Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-12
cor. nnNToNs H1sPoRY.
Election Of President By The House o., Represent,
fines

The second Presidential election in the House
OfRepresentatives was after the lapse OF aquarter
of a century, and under the amended constitution.
which carried the three highest OIL the list to the
House when no one had q majority OF the eleCto-
raj votes. Gen. Jackson, Mr.. John Quincy Adj
ans, and Mr., Villa II. Crawford were the three,
their respective votes being SO, "a Al; and in this
case second struggle took place between the
theory of the constitution and the democratic prln
ciple, and with the evehtful defeat of the oppo-
sers of that principle, though temporarily success
full. Mr.. Adams was elected, though Gen. Jack
son was the choice Of the people, having receiv-
ed the greatest number of votes, and being un-
doubteIly the second choice of several States
whose votes had been given 10 Mr. Crawford and
Mr.. Clay, lat the general elecuon.) The repre-
Sentatlvss for some of t-eSe States gave the vote
OF the Stats to Mr.. Adams, upon the Argument
that lie was best qualified for the station, aud
that it dangerous TO our institutions to elect
military cheitaln-an argument which assumed
guardianship over the people, and implied the ne
ceSSity of superior intelligence 10 guide them for
their own good. The election of Mr.. Adams was
perfectly constitutional, and such fully submit
ted TO by tile people; but it was also violation OF
the demos krGteO principle; aud that violation was
signally rebuked. All the representatives who
voted against the will of their constituents lost
their favor, and disappeared from public life. The
representation in the House ofRepresentatiyeS was
largely changed at tile first general election, and
presented q full opposition TO the new President.
| Mr.. Adams himself was I'M ured by it, and at the
| ensuing Presidential election was beaten by Gen.
| Jackson more than two TO one-l1S 10 %. MI.
/ Clay, who took the lead ii the House for Mr. Adj
ans, and afterwards took upon himself the mission
ofreconciling the people to his election IN series
of public speeches, himself crippled IN the Ell
fort lost his place in the Democratic party Joined
the Wings, ithen called the National Republic
canS,) and has since presented the dlShearlening
| spectacle of former great leajlng Inquire at the
head Of his ancient foes in all their defeats, and
| lingering on their rear in their victories. The
NNfno 8
theory of The constitution, and great and good
we've the results that enSued. 1t vIndica'ed demos
| in thier right and their power, and showed that
the prefix 10 the col Stltution, eve the people, 40
ordain and establish" &c, may also be added TO
its administration, showing them 10 be as able TO
administer as to make that instrument. 1t re Is
| tabShed parties upon the basis OF principle, and
drew anew party lines, then almost "blteTated
under the fusion of parties during the ''erea Of
good feelings and the efforts of the leading men
| 10 make parties for themselves. 1t showed the
conservative power of our Government 10 lie i'll
the people more than in its constituted authoti-
| tie:. 1t showed that they were capable of eXer-
ciSng the functions of self government 1t asSu-
red the supremacy Of democracy for long time,
and until temporarily lost by causes TO lie shown
in their proper place. Finally, ii wnSa caution to
all public men against future attempts Ia govern
Presidential elections in the House OF Representa-
tIveS.
1t is no part OF the object OF this Thirty
Years View to dwell upon the conduct OF in
dividualS, except as showing the causes and the
consequence of events; and, under tins aspect
1t becomes the gravity oil history 10 tell that, III
these two struggles for the eectioa oil President,
those who struggled against the democratic prin
clple lost their PLACES the political theatre, the
mere voting members being put down in thelI
Stats and districts, aud the eminent actors oSTa'
cised from the high object Of their ambition. A
subordinate cause may have had lis elicit, and
unjusty, in pr. JUDGING the public mind against
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay. They had been poll l.
cal adverSaries co-operated in the election, aud
went into the Administration together. Mr.. Clay
received the Office of Secretary oil State irom MI
Adams and this gave rise TO the impntatlon OF a
bargain between them.
1t came within my knowledge, [for was then
intimate with Mr. Clay,) long before the election,
and probably before Mr.. Adams knew it hlmselI,
that Mr.. Clay intended to support him against
Gen. Jackson, and for the reasons afterwards
averred in his public speeches. made this
known when occasions required me to speak oil II,
and in the presence of friends oil the impugned
parties. went into the newspapers upon the in
loTmat on of these riends, and Mr.. Clay made me-
his acknow edgments for it i'll letter, Of which
this is the exact copy
81 have received paper published the Goth utmo
at Lexington in Virginia, which is contained article
STes YOUR ' disbelief OF cSanse Injurious 10 me- touch
the late Presidential election and that had cOnmu
S4 my determination TO vote Tor MIR. and
General Jackson Presuning that the publication was
with your authority, cannot deny the expression o
proper Acknowledgements for the sense OF justice which
has prompted you TO render this voluntary and faithful
testmony.''
This letter, of VIII CHI now have the original
was dated at WASHINGTON City, December 9th,
1921 that is to say, in the very heat and middle oil
the canvass in which Mr.. Adams was beaten by
Gen. Jackson, and when the testimony could be
of most service to him. 1t went the rounds of Tie
papers, and was quoted and relied upon in de-
bates in Congress, greatly TO the dissatisfaction Vi
many of my own patty. Their is no mistake in
the date or the fact. left Washington the 18th
of December OH visit to my father-in-law, Col.
James Mcdowell, Of Rockbridge county Virginia,
where Mrs. Benton ;hen was, and ii was before
left Washington that learned from Mr.. Clay him
self that his intention was TO support Mr.. Adams.
told this at that time to Col. MDowell and any
friends that CHANGED to be present. told it as my
belief to Mr.. Jefferson on Christmas evening of the
same year, when returning to Washington, and
making call on that iluStriouS man at his seat,
Monticello; and believing then that Mr.. Adams
would he elected, and, from the necessity of the
case, would have to mske up anixed cabinet, l
expressed that belief TO Mr.. Jefferson, uSICg the
term, familiar in English history, os 'tbrOGd bot
toned :" and asked him how 1t would do! He
answered. ." Not at all-would never succeed
" Ould ruin all engaged i'll IT." Mi. Clay tod his
intentions TO others of his fIiends from an early
period, but, as theyTemaned his friends, their teS
timony was but little needed. Even my own, in
the violence of party, and frOm my relationship 10
Mrs. Clay, seemed 10 have but little effect. The
| imputatiOn CT "GargIn" stuck, and doubtless
had an influence in the election. In fact, the cir
cumstances of the whole af1ar-previous antago-
nism between the parties, actual support in the
election, and acceptance of high ofice-made up
n case against MesSrs. Adams and Clay which il
was hardly safe for public men 10 create and to
brave, however strong in their own consciousness
Of integrity. Still, the great objecti, TO the
Ell ctit n OF Mr.. Adams was in the viola ion of the
principle demos krateo and in the question which
1t raised of the capacity OF the demos 10 choose
safe President for themselves. letter which
wrote TO the representative from Missouri, before
he gave the vote of the State to Mr.. Adams, and
which was published Immediately afterwards, pla-
ced the objection upon this high ground; and upon
| il the battle was mninlY fought and won IL ,vas