El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-19
BITTER FIGHT
Marks FIRST
ELECTION
Hamilton Causes Alarm by
Predicting Strong Opposi-
ton to Washington.
FIRST PRESIDENT
ROUNDLY DENOUNCED
lBv Frederic J. HaskInl

Washington, y. c.. Oct 19.-Amer-
ica's first election for the choice OF
president OF the. United States was
called on September Is, 178S, and liked
for the first Wednesday OF January
following. in those times OF no rail
roads and no telegraphs, that afforded
an insufficient time TO arrange IOr a
popular election. even IN some OF the
states which inclined to that method OF
selecting electors. Rhode Island ana
North Carolina had not yet come into
the union so the election was held only
in II States. In only three OF them
Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland
was there q popular election held New
York got INTO such row between ys5eLl l Ine
antI-EederaEst house and the tederallst
senate that no electors were chosen, and
the Empire state had no vote IN the
choice of the first president.
Wrangle in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire also got into con
siderable wTanglle over the choice OF
electors. The house agreed to select
them by joint ballot, and when that
failed proposed another compromise.
But the senate was adamant and would
yield no point Therefore, to prevent
the state from going unrepresented. Just
Z before midnight OF the last day, the
house nllng protest against Its beng
regarded as a precedent, agreed to the
electors the senate had chosen without
its assistance. There had been a sort
of popular vote taken for the guidance
of the legislature, but it had no effect
on the action Of that body.
Massachusetts had an odd method of
selecting its electors that year. Each
congressional district was permitted to
select two candidates for eleetOr, and
from these two the legislature selected
the one who was to cast the vote of that
district. The legislature selected two
electors at large
Adams Wanted Free Fight.
There was considerable jockeying Ovlr
second place IN the first election, most
of it being planned by Alexander Hamil-
ton. BE either believed, or professed 70
believe, there was some danger that
Adams might run ahead of Washington
and thus force the illustriOus father of
his country into second place. opinions
vary, but there seems to be reason for
saying that Adams wanted q free fight
Tor first place. Hamilton would not
have it SO, and sent word TO New Eng
land that there was danger that Vir-
ginIa might not give the bulk of It's vote
TO Washington, and word to Virginia
70 the effect that there was danger OF
New England failing to make even 4
fairly unanimous choice of Washington
for president. He said that if Washing
ton and Adams should receive the same
vote. the election would be thrown into
the house, as happened afterWdrd when
jefferson and Burr received the same
The dav before the election IN the
Connecticut electoral college a post
rider gallOped into Hartford and an
nounced that he bore a message from
Col Hamilton showing that there was
danger Of Adams running even with OF
ahead Of Gen. Washington, and that he
had made some calculations showing
that If Connecticut would cast two
votes against Adams and New Jersey
three. this danger would be aYerted.
Jonathan Trumbull saws: 81 exclaimed
against the proposition and insisted that
It was a deception; but what could nv
single opinion avail against an express
rider armed with intelligence and calcu-
latiOns from HamiltOn!" Connecticut
did throw two votes away and New
Jersey five instead of three. The re-
turns show that Hamilton's fears-if
fears they were, for some say he was
simply playing a deep political game
were absolutely unfounded.
This incident resulted in a bitterness !
between Hamilton and Adams. Hsmil-
ton said later that great was his aston
lshment and greater his regret that !
Adams had complained Of unfair treat !
ment IN not being allowed an open field /
and free fight with Washington for /
first place.
When the vote was counted by the |
first congress. Is of the 40 men who I
that body, and it Is to be presumed that I
they counted the vote in keeping with !
the ideas OF the constitutional cOnven- /
ton. And yet IN that count the senate (
elected a president-one Of the signers 4
of the constitutional preside over the /
joint session, and to open the certifi- /
Gates and count the votes. Our present /
method denies to the presiding officer 4
the right to do anything more than, pre-
side.
The second election was almost wholly
without incident. Washington was the 4
unanimous choice for a second term.
Fifteen states took part in the election.
North Carolina adopted a novel plan.
Having L electors, the state was d.
vided into four districts. each of which /
was to choose three electors. The mem
bers OF the legislature residing in each I
district were to meet and select the
three electors. The North Carolina cleo
tors manifested some feeling of indie
pendence. They deliberated awhile and
finally decided to vote for Clinton for
wee president because Adams had OPP
posed an appOrtIOnment bill in the sen
ate.
Turmoil in Third Election.
When the time for the third election
approached the country was in something 1
OF q political turmoil Washington had |
not announced his decision not to stand /
Tor third term until in September.
1896, and the Republicans were verv
bitter against him. He was denounced /
as preparing to become a perpetual ruler.
the greatest of all despots; as having
debauched and debased the country. He
was charged with murder. with having
favored every kind of monopoly, with
having looted the treasury. Phillip Ire
neau, translating clerk in the state de-
partment and prOtege of Jefferson.
heaped SANDER and libel upon the head
of Washington in a way that seems TO
make the political vituperation of TODAY
seem ike verbal lovetaps Washington
complained to Jefferson about it. but
Jefferson was too much pleased with
what Treneau was doing to do other
than approve his course. He tells with
evident @lee OF a scene with Washington