Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-11-25
The First Presidential Election.
BY JAMES PARTON.


Constitution by a sufficient number of
States until late in the summer Of 11o3,
and did not name the day for the election
OK "a President until the 18th of September
The three interesting days were then APP
pointed-the three Wednesdays as they
we're called On the first Wednesday OF
January, 1889, the people were to elect
Presidential electors. On the first Wednes-
day Of February the electors OF each State
were 70 meet and choose a President and
Vice President. On the first Wednesday in
March which was the 4th Congress was
10 meet in New York count the electoral
votes, and set the new Government in mo-
ton
So the first Presidential election took
place al very cold time of year. Mr. Madi-
son, alterward President, who was always
fund Of his joke, used to take much pleas
ure i'll telling his friends what a remarka-
bly, cold time they had at that winter cleo
ton. He was running for Congress in Vir-
ginia against James Monroe, who was des-
tined to succeed him in the Presidency.
The two candidates had public discus
sion ono Sunday afternoon in the open air
from the steps of Lutheran church
II was not usual then to hold political
meetings on Sunday; but the issues were
deemed so important, and it was so hard TO
get the people together in the middle of
winter, that it was thought proper to invite
the congregation after church to listen to
political debate.
A keen northeaster was blowing. When
Mr. Madison mounted the steps, and ad-
dressed the people, he had to face as sharp
a wind as ever blew in Virginia 1t was so
cold that one of the speakers ears was
frozen, and 50 badly, too, that the ear
showed some traces Of it to his dying day.
As Mr. Madison told the story, he would
point to the marks upon his ear, as "the
honorable sears he had borne from the but
he field
Out of the whole body of voters, it is
questionable if a hundred would have east
iheir votes against Gen. Washington.
As 10 the Vice Presidency, nobody APP
pears TO have wanted the Office very much.
IL wa, generally agreed that, since Virginia
was % give a President, Massachusetts
ought to furnish the Vice President The
three candidates most spoken Of were
Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and John
Adams. Gov. Hancock was too proud to
want the second place. Samuel Adams was
not thought to be hearty friend of the
new Government.
The choice, therefore, fell upon John
Adams, Just home from England and Hol-
laud. where he had served his country with
great ability,
believe his descendants to this day pos
scss the chain and medal of gold, of the
value of 300 florins, which were given
hun this year by their High Mightnesses,
Is. nh ..F ;.-tV Of i,l
II there had been any doubt about his
election, that doubt was dispelled by Gen.
Washington, who caused 1t to be made
kuoWu to some electors. that he himself
approved and desired the election OF John
Adams.
Whoever may occupy the first seat he
wrote to benjamin Lincoln, Il shall be en-
tircty satisfied with that arrangement for
tlliug the second office
These words or words like these, were
intended TO influence the minds Of the
rlcctor, This we learn from another let
1er 10 Benjamin Lincoln, OF the same
Wouth
~Somc Of these gentlemen the electors
will have been advised that this measure
the election of Mr.. Adams would be en-
tirrly agreeable to me- and that | consid-
crrd IL the only certain way to prevent the
election OF am auti-F"dcralist"
We sce from this that Washington, at an
impaltaut crisis could I've a politician, and
l.,r his personal influence to carry a polti-
l-l p,int. Ne one viii blame him. He
a. S bound heart and soul to the success OF
tEj4 Sublime experiment, and he was iu-ti-
Fp tn using an honorable MEANS to have
thra new Government administered by Its