The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-08-04
From Arthnr's Home Gazette.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
HIS ELECTION BY THE HOUSE OF RErREsEs
TATIyES.


TATIvES.
The struggle for the vacant Presidential
chair shook the Union; it kindled strife ane
gave birth to parties which are not in exis
tence among us; with these it is not my
province nor my purpose to meddle, but il
was my lot to see the issue of the contest
when it came to its head and was decided
blow by blow, on the high places Of the field
The Hall of the House Of Representatives
exhibited, on that eventful day, such spec.
tacle as never had been witnessed in this
country, such as the world never saw
There being three candidates for the Presi.
dency, and neither Of them having received
the constitutional majority giving him title
to the office, that crisis had arrived which
in all other countries, has been decided by
the sword but which, having been contem.
plated as possible by that band Of men, Gin.
spired they surely were with wisdom not
their own) who framed our happy Govern
ment, had been provided for by the peaceful
expedient of taking the choice out of the
immediate hands of the people, and commit.
ting it to their own representatives, acting
not as one amalgamated body, but in their
separate capacity, as the delegation of the
respective States, each united delegation
casting one vote.
AS the day appointed for the election ap.
preached, the excitement Of the public mind
became intense. Washington was crowd.
ed. Nightly caucus, and the most anxious
calculations, occupied the leading men OF
each of the three parties. So evenly were
they balanced, that after the most exac,
scrutiny had been gone through with, after
the probable vote of each individual man
had been set down with as much care as il
the whole result depended on his individual
suffrage, it was concluded that the result
would very possibly turn on a single vote
and when the morning of the decision hae
actually come, it was generally understood
that that vote was in the hands of the
wealthy, upright, and amiable, but not very
firm or vigorous, member of the New York
Delegation He had given his promise to
vote for Mr.. Adams, but the eager. agitatng,
anxious question was whether he would re-
main firm to that pledge or not.
The Hall was prepared for the process of
the election by placing seats for the respec-
tive State delegations, each having sepa-
rate table, in the semi-crcular space in front
of the Clerks table. Before taking their
seats there, they were to be seen walking
about in little bands, or seated in groups,
earnestly conversing in low tone, every
mind being occupied in the result of the
election. Each party was sanguine of sue
cess. Bets were staked on a large amount
The most confident predictions were uttered
and by some of the excited and unscrupulous
partizans without, most ferocious threats
were uttered. A second Missouri contest
was expected. None counted on less than
forty ballotngs; some said the election would
occupy weeks, perhaps months, while others
said that no choice would be made, but that
Congress would break up in roac.
To patriotic mind it seemed as if all the
evil powers who sought the ruin of free Gov
ernment had gathered together at Washing
ton, and were hurlng through the troubled
air. Many persons carried concealed weap
ons, as expecting some violent outbreak
The bar-rooms of hotels and eating-houses
were crowded with guests, whose aspect
boded no good to the country, or the peaceful
progress OF the Government. Many heart
that loved American regulated freedom trem-
bled in view of the untried experiment, now
for the first time to be attempted. Amid
such auguries the day of election came.
Every avenue leading to the Capitol was
filled with people, all whose faces looked in
one direction, and were filled with one COM
mon expression of grave and il terested curl
osty. Into the galleries which surround
and overlook the Hall of Representatives
not an additional human being could by pos
sibiiity be forced, and the stair cases, quite
out OF sight and hearing of what was passing
within, were crammed with watching multi
tudes, hoping against hope, to gain, by some
good chance, or by dint of patience and
Of physical strength, glimpse at 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, as
they could at best accommodate but hand
full of those who were anxious to witness
the scene; but Mr.. McDuifie (then promi-
nent member of the House,) warmly denied
the right of Congress to exclude people
from witnessing if they SO pleased, the acts
of their own representatives, in matter,
especially, so vitality affecting them all.
And when it was suggested that the admis-
sion Of so great and excited crowd would
inevitably be productive of disorder, he
sprang up, and in tones which reached
through the hall and galleries, pledged him
self for "the orderly department of the people
while looking on such scene" His appeal
was too popular to be successfully resisted,
and the doors were thrown open accordingly.
1t was an imposing spectacle. The cir
cular lobby outside the bar, (and into which
none are admitted but privileged persons
whose right is specified by law,) as we'll as
the logia, or open area behind the columns
OF the rear of the Speakers seat were filled
with members of the Senate. Ex-Governors
of State, military and naval officers, Chose
only, however, who had received votes OF
thanks by Congress for meritorious service)
foreign ministers aud their attaches, judges
OF the supreme court--in word, with all
whose enyed distinction it was to pass the
vgilant scrutiny of the door-keepers, now
doubly vigilant, and all upon the qut otre.
A restless movement of the members with
in the bar, and general murmur like the
alarmed hum of bees when their hives are
disturbed, gave token of the state of fever
sh anxiety which prevailed throughout the
body Could any revealing spirit have
opened to human view the hopes, the fears,
the boiling passions, which Inundated with
in those fierce bosoms, how would the pain
full interests of the scene have been yet fur
ther heightened in intensity!
At length the Speakers hammer fell.
A dead silence instantly prevailed, and
the respective delegations assembled and
took their seats around the table prepared