The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-10

Representatives in 1926. Alter speaking briefly OF the
remarkable and proscied coniest OF lsoolsol between
Jefferson and Burr which finally resulted in The choice
OF JEFFERSON and the defest Of BUR-, MIR Benton pro-
ceeds:
The SECOND presdep aI election in the House pi Rep,
resentstiyes alter the lapse OF quarter o. cen
fury, and under The amended constitution, which car
ried the three highest the list TO the House hen no
one had aoIty OF the electoral votes. Gen. Jackson
Mr. John Quincy Adams. and Mr.. William h Crawford
were the three, their respective votes being w. %, -
and in this second struggle TOOK place between .ne
theory OF the constitution and the democratic piihcP,e'
and with eventual defeat the opposers OF thai pne
though temporarily successful Mr. Adams was elected,
though Cen Jackson was The chp'ce OF 'ne peopc
eddy the second choice Of several slsSs who're woes nay
been given Mr. Crawford and Mr. Clay ths general
election The from some oil THESE otates
gave the vote Of the State Mr. Adams upon the arEu-
men, that he best qualified Tor the staton, and mat
ii dangerous TO our institutions 70 elect n''a,y
chieftan-an argument which assumed guardianship
over the people, and implied the necessity OF superior
intelligence guide them Tor their own good. The cleo
lion Of Mr. Adams was perfectly constitutional, and as
such fully submitted 10 by the people; but i was also
VIC alton OF the demos kraeo principles and that violation
was signay rsbuked All the representatives who voted
against the will OF their constituents lost their favor aud
disappeared from public life The representation in the
House of Representatives largely changed al the fs
general election, and presented full opposition to the
new President. MIR Adams himself was Injured by IT,
and at the ensuing presidential election was beaten by
General Jackson than two 10 one-l7o to 50. Alr
Clay, who took the lead in the House for Mr. Adams and
the people his election series OF public speeches.
himself crippled IN the effort, lost his place 40 The
democratic party, Joined the whgs, Chen called national
repubcans aud has presented the dlsheaTlening
spectacle OF former great e ter hguring al the head OF
his ancient foes in ali their defeats, and lingering on their
rear in their victories The democratic principle
again victor The theory Of the constitution and great
ard good were the results that ensned. II vihdcaed
the demos their right and their power. and showed that
the prefix the constitution, " We the people, do or
dain and establish" &c. may also be added 10 lis ad
ninstraon, showing them to be as able TO administer
To make that instrument IL re established parties
upon The basis Of principle, and drew anew party INES
then almost oheraed under the fusion OF parties durDg
the OF good feelnge and the efforts OF the leading
make personal parties tog themselves. showed
The powc. OF government 10 lie IN the
people more than its constituted authorities II showed
that they capable OF exercising the functions OF
self-gosernment Il assured the supremacy Of eemoc
facy tor long Tine and until temporarily lost by causes
TO be shown in their proper place. Finally, y was a
causn all public against future attempts To gov
presidential elections in the House OF Representa-
lives.
II is no part OF the object OF this "Thiry Years View
10 dwell upon the conduct of individuals, except
and under this aspect becomes the gravity Of history
tell that these two struggles 10. the election OF Pes
dent. those who struggled against The democratic prn
cpe LOST their places the political theatre The mere
voting members being put down their States and dis
cts and the actors forever osracsed from The
high object of their ambition. subordinate cause nay
have had lie effect and unjusily In preJudcng the pub.
lie mind against MIR. Adams and MIR. Clay. They had
been political adversaries coopefaied in the elections
went into the administrator 0geiGer Ciay
ceved the Office OF Secretary Of State from MIR Adams
and this rise TO the mpulaon OF bargain between
them.
II came within my knowledge, (for was then init
mate with Mr. Clay.) long before the election. and prob
ably before MIR. Adams knew 1t himse, that Mr.. Clay
intended support him against Cen Jackson and for the
afterwards sveTTed in his public speeches.
made this known when occasions required TO speak
OF IT, and in the presence OF friends oil the mpugned par
ties. went into the newsIafers upon the information
OF these friends, and Mr. Clay made me his acknowl'
edg menty for letter. OF which this the ea act
copy:
81 have received paper Published on the 2o;h ultimo
Lexington, In Virgins, in which IL contained article
stating that you had to gentleman Of that place. rI-
pressed your disbelief Of charge injurious to touch
you unequvocay, before the 18Th OF December
1924 my determination f, Mr. Adams. aud foi
with your authority, cannot deny the expression OF proper
acknowledgements for the sense oil justice which hH,
naony."
| This letter, OF which now have the original, wa.
dated at Washington city, December 6, ls27lhst is ia
say the very heat middle OF the in which
Mr.. Adams was beaten by Gen. Jackson, and when the
iestmony could be OF most service 10 him. II the
rounds OF the papers, and quoted and relied upon in
debates in Congress, greatly 10 the dissatisfaction OF
many oil my own party. There is no mistake IN The
date the fact lett Washington the 18th OF Decem-
Der on vsit 10 my faher-in-law, Colonel James Nc
Benton then was. and ], was before eii Washing ION
that learned from MIR Clay himself that his intention
was % snppor, Mr Adams told This at that lime to
1
ent. told II as my behef to Mr. Jefferson Christmas
evening OF the same year, when returning TO Wash
iaston and making call on that ilIastrions man si
his seat, Monticello; and believing then that Mr..
Adams would be elected, and, from the necessity OF
the case, would have 10 make mp mixed cabinet,
pressed tina, belief MIR Jefferson using the term, faml
lar in English history. OF brood bo1omsi and ask ed
him how il would do He answered, /" Not al all
would never succesd-would ruin all engaged in a.
Mr. Clay told his intentions others vi hs friends from
an early period but they remained his friends, their
| testimony was but little needed. Even my own, in the
violence of party, and from my relationship Mrs Clay,
seemed to have but little effect. The impula,on OF
bargain" stuck. and doubtless bad influence in the
election. In fact The circumstances of the whole affair
previous anagonism between tho parties actual support
case ags,ost Messrs Adams and Clay which hard
~ safe Tor public to create and 10 brave, howe
sironE in their own consciousness oil integrity. STILL the
great objection to the election OF Mr. Adams in the
violation Of the principle demos krsiss, and the Ques
ton which il raised OF the capacity OF the demos 10 choose
a sale President for themselves letter which
10 the representative from Missouri before he gave the
vote OF the State to Mr. Adams. and which publish
ed Immediately placed the objection upon this
high ground; and upon the battle was mainly fought
and II victory OF principle, and should not
be dspsraged by the admission Of unfounded and sub
ordinate cause
The GRAND Excursion Of season Piney
Point
= ssNm ON SATURDAY, the 10Th instant In view cf the
rioa eoffhn u,n~vp otpy The nnl~k