The daily gazette., 1880-05-25
THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
A VERY INTERESTING CHAPTER OF
HISTORY.

bhO " ntbGu 2bhtOo OOSohAOu III bL6 lUlQ-
die of q cold winter, most inconveni-
ent season. Congress did not learn
the acceptance of the new constitution
by q sufficient number of States until
late in the summer of 1888, and did not
name the day for the election of a
President until the 18Th day of Sep
tember.
The three interesting days were then
appointed-the "three Wednesdays"
as they were called. On the first We'd
nesday of January, 1889, the people
were to elect Presidential electors
On the first Wednesday of February,
the electors of each State were to meet
and choose a President and Vice Pres
ident. On the first Wednesday in
March (Which was the 4th) Congress
was to meet in New York, count the
electoral votes, and set the new Gov
ernment in motion.
So the first Presidential election
took place at very cold lime of year.
Mr.. Madison, afterward President, who
was always fond of his joke, used to
take much pleasure in telling his
| friends what remarkably cold time
they had at that winter election. He
was running for Congress in Virginia
against James Monroe, who was des-
tined to succeed him in the Presi-
dency.
The two candidates had public dis
cussion one Sunday afternoon in the
open air from the steps of Lutheran
church.
1t was not usual then to hold politi-
cal 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 congrega-
tion after church to listen to political
| debate.
A keen northeaster was blowing
When Mr.. Madison mounted tho steps,
and addressed the people, he had to
face as sharp wind as ever blew in
Virginia. 1t was so cold that one of
the speakers 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, "the honor
able scars he had borne from the bat
tie field"
Out of the whole body of voters, it is
| questionable if a hundred would have
cast their woes against Gen. Washing
ton.
As to the Vice Presidency, nobody ap-
pears to have wanted the Office very
much. It was generally agreed that,
since Virginia was to give President,
Massachusetts, ought to furnish the Vice
President. The three candidates most
spoken of were Samuel Adams, John
Hancock, and John Adams. Gov. Han
cock was too proud to want the second
place. Samuel Adams WIS not thought
to BE- hearty friend OF the new Govern
ment.
The choice, therefore, fell upon John
Adams, just home from England and
Holland, where he had served bis coun-
try with great ability.
believe bis descendants to this day
possess "the chain and medal Of gold,
of the value of I 800 forins," which
were given him this year by their High
Mightinesses, the chief magistrates of
Holland.
If there had been any doubt about
his election, that doubt was dispelled by
Gen. Washington, who caused it to be
made known to some of the electors
that he himself approved and desired
the election of John Adams.
"Whoever may occupy the first seat, y
he wrote to Benjamin Lincoln, "I shall
he entirely satisfied with that arrange
ment fer filling the second place."
These words, or words like the'e,
were intended to influence the minds OF
the electors. This we learn from an
other letter to Benjamin Lincoln, of the
same month.
Some OF those gentlemen (the elec.
tors) will have been advised that this
me asure (the election of Mr.. Adams)
would be entirely agreeable to me, and
that considered it the only certain way
TO prevent the election of an anti-Fede-
ralist."
We see from this that Washington,
at an important crisis, could be politi-
clan, and use his personal influence to
Carry q point. He was bound heart and
soul 10 the success Of this sublime ex.
pertinent, and he was justified In using
all honorable meaus to have the new
Government administered by Its best
friends.
The elections duly occurred on the
first Wednesday of January and the first
Wednesday of February. The electoral
votes were forwarded in sealed packets
to New York. So far, all had gone &C
! cording to the act of the old Congress,
, with order and punctuality.
The first Wednesday of March arriv-
ed, the day on which the new Congress
was appointed to meet. There was nc
quorum present of either house, anG
nothing could be done, except adjourn
from day to day, and wait for the arriva
of the tardy members.
At the muddy season it was weeks
hard work to travel 200 miles and some
of the members had to make their " ay
from Georgia and New Hampshire.
Day after day passed, and no more
Senators came, and no great number
of Representatives. Letters were or
dered to be sent to the absentees urg-
ing their immediate attendance, but
the whole month OF March passed, and
still there was no quorum of either
house.
1t was rather aggravating, too, that
members from the most distant States
had arrived, while those from New
Jersey fingered weeks and weeks. The
reason was explained by Mr.. Madison
in aletter to Gen. Washington of March
10, and very curious reason it was
The law, in New Jersey, having fixed
no time for closing the polls, they were
kept open in some of the counties three
1 a, 49, l.