The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-28
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
By FREDERIC J HASKIM
THE REVOLUTION OF 1900


had heen violated by the enactment
OF tue Allen and Sedition Laws multi
fying freedom OF speech and OF the
press. Notwithstanding the guarantees
OF the Constitution. Jefferson and the
Democrats az that time firmly believed :
that II was the intention and purpose
OF the Federalist party to create
strong central government for the
Deneht OF an established aristocracy
and TO the detriment OF the interests
OF the people. That the Federalist
Congress and President had I'm fact
nuiIifed the guarantees OF the Bill OF
Rights was to them sufficient proof
or the evil intent OF Adams and his
followers. On the other hand, Adams
and most OF the Federalists were
equally sincere In believing that JEFF.
ferson and the Democrats desired
only TO overthrow all government and
TO substitute anarchic chaos for con-
stitutional order. Neither party gave
the other the slightest credit for hon
esty OF purpose or sincerity of convic-
ton.
In 1900, for the ..rst time. candidates
were chosen by the parties. Adams
was nominated for president by a sc.
cret caucus of the Federalist members
OF Congress, with Charles c. PIAckney
Tor vice-president. The Democratic
members or Congress, also I'm secret
caucus, nominated Jefferson for presi-
dent and Aaron Burr for vice-presi-
dent. In those times, under the orig
inal provisions Of the Constitution,
each elector cast his vote for two can
didates for president, the one receiv-
ing the greatest number being a clear
majority, to be president, and the one
receiving the next highest number to
be vice-president. Contrary to the
practice which ever since then has
obtained, more attention was paid to
the congressional campaign than to
the presidential election, and while
all the Democrats unquestionabIy were
for Jefferson for president, all OF the
seventy-three democratic electors
voted both for Jefferson and Burr and
thereby caused tie. or course, the
election then went into the House OF
Representatives.
Whatever was left Of the vitality OF !
the Federalist party after the elections
In 1900 was utterly destroyed by the |
action of the Federalist leaders in |
Congress In entering into a conspir- |
acy to elect Burr president. The Fed |
eralists who had all during the cam |
paign denounced the Democratic or |
ganization for Its desire to break up !
the Union, were now ready to plunge /
the country into. civil war by prevent |
Ing the election Of a president at all, |
or by trick and chicanery controvert- |
ing the manifest Will of the people |
On the other hand, Jefferson did not |
scruple to promise high office In re-
turn for votes In the house. II was |
an era OF practical politics" and the |
wonder Is that the young nation was
able TO survive II.
AS a matter Of fact, the results OF
the election OF 1900 preserved the
Union. Mr.. Jefferson In a letter out |
lined the principles OF the Democrats |
In that campaign. as the preseFvas
ton or rights unQuestionably remaiu- |
Ing with the states: the freedom of
religion and OF the press trial by |
jury; economical administration OF
the government; opposition to war:
to standing armies; to the paper mon !
ey system: and to all connection, 9TH
er than commercial with any foreign
nation" The administration then in
power had successfully interfered with
the freedom of the press and the right
or trial by jury. No suchSAttempt has
been made since the election Of 1900.
In that election, although the FEEDER
alists invoked the aid OF eveW great
name possible, the Democrats won an
overwhelming majority OF the house, ]
electing IL members as against "a
Federalists. The Senate also, for the
frst time, came into control or the
Democrats, by vote Of 10 TO IL. Be-
fore the election Of 1902 the member
ship OF Congress had been increased Il
and the Second Congress OF Jeffer-
sons administration had in the Senate
"a Democrats and 10 Federalists; and
in the House, 103 Democrats md 3S
Federalists. Although the Federalist
party for many years was TO retain
a ghost OF an organization and was
to be represented in both houses OF
Congress, II was dead as q militant
political organization and II never
again was to have any part or parcel
In the affairs Of government One OF
the last. and by all odds the greatest.
achievement of the Adams admins
tration was the appointment OF John
Marshall to the supreme bench. The
election OF Jefferson and the appoint
ment of Marshall ut the same time by
q peculiar coincidence so balanced and
checked the centrifugal and centri-
petal forces In the government that
the lightning OF the nineteenth cen
fury marked q new epoch In the con-
stitutional history Of the country
which, in essentials, 'still endures.