The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-09-23
The Next President.

election of 1872 determines it. 1t is
possible the popular vote may not
decide who is to be President for the
four years commencing on the fourth
of March, 1873. In that case the
House of Representatives will make
choice of President. 1t has seldom
occurred, however, that the choice of
President has devolved upon the
lower branch of Congress, and it is to
be hoped that the people may succeed
III electing the next President, thus
avoiding the excitement that choice
in the House of Representatives. will
necessarily create. With the excep-
ton of Thomas Jefferson and John
Quincy Adams, the Presidents, COM
mencing with Washington, have been
chosen by the Presidential electors
elected by the people of the several
States composing the American Union.
In the Presidential election of 1900,
John Adams and General Pinckney
were the candidates of the Federal
party for President and Vice Presi-
dent, and Thomas Jefferson and Col
onel Burr were the candidates of the
Republican party of that day, for the
same offices. There was a clear
defeat of the candidates of the Federal
party by the people, but a defect in
! the constitution, as it then existed,
rendered choice OF President by the
House of Representatives necessary.
According to the constitution of that
day, each elector voted for two men
without designating which was to be
President, and he who received the
| greatest number of votes was to be
| President, and the one receiving the
next highest number of votes was to
| be Vice President. Mr.. jefferson and
Colonel Burr, running on the same
| ticket, received the same number of
votes, and the election, according TO
the constitution, had to be decided by
the House of Representatives. The
votes are here given by the States,
the majority of the Congressional dele
CATION determining the vote of the
State. When the election was enter
ed upon by the House of Representa-
tives it singularly occurred that the
States were, for long time, equally
divided between Mr.. jefferson and
Colonel Burr; and it began to be
feared that a man might be elected
| President who had not received for
that purpose q solitary vote of the
people. For many weeks the people
were kept i'll intense excitement while
| Congress was ballotiIIg for Presi-
dent between two peEsons who had
been clearly elected 10y the people,
but in consequence of d defective con-
stitution, a further election was rem
dered necessary by the House of Rep
resentatives. AT length, after the
public patience had become almost
exhausted, Colonel Burr withdrew
from the contest, and Mr.. Jefferson
was chosen President, and Colonel
Burr Vice President. The contest
was net without its lesson. The con-
stitution was changed so as to render
it necessary to name the man i'll con-
neetion with the office which he was
running for.
The next and only election of this
kind that has been carried into the
House of Representatives, occurred in
1924. The candidates were John
Quincy Adams and General jackson.
As q matter of course, there was a
good deal of excitement and political
maneuvering in Congress before a
choice of President was made. But
finally, Mr.. Adams was selected, and
country became more composed. Mr.
Clay, the sage of Ashland, as he was
styled during his lifetime, took a
prominent part in this contest and as
sisted in electing Mr.. Adams, though
they had differed in politics pre-
viously.
A Presidential election in the ordin.
ary way is always attended with con.
siderable excitement; but when 6
choice is rendered necessary by the
House of Representatives, it is pro.
longed and increased. 1t has already
been asserted by those who pretend
to see into the future, that it is highly
] probable the coming Presidential elec.
tian may have to be determined il
the House of Representatives that
the condition of parties will be sucl
as to render this highly probable. Il
is supposed by some, there will bt
three parties in the field, and that il
that ease choice by the people vii
be defeated.
1t is now quite apparent that good
many Republicans take the liberty o
disagreeing upon the subject of the
next presidency. Such distinguished
Republicans as Horace Greeley, Cas-
sius NJ. Clay, have already spoken out
in favor of the one term doctrine.
this doctrine should become popular
with the Republicans, as it is Will
the Democrats, it viii injure tn,
chances of President Grant for a re-
nomination. Senator Morton, one o
President Grants firmest and ables
supporters, in speech made recent,
In st. Louis, dwelt upon the troublS
that ut present exist in the party. Hl
urged Republicans to come togetll4
and heal up their differences, pled4
ing himself to support the nominS
whoever he might be. He said,
niaInn nySa1f ta Suuparf him,