted under
the fusion OF parties during the "era OF good feelings and
the efforts of the leading TO make personal parties
for themselves 1t showed the power Of our
Government to lie in the people than in its constituted
authorities. Ii showed that they capable OF exerc
sing the functions of seEgovenmeut 1t assured the
supremacy Of democracy for long time and until tempo
ry lost by causes TO be shown in their proper place
Finally, it caution all public against future
attempts to govern Presidential elections in the House Of
Representatives,.
1t part the object of this "Tiirty Years View"
- dwell upon the conduct of individuals except show
ing the and the consequences events and under
this aspect becomes the gravity OF history that
in the.e trugg.. for election of President those
Who struggled against the democratic principle lost their
L places the political theatre the voting members
being put doNn in their States and districts aud the
forever ostracsed from the high object of their
ambition. subordinate may have had it, effect
and uuusy in pTeludicing the public mind against Mr.
Adams and Mr. Clay They had been political adverse.
res ccoperated in the election and went into the Admin
istrltUn together NJ. Clay received the office Secrc-
'rT e: State IRON Mr. Adams and this gave rise to the
: imprraiiou of bargain between theta.
, IL came within my knowledge, liOr then intimate
with Mr. Cay) long before the election snl probably be
fore NJ Aihns knew il himself! that Mr.. Clay intended
10 support him against Gen. Jackson and for the reasons
c Afterwards avctIed his public speeches made thi.
q known when occasions required me speak oft and ia
e hc presence OF rends Of the impugncd parties went
- into the newspapers upon the information of these friends
e and NJ Cay made his ACCOMPLISHMENTS for il In let
ter, Of which this Is the copy
= y have received pa er published on the Goth umo
Is at Lexington, Virginia in which contained article sta
q ting thHt you had gentleman that place expressed
your disbelief Of charge Injurious to me touching the
n late Presidential election that had communicated
ID to You uncquyocay before the 18th of December ssi
my determination for Mr.. Adams aud not for Gene
al Jackson Preumng that the publication was with you-
authority, cannot ieuy the expression of proper
edSnen Tor the sense Of justice which has prompted
J. you 10 Tenier th's voluntary and faithful testimony
= This letter. OF which now have the ginal was dated
at Washington city, December oh, 1927 that saw
in the very beat and middle Of the canvass in which Mr.
Adams beaten 10y Gen. Jackson, aud when the tesi
mony could be Of service him Ii went the round,
OF tie papers, aud quoted and rc upon in debates
- in Congress- greatly the dissatisfaction Of many of nv
4 own party There i mistake in the date the fact
left Washington the 18Th Of December on visit to nv
father in law Col James Mcdowell OF ROckbriige coun-
= ~, Virginia where Mrs Benton then was and il was be
fore left Washington that learned from Mr. Clay him
that this Intention TO support Mr. dams told this
at that ume Col McDOSel and friends that chan.
ced to be present told my Jeisf Mr. Jefferson
Christmas evening o: the sane year. when returning TO
Washington and making call on that illustrious man AZ
his seat, Monticelo and believing then that Mr. Adams
would be elected, and, om the necessity the case
"on'd have TO make up mixed cabinet, expressed that
Oehei TO Mr.. Jefferson, using the term, fImi-
liar in English history, OF broad bo,omcd and asked
mint hos j; would 10 He answered, Not at al-wouli
ne7er succeed-wOuid ruin all engaged in it, Mr. CLAW
toi his intentions Others OF hi, friends from an eary
period but they remained bis friends their testimony
vas but little heeied Even my own, in the violence o.
party and from my relationship Mr. Clay seemed 10
have bu; little effect The impuaton Of bargain" stuck
and doubtless bad influence in the election 10 fact
ne Circumstances Of the whole aflr previous auago.
HSn between the parties actual support In the election
and acceptance Of high ofire-made I'd a ca.e against
Ners Adams and Clay which hardly safe for pub.
c men 10 create and To brave, however strong in their
own soHscCusness % integrity. Sail the great objection
20 the election q Mr. Adams in the violation Of the
principle daHos Er1iey and in the question which raised
OF the capacity Of the limos 20 chooea safe President for
WenseFes letter which ] wrote 10 the Representa-
uve from Missouri before he gave he vote Of the state 10
Mr.. Aiams aud Sich published Immediately afer-
wards, placed the obs ton upon this high ground. and
upon u tie ta'te was mainly fought and IL ves
victory Of principle, and should be di-parlge by the
admission Of an uafO.nIet and subordinate cause.
This Presidential election Of 1924 remarkable under
another a-psetss having put end the practice o.
caucus nomination r the Presidency b. members Of Cor.
gfes IHi' mole Of concentrating public opinion began
% he p~c,i-ed the emneu; men Of the fevollt D. 70
whom public Opu.0u awarded preference we're passing
away aud ~Ecu m-n Of more equal prc:en- iy yee
coming upon the stage. IL tried several times tH
success ali general appreciation, public sentiment hayirg
been followed, aud nLticd by tue va atemD..
ID in 1875 and failed, the rnl- Of Mr. Crawford oay
attending Others not attending from any repuguancs
. The praclc" their previous conduct bad shown but
because % known thi, Mr CrirprI had tie largest
nulJrr o. hsuj- in COgge-. and would as-uredly re-
cei.c tHs n0ua1ton. AL the ret therefore, refused 10
90 into it % pinned iD o,posi0g TIE caucus cardd.e
a. hr. CraSofI caGii 10 united iu painting .bs 10.
irgls aud corruption d thrss nominations and
c alOtniy ~ members Of CJugfcs- loiliuy Do them 10,
their gu. ''- they sa-ceedei ani justly ia the hat
to.s no: boo the n.Ouyr 900 rss o n'esg COnsfes- eau
CO nominations O1i04s % tIe people aud broke u.
dpN1. They were dropped, ni = different NOSE Of
lJI-"1'rstug pEDic opinion aJJptsdtha' Of raftv
nomination. b. cOuvsr1fs ~ delegates rom the ti'rs
Ihs rOfked well ~ Grt t.r will Of the people Je.uy
-'t-Hs DJ.5eI by She Del, gIta-, auI tIs i9y w..
ar2 the domination. Bot b. quickly dsg-nsr4tei AID
Je.sme DJrDr.Yu- % al Ic o'ect0as Csayre.- eau
GU. lyI.raUJf auI ulty O.bers b,.ii.- Bsinfrr. Of