Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-06-18
nov 4 PRESIDENT WAS CHOSEN.
James A. Bayard, sr., and Jefferson's
Election i'm 1901.

Editor Gazette Two correspondent
Of the Morning Nel1s take secretary
Bayard to task for saying, in his speech at
the Missouri University, that his grand
father instructed by Alexander Hamilton,
cast his vote for Thomas jefferson, and go
on to state that Bayard did not vote for
Jefferson, but on the final and successful
ballot that he voted blank. This is true.
And II Secretary Bayard intended, by his
remarks upon the occasion referred to, to
intimate that his grandfather voted directly
for Jefferson he was mistaken. But as the
report of his speech Is telegraphic, 1t is
more likely In its transmission that the re-
porter has given his own language for MIR.
Bayards and that what Mr.. b. said was tnat
the election Of Jefferson in that remarkable
contest was chiefly owing to the efforts, and
influence Of his grandfather, and In this
course he was prompted and advised by
Alexander Hamilton, the great lender OF
the Federalists. This is true.
Hamilton's works contain many letters
written to him by Bayard before and during
the ballotting for President, in which
Hamilton urges on Bayard and his fellow
Federal members to vote for Jefferson, and
not permit Burr to be elected, whom he calls
"a profiigate without character and with
out property, ,bankruptinb both ;""and whose
election would endanger the liberties OF the
country" SO much for Hamiltons position
NOW IDT DuyuEu HSltihB
Jefferson's election. AS soon us the election
of a President devolved upon the House OF
Representatives, a caucus OF the Federal
members was held, and 1t was decided, by
n large ma jority, that the support of that
party should be given to Burr, under the
constitution of the United States us 1t then
stood (since amended) the house could vote
but for one of the two highest in vote in
the electoral college; these two were JeiIer-
son and Burr; they receiving 73 votes each,
to 60 for John Adams, "a for Charles U.
Pinkney and for John jay. The proceed
ings in the Federal caucus did not express
the final determination of all of its members
There were few men in it who determined,
after exhausting all practicable peaceabe
efforts to elect Burr, to withdraw their OPP
position and permit Jeflerson's election,
sooner than risk the consequences OF an in
terregnum or usurpation," of these few
Bayard was one. lie was ut this time
young GA years OF age) member, but active,
Intelligent, u splendid orator, and, II not
the leader, one Of the leaders OF his party
in the House. He with all the other Federal
Carolina, who from the first voted for
Jefferson, )-stood by the caucus vote
for 35 ballots; In time, one week.
Two weeks more of such Intellectual ballot
ing would have ended the constitutional
government, the result, interregnum and
anarchy. Bayard saw ii and determined to
avoid 1t. Caucus after caucus of the Fed
erallsts had been held, each breaking up in
confusion and discOrd. At length, at q
caucus of his party, held most probably on
February 14th, 1901. Bayard came out, as
he himself says in u letter to Hamilton,
with the most explicit and determined
declaration of voting for Jefferson" lie
says, in the letter referred to, thnt he did
this "because he could not and would moi
dare to proceed to any length which wonlt
jeOpartlizo the constitution or the safely ui
amy state" "and nothing remained hut to
appoint president by law or leave th
government without Onc." lie says to liam
ilton, 'You cannot we'll imagine the clunOf
and vehement invectives To which | was
subjected for some days" He voted how
ever, for some few days and some few more
ballots with his party for Burr. Then on
the 18th day of February ho did not exactly
know what he told the caucus he would do,
but he permitted Mr.. Jefferson to be elected,
and in this wise: He managed to "lay hold"
of all the doubtful PederlD votes in the
House, 10y an agreement to vote together
This enabled him to protract or terminate
tho controversy Mt his pleasure. These
votes were one from Vermont, four from
Maryland, five from South Carolina, in all
including himself, eleven. Then after the
35th ballot the preconccrtcd agreement of
these eleven was carried out. The Vermont
Federilist went out of tho House, and
left his Republican colleague to cilst the
vote Of tho State. Bayard voted blank, and
so DelawarG's vote was counted for neither
candidate. Tho four Fedcrllists from Mary
land put In four blanks, which made the
positive tickets of their colleagues the vote
of that state, and South Carolina put in
blanks. SO there were 10 states for JGlrer-
son, four for Burr and two blanks, and of
course Jefferson was declared elected. If
this account is true, Mr.. Editor and it is
taken from the best authorities l can get
hold of, who elected MIR. Jefferson? This
band of IL, undoubtedly, led by Mr.. Bayard.
very remarkable fact of this most remark
able contest, is, that of the II men who
really elected Jefferson, not one of them
voted for him. W. q. W.