Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-09-22

on the Vice Presidential, TO the Senate
And thus ended the first struggle in the
House of Representatives, Gin relation to
the election Of President between the the
ory of the constitution, and the democratic
principle-triumph to the principle. ruin to
its opposers, and destruction to the clause
in the constitution which permitted such a
struggle.
The second Presidential election in the
House of Representatives was after the
lapse of quarter Of a century, and under
the amended constitution which carried the
three highest on the list to the House when
no one had a majority of the electoral votes.
General jackson, Mr.. John Quincy Adams.
and Mr.. William II. Crawford, were the
three, their respective votes being 80, "a,
Al; and in this case a second struggle took
place between the theory of the constitution
and the democratic principle, and with
eventual defeat TO the opposers OF that prin-
ciple, though temporarily successful. Mr..
Adams was elected, though General Jack
son was the choice of the people, having
received the greatest number Of votes, and
being undoubtedly the second choice of sew
eral States whose votes had been given TO
Mr.. Crawford and Mr.. Clay Cat the general
election.) The representatives from some
of these States gave the vote of the State to
Mr.. Adams, upon the argument that he was
best qualified for the station, and that it
was dangerous 10 our institutions to elect a
military chiettain-an agreement which as
sumcd guardianship over the people, and
implied the necessity of superior intelli-
gence to guide them for their own good
The election of Mr.. Adams was perfectly
constitutional, and as such fully submitt~ d
to by the people; but it was also violation
Of the demos kraieo principle; and that vio-
lation was signally iebuked. All the rep
resentatives who voted against the will Of
their constituents, lost their favor ard dis
appeared from public life. The representa-
ton in the House of Representatives was
changed at the first general election, and
presented a full opposition to the new Pres
ident. Mr.. Adams himself was injured by
it, and at the ensuing Presidential election
was beaten by General Jackson more than
two 10 one--l7S toS3. Mr.. Clay who took
the lead in the House for Mr.. Adams, and
afterwards took upon himself the mission Of
reconclling the people to his election in Sc
ries Of public speeches, was himself Grip
pied in the effort, lost his place in the dem
ocratic party, joined the Wings, (thcn
called national republicans J and has since
presented the dishearting spectacle of for
mer great leader figuring at the head o! his
ancient foes in olltheir defeats, and lingering
on their rear in their victories. The demo
cratic principle was again victor over the the
Dry of the constitution, and great and good
were the results that ensred. It vindicatcd
the demos in their right and their power,
and showed that prefix to the consttu-
tion. "We the people, do ordain and es-
tablish," &c., may also be added to its ad-
ministration, showing them TO be as able to
administer Us 10 make that instrument. il
re-established parties upon the basis Of
principle and drew anew party lines, then
almost obitcrated under the fusiCn of ar
ties during the ''era Of good feelings" and
the efforts Of leading men 10 make personal
parties for themselves. II shoy: ed The con-
servative power of our government 10 lie
in the people. more than in its constituted
authorities. 1t showed that they were ca
pable Of exercising the function of self
government. 1t assured the supremacy OF
the democracy for long time, and until
temporarily lost by causes to be shown in
their proper place. Finally, it was eau
tion 10 all public men against future attempts
TO govern Presidential elections in the House
of Representatives.
II is no part of the object of this "Thir,
]
of individuals, except as showing the caus.
es and the consequences Of events; and, TN.
der this aspect, it becomes the gravity o.
history to tell that, in these two struggle.
for the election of President, those who
struggled against the democratic principle
lost their places on the political theatre, The
mere voting members being put down il
their States and districts, and the eminent
actors forever ostracised from the high OBJ
iecr of their ambition. A subordinate causc
may have had its effect, and unjustly in pre-
judicng the public mind against Mr.. Adams
and Mr.. Clay. They had been political ad
versaries, co-operated in the election, anc
went into the administration together. Mr.
Clay received the office of Secretary 0
State from Mr.. Adams, and this gave ris,
to the imputaton Of bargain between
them.
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