Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-09-04
The First Presidential EIec-
ton.
BY JAMES PARTON.

cola winner, most announcement
season. Congress did not learn
the acceptance of the new Consti-
tuition by sufficient number OF
States until late In the summer OF
1888, and did not name the day
for the election Of a President un-
til the 18th of September.
The three interesting days were
then appointed-the "three We'd
nesdays," as they were called. On
the first Wednesday of January,
1889 the people were to elect Pres
idential electors. On the first We'd
nesday of February the electors of
each State were TO meet and choose
a President and Vice President.
On he first Wednesday in March
(which was the 4th) Congress was
to meet in New York, count the
electoral votes, and set the new
Government in motion.
So the first Presidents election
took place at very cold time OF
year. Mr.. Madison, afterward
President, who was always fond
of his joke, used to take much
pleasure in telling his friends what
q remarkable cold time they had
at that winter election. He was
running for Congress in Virginia
against James Monroe, who was
destined to succeed him in the
Presidency.
G The two candidates had a public
discussion on Sunday afternoon in
the open air from the steps Of a
Lutheran church.
1t was not usual then to hold
political meetings on Sunday /; but
the issues were deemed so impor-
tant, and 1t was so hard to get the
people together in the middle of
winter, that IL was thought proper
to invite the congregation after
church to listen to political de-
bate.
A keen northeastern was blow
ing. When Mr.. Madison mount
ed the steps, and addressed the
people, he had to face as sharp a
wind as ever blew in Virginia. 1t
was so cold that one of the speak
er's ears was frozen, and so 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 scars he had
borne on the battle field"
Out of the whole body of voters,
It Is questionable if a hundred
would have cast their votes against
Gen. Washington.
AS to the Vice Presidencys no.
body appears to have wanted the
Office very much. 1t was general
ly agreed that since Virginia was
to give a President. Massachusetts
ought to furnish the Vice Presi-
dent. 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 a
hearty friend of the new Govern
ment.
The choice, therefore, fell upon
John adams, just home from Eng
land and Holland, where he had
served his country with great abil-
ity.
1 believe his descendants to this
day possess "the chain and medal
of gold, of the value of 1,30(
fiorins,' which were given him
this year by their High Mightin'
esses, the chief magistrates OF Hol'
land.
If there had been any doubt
about his election, that doubt was
dispelled by Gen. Washington,
who caused 1t to be made known
to some electors, that he himself
approved and desired the election
of John Adams.
"WhOever may occupy the first
seat" he wrote 10 Benjamin Lin.
coin, 81 shall be entirely satisfied
with that arrangement for filling
the second Office"
These words,or words like these,
were intended to influence the
minds of the electors. This we
learn from another letter to Ben
jamin Lincoln, of the same month
"Some of these gentlemen 1.-THE
electors) will have advice that this
measure 1.-THE election of Mr.. AID
ams) would be entirely agreeable
to me, and that l considered it the
only certain way TO prevent the
election Of an anti-Federalist."
We see from this that Washing
ton, at an important crisis, coulC
be politician, and use his person
al influence to carry a politica
point. No one will blame him
He was bound heart and soul t
the success of this sublime expert
ment, and he wa justified in usinl
all honorable means to have tn