Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-06-18
Jehn QnineT Adams. So
Aia Asstisa b. he Hsass Of Representatives.

4 = - -te4AsAseN EN2S11-
The struggle fos The yacant Presidential
chair shsok the Union, Is kindied stfifes
aad giive birth 10 parties which are not vet
extinct among as With these Il Is not nv
/ provtneo nor my purpose TO meddie; bat 4
was my lot 70 witness the issue Of the con-
tess. when IL eaIes 30 its head, and was do.
cided, blow f6r blow, on the high places Of
the iieie. The hall Of the House Cif Repre-.
sentasises, exhibited on that eventfhi aay.
such spectacle rs has never been witnes.
sed In this country, such AZ the world never
saw, There being three candidates for the
Presidency, and neither of them having re-
ceiyed the constitutional majority giving
| him title 10 the Office, that crisis had ar.
rived which. In all other countries has been
decided by the sword; bat which, having
been contemplated a. possible by that band
OF inspired men INSPIRED they surely were,
with wisdom not their own who framed
our happy government, has been provided
for hy the peaceful expcdient Of taking the
choice oat OF the immediate hands OF the
people, and committing il 10 their own rep
resentativcs, acting, not as one amalgamated
body, but In their separate capacity, as the
delegation of the respective States, each
delegation casting one vote.
/ As the day appointed for tho election ap-
preached, the excitement of the public mind
became Intense. Washington was crowded.
| Nightly eHucuses, and tho most anxious cal
ealatioHs, occupied the leading men of each
OF the three parties So evenly were they
balanced, that AFTER the most exact scrutiny
had been gone through with, after the prob.
able vote Of each individual man had been
set d0wn with as much caution and care as
II the whole result depended on his indiyid.
ual suffrage, It was concluded that the re-
suit weah very possibly tara on o single
vote, and when the morning Of decision
had actually como, Il was very generally
understood that,that vote was In the hands
of wealthy, upright, amiable. bat not very
hrm or vigorous, member Of the New York
dclegstion. HehAd given his promise TO
vote for Mr.. Adams; but the eager, agita-
ting, anxious question was whether he woaid
remain firm TO that pledge.
The hall was prepared for the process of
the slcction by placing seats for the respec-
tive State delegations, each having its sepa-
rste tahie, Ia the 'semi-eircRlar open space
In front OF the CLERKS table Before the
hour for taking their seats had arrived, they
were to be seen walking about In little
groups, earnestly conyersiHg in a low tone,
every mind being occupied IN the result Of
the election. Each party was sanguine Of
success. Bets were staked 10 q large amount.
The most confident predictions were uttered,
and by some of the excited and most unscru-
pulous partiEans without, most feFocious
threats we're uttered. second Missouri
contest was expected. None eouated on
less than forty or fifty ballosings; some said
the election would occupy weeks, perhaps
months; while others went so far as 10 say
that no choice would be made; bat Congress
would break up ia q roc. To a patriotic
mind It seemed us If oil the evil powers who
sought the ruin Of free government had
gathered together ut Washington, snd we're
hurting thrpHgh the troubled air. Many
persons carried concealed weapons, as ex.
pecting some violent outbreak Tho bar.
rooms OF hotels and eating houses were
crowded with guests, whose aspect boded
no good 20 the country, or the peaceful
progress Of is government. Many heart
that loved American regulated freedom
trembled in view Of the untried experiment
now for the FIRST time to be attempted. go
Amidst auguriss the day Of election came
Every avenae leading to the Capitol sAs
filed with people, all whose faces looked in
one direction, and were filed with one com.
mon expression Of grave and interested Gu
riosity. Into tho galleries which surround
ard dreflook the Hall Of Representatives
not "A additional human being eoald by any
poesibility be forced, and The staircase, quite
out Of sight and hearing Of what was pass-
Ing within, were examined with watching
muitifndes, hoping against hope, to gain, by
soms good chance, OF by dint OF patience
and Of physical strength, \ glimpse 1t least,
Of the exciting scene
II had been proposed, in debate, on the
day peeyioas, during the election, that the
galleries of the hall should be closed, as
they could, &C best, aeeoEamodate butA hand
full Of those who were anxious to witness
the scene hnt Mr.. MeDulfie. Chen prom,
inent member Of the House1 warmly de-
MED the right Of Congress to exclude the
people from witnessing, II they so pleased.
the acts OF their own Representatives, - 8
matter especially 80 vitality affecting them
alt And when IL was suggested that the
admission offEo great aud 90 excited Aorowd
would Inevitable be productive Of disorder,
be spraRg up, and n tones which echoed
through The hall and galleries, pledged him
self l6r sfhe orderly department Of the
PsoFIE while looking on such q scene. ~
It's appeal Yves too popular 10 BE- eueeeenfal-l
" resistsd. and the doorE were thrown open
accordingly. IL was IN imppslna spectacle.
The esrralsr lobby oalsiaethe bar and into
which none are admitted bns PriyiIegcd per-
sons, whose right 4 specified by law,) as
we'll as the segla, of opea sgeA behind tie
colanns IN t!Ie rear 81 tlia kee'a seat.
were filed with members 81 TIE Senate, e..
Govsrnors Of States HilItar9 aaa eexel &C /
feers, chose ealy, knHeFers rho bad ~ /
ceised yoles Of ibanks from t1ohefees Ct
msrisorious segyice,l FOREIGN minlaless aAd
theif affacke& Jadgos 0l slis Eiffesne &knst
--in Nofd, viii az NA0 50 6llnElI1n {
h - IS l.a<s tks viftiahf scrutiny q the 1