Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-09-16

House OF Representatives.

The second Presidential election in the House of
Representatives 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 Gen. jackson, Mr.. John Quincy Adams. and
Mr.. William H. Crawford were the three, their re-
spective votes being go, "a, 41 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 prlnc-
pie, though temporarily successful. Mr.. Adams
was elected, though Gen. Jackson was the choice OF
the people, having received the greatest number OF
votes and being undoubtedly the second choice OF
several States whose votes had been given to Mr..
Crawford and Mr.. Clay, Cat the general election
The representatives of some of those States gave
the vote of the State to MIR. Adams, upon the argu-
ment that he was best qualified for the station, and
that it was dangerous to our institutions to elect
military chieftain-an argument which assumed
guardianship over the people, and implied the ne-
ceSsity of superior intelligence to guide them for
their own good. The election Of Mr. Adams was
perfectly constitutional, and such fully submitted
to by the people; but it also violation of the
demos krateo principle and that violation was sig
naily rebuked. All the representatives who voted
against the will of their constituents lost their IA
vor, and disappeared from public life.
The representation in the House of Representa-
tves was largely changed at the first general cleo
ton, and presented a full opposition to the new
President. Mr. Adams himself in ured by it,
and 1t
by Gen. Jackson more than two to one-l7S to 80.
Mr.. Clay, who took the lead in the House for Mr..
Adams, and afterwards took upon himself the mis-
sion of reconciling the people to his election in
res of public speeches, was himself crippled in the
effort lost his place in the Democratic party Joined
the Wings, (then called National Republicans and
has since presented the disheartening spectacle of
former great leader figuring at the head of his an
cient foes in all their defeats and lingering on their
rear in their victories. The Democratic principle
was again victor over the theory Ct the constitutions
and great and good the results that ensued 1t
INDICATED the demos in their right and their
power, and showed that the prefix to the constitu-
ton, We, the people, do ordain and establish"
&c, may also be added to its administration, show
ing them to be able to administer as to make that
instrument. 1t re established parties upon the ba
sis of principle, and drew party lines, then al
most obliterated under the fusion of parties during
the " era of good feelings" and the efforts of the
leading to make personal parties for themselves.
1t showed the conservative power of our Government
to lie in the people than in its constituted au
thories. 1t showed that they were capable of ex-
ercising the functions of self government 1t
ed the supremacy of democracy for long time, and
until temporarily lost by causes to be shown in their
proper place. Finally, it caution to all pub
lie against future attempts to govern Presiden
tial elections in the House Of Representatives.
1t is no part of the object of this "Thirty Years
View to dwell upon the conduct ofindividuals, ex-
cept as showing the and the consequences of
events; and under this aspect it becomes the grav
ty of history tell that in these two struggles 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 in their States and districts, and the emf
nen actors forever ostracsed from the high object
of their ambition. A subordinate cause may have
had its effect and uni Justly, in preudicng the pub
lie mind against Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay They
had been political adversaries, co-operated in the
election, and went into the administration together
Mr.. Clay received the Office of Secretary of State
from Mr.. Adams, and this gave rise to the imputa-
ton of bargain between them.
1t came within my knowledge, (for was then in
innate with Mr.. Clay,) long before the electiou and
probably before Mr.. Adams knew il HIMSELF that Mr.
Clay intended to support him against Gen. Jackson,
and for the afterwards averred in his public
speeches. made this known when occasions requr-
ed me to speek of il, and in the presence of friends
the impugned parties. went into the newspapers
upon the information of these friends, and Mr.. Clay
made me his Acknowledgements for il in letter, of
which this is the exact copy:
"l have received paper published on the goth
ultlmo at Lexington, in Virginia, in which is contain
ed an article stating that you had, TO gentleman of
that place. expressed your disbelief of charge iniu-
rous to me, touching the late Presidential election,
and that | had communicated to you uneQuvocally,
before the 5th of December, 1924, my determination
TO vote for Mr.. Adams and rot for General Jackson
Presuming that the publication with your authori-
ty, cannot deny the expression of proper acknowl-
edgements for the sense of Justice which has promp.
ted you to render this voluntary and faithful testimo
ny"
This letter, of which now have the original was
dated at Washington City December 9th, 1927 that is
TO say in the very heat and middle of the canvass in
which Mr.. Adams was beaten by Gen. Jackson, and
when the testimony could be of most service to him
II went the rounds OF the papers, and was quoted and
relied upon in debates in Congress, greatly to the dis
satisfaction of many of my own party. There is no
mistake IN the date or the fact. left Washington
the 18th of December on a visit TO my father in law
Col. James Mcdowell. of bridge county, Virginia
where Mrs. Benton then was, and it was before left
Washington that learned from MIR Clay himself
that his intention was 10 support Mr. Adams. | tolC
this at that time to Col. Mcdowell and anv friends
that CHANGED to be present told it as nv belief t.
Mr. Jefferson on Christmas evening of the same year
when returning 10 Washington, and making a call or
that lllustrous al his seat, Monticello; and be
lievlng then that MIR. Adams would be elected anC
from the necessity of the case, would have to make
up mixed cabinet, expressed that belief TO Mr.. JEFF
ferson, using the term, familiar in English history, O
| g b. Dad 6otomed y and asked him how it would do
He answered, 50 Not at all-would never succeed
would ruin all engaged in it" MIR. Clay told his in
tentons to others of his friends from an early period
but, they remained his friends their testimony
but little needed. Even my own, n the violence o
party, and from my relationship to Mrs Clay, seemed
10 have but little effect The imputation of 's bar
gain struck, and doubtless had an influence in thu
election In fact the circumstances of the whole af
falr--prevIous an.agonsm between the PARTIES acua
support in the election, and acceptance of high Office
made up against Messrs. Adams and Cha,
which it was hardly safe for public men to create ant
to brave, however strong in their own consciousness
OF integrity. Still, the great objection 10 the election
of Mr.. Adams, in the violation of the prncip
demos krdtoe and in the question which it raised O
the capacity of the demos 10 choose safe Presiden
for themselves letter which wrote to the repre-
sentative from Missouri before he gave the vote
III C4o%o NJ i L