Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-01-04

my own had been preparing my mind for an
development, but it vas not
until | had three times talked with you face
to face that could believe in the reality of
an intention so inconsistent with your pre-
vious conversation, so repugnant to your
pledges, SO amazing to your constituents, so
fatal to yourself.
1.-THE vote which you intend thus to give is
not your own; it belongs to the people Of the
state of Missouri-they are against Mr..
Adams |, in their name, do solemnly pro-
test against your intention and csny your
moral power thus to bestow your vote.
"You have been pleased to make reference
in one Of your conversations to my per-
sonal wishes in this election. l now reiterate
that | disclaim and repel the appeal, and
again remand you to the exalted tribunal Of
honor and duty
"For nine years we have been closely con-
nected in our political course. At length the
connection is dissolved and dissolved under
circumstances which denounce our everlast-
ing separation
"For some expressions which you felt as
unkind, in our conversation of Sunday, ask
your pardon, and oblivion. have a right
to give you my opinion upon a point Of public
duty, but none to infict wound on your
feelings, and in this unexpected breaking Of
many ties there is enough of unavoidable
pain without the gratuitous infection Of I'M
kind words
Tomorrow is the day for your self immo-
lation. Ii you have an enemy he may go
and feed his eyes upon the scene. Your for
mer friend will share the affecting spec
tacle
with sincere wishes for your personal
welfare, remain, etc.,
THOMAS H. BENTON"
At noon on the 9th of February the senate,
with their president and sergeant-at-arms at
their head, entered the representative hall.
The president of the senate took seat at the
right hand of the speaker. The formal open
ing of the electoral packets followed, and the
announcement of Mr.. Calhoun's election for
vice president was followed by the state
ment that no one had received majority of
the electoral votes for the presidency, and
therefore the house would proceed to elect
from the three highest candidates, jackson,
Adams and Crawford. The senators retired,
the roll of the house was called by states and
the members of each delegation took their
seats together Only one member Of the
house was absent-he from illness. The vote
Of each state was deposited in box by itself
and placed upon the table. Tellers previously
appointed-Danie Webster and John Ran
dolph-proceeded to open and count the bal
lots. A long contest had been expected, an
1t was not known that most Of Mr.. Craw-
ford's friends had given him up. The result
surprised everybody, even the best informed
politicians. On the first ballot Mr. Adams
received the votes of thirteen states, Mary
land and Illinois, which had given popular
majorities for jackson, and Kentucky, Ohio
and Missouri, which had given majorities
for Clay voting for Adams Crawford re-
ceived the vote Of Delaware, North Carolina,
Georgia and Virginia, and Gen. jackson, for
whom eleven states had given popular ma
jority, had the vote Of seven states In the
house. There was momentary burst of ap-
plause from the galleries, followed by hiss.
ing, and the speaker Immediately ordered
the galleries to be cleared
The election of John Quincy Adams in
1925 by the house Of representatives "voting
federally," gave congressional construction
to the electoral clause of the constitution
which has not since been disputed, perhaps
because no occasion has arisen. The house
then virtually decided that member was
under no moral obligation to go by the vote
of his district, much less his state at the pre-
ceding election; that the true intent of the
constitution was that the house should act q.
an original and independent electoral college
each member exercising his own judgment
as he might or might not hold himself
responsible to his constituents, and that
saving the fact that they were limited to the
three leading candidates. their powers were
as if the constitution had said The frs
choice is with the people, but if they fail OF
refuse to elect, the power is gone from then
and given to another tribunal.
Fifty-two years passed before another grea
trial of the SYSTEM but not without elaborat,
debates on controverted questions and many
surprising prophecies of trouble.
In 1929 the two houses acted without rails
ing any issue, the result being: For jackson
l7S; for Adams, SO. In February, 1885, pre-
cisely the same forms were observed and ne
issues raised. The result was: Jackson, 219
Clay, 40. A question arose as to count
ing the vote of the state of Michi
gan very nearly the same as that which
had arisen in 1877 as to Indiana, and il
1921 as to Missouri; but as it mad,
no difference in the election, the ques
ton was again evaded, though the vote wa
declared alternately thus: For Van Buren,
10 with Michigan, l67 without; for Harri
SON. y foi Hugh Lawson White Of Tennes
see, 70; for Daniel Webster, IL. tor Willie r
Mangum, Of North Carolina, H. On vic,
president the vote was declared: For RicharS
NJ. johnson, l47 with Michigan, IA with
out; for Francis Granger, ~ for John Tyler
Al; for William Smith, %. But whether will
or without Michigan there was no election
for vice president, so the senators retired t,
their chamber and on the first vote chos
Richard NJ. johnson, giving him SO to l6 To-
Francis Granger-three senators absent
there being twenty-six states.
/ On Feb 10, 1871, the same method wa
followed. The vice president merely reat
the result, namely: For Harrison, 232; TO
Van Buren,, 60. No question was raised.
On Feb. IL, 1915, the vice president handet
the sealed packets to the telers. who opened
counted and handed a list to the vice presi
dent, who read the footings: For Polk, ITO
for Clay, lO5. On Feb. IA, 1910, the sam
process was observed, except that the vic
president opened the packages and handel
the certificates to the tellers. jefferson
Davis was teller on behalf of the senate. Tn
result was: Taylor, l63; Cass, LEI. On Feb
o, 1853, the same forms were observed, thu
result being: For Pierce, PSI; for Scott, A.
On the 18th of February, 1857, there wer
the same sitting and proceedings. A ques
ton arose i'll the joint meeting as to the vot
90. 81.