Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-06-29
Election Of John Quincy Adams
Fr0,n 1rHur's Home Gazette.

| gave birth to parties which not extinct
among us with these il IS not my province
nor my purpose TO meddle, but it was my lot
10 see the issue Of the contest, when it came 10
| its head and was decided, blow by blow, OH
the high places OF the field. The Hall Of the
House Of Representatives exhibited, on that
eventiul day, such spectacle as never had
been witnessed in this country such as the
world never saw. There being three candl-
dates for the Presidency and neither Of them
having received the constitutional majority Civ
ing him title TO the Office that crisis had ar
rived which, in all countries, has been decided
by the sword but, which having been Con
lenplated as possible by that band of men,
! INSPIRED they surely were with wisdom not
heir own,) who framed our happy Govern
ment, had been provided for by the peaceful
expedient OF taking the choice out OF the i'm
mediate hands of the people, and committing
Ito their own representatives,, acting, not as
one amalgamated body, but IN their separate
capacity. as the delegation Of the respective
Suites each united delegation casting one
vote.
As the day appointed for the election APP
preached, the excitement of the public mind
became intense. Washington was GRO Nded
| Nightly caucuses, and The most anxious calcu .
Ialions occupied the leading men OF each OF
the three parties. So evenly were they bal
anced, that after the most exact scrutiny had
been gone through with after the probable
vote of each individual mau had been set down
with as much care as if the whole IT suit had de-
pended on his individual suffrage it was con.
cuded that the result would very possibly turn
on single vote; and when the morning OF the
decision had actually come, it was generally
understood that the vote was In the hands OF
a wealthy, upright, and amiable, but not very
firm or vigorous, member of the New ! ork
delegation He had given his promise to vote
for Mr.. Adams, but the eager, agtailng, anxl-
Gus question was whether he would remain
firm to that pledge or not.
The Hall was prepared for the process OF
the election by placing seats Tor the respective
State deleg cations, each having separate table,
in the semi-circular open space In front 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, earn.
estly convcrsing in a low tone, ever mind be-
| ing occupied in the result e the election
Each party was sangnine Of success. Bets
were staked to large amount. The most
confident predictions were uttered, and by
some Of the excited and unscrupulous partsans
without, most ferocous threats were uttered.--
A second Missouri contest expected
None counted on less than forty ballotlngs
some said the election would occupy weeks
perhaps months, while others said that ne
choice would be made, but that Congress
would break up in aroa0
To a patriotic mind it seemed as if all the
evil powers which soug ht the ruin of free Gov
eminent had gathered together at Washington
and were hurting through the troubled air.
Many persons carried concealed weapons, a,
expecting some violent outbreak. The bar
rooms of hotels and eating houses were crowd
ed with guests, whose aspect BODIED no good
to the country, or the peaceful progress of the
government. Many a heart that loved Amer
lean regulated freedom trembled in view o
the unlried experiment, now for the first time
10 be attempted. Amid such apguries the day
OF election came Every avenue leading tC
the Capitol was filled with people, all whose
faces looked in one direction, and were fllet
with one common expression of grave and in
terested curiosity. Into the galleries which
surrounded and overlooked the Hall of Rep
resentatives not an additional human being
could by possibility be forced, and the stair
cases, quite out of sight and hearing of wha
was passing wbin,were crammed with watch
ing multitudes, hoping against hope, to gain
by some good chance, or by dint of patenc,
and of physical strength, glimpse at least O
the exciting scene.
1t had been proposed, in debate, on the da,
previous, that, during the election the gale
rles Of the hall should be closed, as they coulC
ut best accommodate but handful of thos,
who were anxious to witness the scene; bu
Mr.. McDuffie, 0hen prominent member o
the House,) warmly denied the right of Con
gress to exclude people f ON witnessing, iftheN
so pleased, the acts CT their own representa-
tives. in a matter, especially, so vitality affect
ing them all. And when il was suggested tina
the admission of so great and excited Grove
would inevitably be productive of disorder, h
sprang up,and in tones which reached through
the hall and galleries, pledged himself 70
"the orderly department of the people while
looking on such a scene His appeal was too
popular.to be successfully resisted, and the
doors were thrown open accordingly.
1t was an imposing spectacle. The circular