The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-11-18
pnlttteal.
OLD TIME POLITICS.
THE ELECTION OF JOHN ADAMS.
Midnight Interview Between Marshall and JeR'
ersOn's Attorney General-HistOry Repeating
Itself in Campaign Slanders.

Representatives on the h of February,
1897, were for Johu Adams one vote
from each of the States of North Carroll.
ma, Virginia and Pennsylvania, seven
votes from each of the States of Mary
land and New Jersey, three from Della
ware, twelve from New York, nine from
Connecticut, four from Rhode Island,
sixteen from Massachusetts, four from
Vermont and six from New Hampshire
in all seventv.o one.
Thomas Jefferson received four votes
from each of the States of Kentucky,
Georgia and Maryland three from Ten.
nessee, eight from South Carolina, eev-
en- from North Carolina, fourteen from
Pennsylvania and twenty from Virginia
--sixty.eight in all.
This vote elected Mr.. Adams, Alex
ander Hamilton said adams election
was almost a miracle, for the three votes
-one from Pennsylvania, one from
North Carolina and one from Virginia
were all againt the popular feeling. Had
they been given to Jefferson, the vote
would have been reversed and Jefferson
elected. But, then, on the other hand,
if the vote for Electors of President had
been by general ticket in the States, Ma
ryIand at that time Federal, would have
given her entire vote 10 Adams, instead
of dividing it, seven for Adams and four
for Jefferson. At that time, the readers
will reColleCt, two persons were voted
for for President, the one receiving the
highest vote, if a majority of the whole
number, to be President, the second
highest TO be Vice President While this
vote elected Adams President it elected
Jefferson Vice President, A number Of
the Federal is, and among them, strange
to say, Alexander Hamilton, favored the
election of Thomas PInckney received
50 votes; Aaron Burr, 30; Samuel Adams,
Is; Oliver Ellsworth, IL; Samuel John.
SION, .; James IredeIl, 81 j ,hn Jay s.;
George Clinton, 7; John Henry, 2; Chas
Coteswor,h Plnckney, l, The States of
North Carolina and Virginia each cast
one vote for Washington.
The ceremonies attending the inaug
uration of the new President and Vice
President were few and simple, so far
as the record before us shows.
The Senate, called together as has
been the custom of the outgoing Presi
dent to meet in extraordinary session on
the 4th of March, met at the Senate
Chamber in Philadelphia. Mr., Jefferson
took his seat as Vice President, and after
administering the oath of Office to the
new members, delivered his inaugural
address. In it, after saying that he might
with the grea est truth declare his zeal
GUS attaChm ment to the Constitution, he
said that he considered "the Union of
these States as the first OF blessings and
as the first of duties the preservation of
that Constitution which secures it; but |
suppose these declarations are not peril.
nent to the occasion of entering into an
Office whose primary business is merely
to preside over the forms of the house,
and no one more sincerely prays that no
accident may call me to the higher and
more important functions which the Con
stitution, eventually deVOlves on this
office. These" ne added, have been
Justly confded to the eminent C laracter
who has preceded me here, wno ose tai
ents and integrity have been known and
revered by me through long course of
years, have been the foundation of cor
dial and uninterrupted friendship be
tween us, and | devoutly pray he may
long be preserved for the Government,
the happiness and prosperity of our COM
mon country"
This nigh and graceful compliment to
his successful rival ID lsintroduCed to show
that through the bitterness of Presi.
dental campaign Jefferson and Adams
we're personal friends. They 80 contin.
ued to be until after the next Presiden. |
tial election, when for time they were
aienated through understanding,
but afterward became again friends;
which friendship continued until their |
deaths, on the same 4th Of July.
The Inauguration of Mr. Adams took |
place in the hall of the House of Repre-
sentatiYes, where he was attended by |
the Vice President and the Senate, the |
he tds of Departments, the Marshal of |
the District aud his officers. The Presl.
dent elect took the chair of the Speaker
of the House. The Vice President and |
Secretary of the Senate were seated in
advance, inClining TO the right of the
President, the Speaker OF the Horse of
and clerk on the left,
and the justices of the Supreme Court
were seated round table in front of the
President Of the United States. The
late President of the United States, the
great and good Washington, took his
seat as private citizen, little in front
of seats assigned to the Senate, which
were on the south side of the House.
The foreign Ministers and mem Oers of
the House took their usual sea 8. A
large number of both eexes were pres
ent. The President elect hen delivered
his inaugural address-in ability scarce
equalled, and never excelled, by any of
his successors in Office. At its conclu
sion the oath of Office was administered
by The Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, the Associate Justice, attending.
And thus commenced the Adminlstra
tlOn of John Adams as President of the
United States.
The new Senate, called together in
extra session on the 4 h of March, 1897,
no business whatever-nol
even the confirmation of the heads
Of Departments. The President in.
formed them that he had no matters to
lay before them, and the Senate there.
upon adjourned sine die.
When Mr.. Jefferson, as Secretary of
State under Washington, resigned, Ed
nund Randolph of Virginia, on the 2d
If Januarv II "a sncreedad him R.n