Washington telegraph., 1853-07-27
From -1rihur's Home GG-ette.1
IOEEN QUINCY ADAMS.
Esis Election by the House OF Rep
ra<enfafsyeS

It~Ghtda1teS.
" The struggle for the vacant Presidential
chair shook the Union; it kindled strife and
gave birth to parties which are not extinct
among u; with these it i not my province
nor my purpose to NEEDLE, but it was my
lot to see the issue Of the contest, when
it came to it head and was decided blow
by blow on the high places Of the field.
The hall Of the House c Representatives
exhibited. on that eventfll day, such a spec
taclc as never had been witnessed in this
country, such as the world never saw
There being three candidates for the Presi-
dcncy, ard neither Of them receiving the
constitutional majority giving him title to
the office, that crisis had arrived which, in
, All other countries, had been decided by
the sword; but which, having been contem-
plated a. possible by that band Of men, lin
spired they surely were with a wisdom not
their own,) WHO framed our happy Govern
ment, had been provided for by the peaceful
eNpcdcnt If taking the choice out Of the
immediate hands Of the people, and com
mtting i 10 their own representatives, act
ing. not a. one amalgated body, but in their
separate capacity, a the delegations Of the
respective States each united delegation
casting ono vote.
~ the day appointed for the election ap-
preached, the excitement Of the public mind
became intense. Washington was crowded
Nightly caucuScs, and the most anxious cal
culations, occupied the leading men Of the
three parties 50 evenly were they balanc-
cd. that after the most exact scrutiny had
been gone through with, after the probable
vote Of each individual man had been set
down with a. much care n if the whole re-
suit depended Oh his individual suffrage, It
was concluded that tile result would very
possibly turn ID single vote /; and when
the morning Of the decision had actually
come, il was generally understood that the
vote was in the hands Of wealthy, upright,
and anIiable, but not very firm Or vigorous
member Of the new York delegation. He
had given his promise 10 vote for Mr.. Ad-
ams, htlt the eager, agitating, anxious 4ues-
tion was whether lie would remain firm to
that pledge or not
The Hall was prepared for the process Of
The election hy placing seats for the respect
i've State delegations, each having scpa-
rate table in the scmicircular 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
ed IN groups, earnestly conversing in low
tone, every mind being occupied in the re-
suit Of the election. Every party was san
guine Of success. Bets were staked to a
large amount The most confident predc-
tions we're uttered. and by some Of the ex-
cited and unscrupulous partizans without
A
Missouri contest was expected None count
cd on less than forty ballotings; some said
the election would occupy weeks, perhaps
months, while others said 10 choice would
be made, but that Congress would break up
in yO1r'
To patriotic mind IL seemed as if all
the evil powers who sought the ruin Of free
Government had gathered together at Wash
ington. and were whirling through the trou-
bled mir. Many persons carried concealed
weapons, as expecting some violent outbreak.
The bar rooms Of hotels and eating houses
were crowded with guests, whose aspect bo-
ded 10 good to the country, or the peaceful
progress Of the government. Many heart
that loved American regulated freedom,
trembled in view Of the untried experiment
Amid such augnrics the day of election
came. Every avenue leading to the Capi-
tol was filed with people, all Of whose faces
looked in one direction, and were filed with
one common and interested curiosity. Into
the galleries which surround and overlook
the Hall Of Representatives not an addition
al human being could BY possibility be forced
and the staircases, quite Gu. Of sight and
hearing of what was passing within were
crammed with watching multitudes, hoping
against hope, to gain BY some good chance
Or By dint "a patience or physical strength,
glimpse Mt least Of the exciting scene.
1t had been proposed, in debate, on the
day previous, that, during the election, the
galleries Of the hall should be closed, a.
they could at best accommodate but hand
ful Of those who were anxious to witness the
scene but Mr.. McDuffie, then a promi-
nent member Of the House, warmly denied
the right Of Congress to exclude the people
from witnessing, if they Q pleased, the acts
Of their own representatives in matter, cs-
pecially, 70 vitally affecting them all. And
! when il was suggested that the admission Of
80 great and excited crowd would inevita-
blv &c productive Of disorder, he sprang uP,
and in tones which reached through the hall
and galleries, pledged himself for 'the or
derly department Of the people while look
inc On such scene" His appeal was too
popular to be successfully resisted and the
doors we're thrown open accordingly.
IT was an imposing spectacle The cir
cular lobby outside the bar (and into which
none are admitted but privileged persons,
whose right j. specified by law.J a. well a.
the kogia, or open area behind the columns
Oh the rear Of the Speakers seat, we're fllcd