The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-11-15
THE CONTEST.
Interesting Incidents in the Several Elec
ti0ns for President.

During the past few days the state
ment has been frequently made that in
no preceding election was there ever
such close contest-where the vote of
single small state was necessary to
decide the result An investigation
shows that this statement is hardly a
fair one, though it certainly is true that
there never was presidential contest in
which there were SO many states claimed
by both political parties, and really so
close as to warrant the claims during so
long period after the election.
In the constitution of 'S7 the method
prescribed for the counting of the cleo
toral vote was that the person having the
greatest number of votes should be the
President, if such number was majori-
ty of all the votes cast, and if there be
more than one having such majority,
and have an equal number of votes, then
the House of Representatives shall
choose the President. For the first two
terms no difficulty arose, George, of the
hatchet memory, receiving all of the SO
votes which formed the first, and all of
the 1872 which formed the second cleo
toral college, John Adams receiving for
President "a votes in the first and
n votes in the second instance.
For the third Presidential term there
were 139 electoral votes, of which John
Adams received II, only one more than
a bare majority, and Thos. Jefferson re-
ceived 6S, and was declared Vice-Presi-
dent, though he lacked a majority un-
der the constitutional rule which gave
the second place in the government to
the person receiving the next highest
vote. jefferson really ran for President
with him, while Pinckney of South Car
olina was the candidate for Vice Presi-
dent with Adams. The latter received
SO votes to 80 for Burr. Jefferson wasn't
proud, however, and as he couldn't get
the first place, he took the second CRATE
fully.
For the fourth term jefferson and
Burr ran again, as did also Adams and
Pinckney. The two first named got
away with the Presidential plunder. In
that college there were 1873 electoral
votes, 70 being necessary to a choice;
Jefferson and Burr each received 70
electoral votes. Under the present sys-
tenn that would be all that was neces-
sary to give them the places of Presi-
dent and Vice President respectively,
but under the old method it became
question to know which of them was
President, and the election was thrown,
into the House. Balloting commenced
on the 18th day of February, and was
continued to the 18th, standing always
8 states for Jefferson, 6 Burr, and di-
vided. Finally on the 36th ballot the
Speaker announced 10 states for Jeffer-
son, 4 for Burr, and 2 in blank. Burr
followed the example of his chief, and
gracefully accepted the second place,
though he was bitterly disappointed,
having gone into the contest with
all the energy of his restless
nature. This bitter contest exposed
the defects of the system, and led to the
repeal of the article on Presidential
elections in the Constitution, and the
adoption of the 18th amendment, now
in effect, which was ratified on the 25th
Of September, 1904.
For the fifth term, there were 176
electoral votes, of which Jefferson for
President, and George Clinton of New
York, for Vice President, received
1852.
For the sixth term there were IT'S
electoral votes, James Madison for Pres
for Vice President receiving 113.
=
votes, Madison receiving 1913 for Presi-
dent, and Elbridge Gerry 131 for Vice
President.
For the eighth term James Monroe
and D. D. Tompkins got away with 1873
out of pit electoral votes.
For the ninth term Monroe again
ssscooped'' his Federalist antagonist,
carrying 231 out of 235 votes d. d.
Tompkins was again elected Vice Presi-
dent, but it does not appear that he
thought enough of the office to take the
oath; an example which some of his
successors might have followed with
profit to the country and honor to them
selves.
For the honor of being President dur
ing the tenth term there were four ap-
plicants-Andrew jackson, John Quincy
Adams, VIM. H. Crawford of Georgia,
and Henry Clay. For Vice President
the candidates were John G. Calhoun,
Nathan Sanford of New York, Nathan
iel Macon of North Carolina, and Mar
tin Van Buren, of New York. There
were 261 votes in the college, of which
jackson received 90, Adams "a, Craw-
ford Al, and Clay 81. For Vice Presi-
dent, Calhoun received 1872, Sanford 80,
Macon "a, jackson 13. Clay Q, and Van
Buren, 2: Mr.. Calhoun was elected
Vice President, but the election for
President was thrown into the
House. On the first ballot, Mr.. Adams
received 13 states, Gen. jackson Z. and
Mr.. Crawford 4. Mr.. Adams was there.
fore declared the President.
For the eleventh Term there were 0f1