The Coolidge examiner., 1932-12-02
A Decent Opening of Congress

"It would be unbecomng the representatives
of this nation to assemble for the first time, in
this solemn temple without looking up to the
Supreme Ruler of the universe and imploring
his blessing.
May this territory be the residence of vir-
ture and happiness In this city may that piety
and virtue, that wisdom and magnanimity, that
constancy and self-government which adorned
the great character whose name it bears be
forever held in veneration! Here, and through
out our country, may simple manners. pure
morals and true religion flourish forever
1T is with you, gentlemen, to consider wheth-
er the local powers over the District or Colum-
bia. vested by the Constitution in the congress
Of the United States, shall be Immediately eX-
ercised. If, in your opinion this important
trust ought now be executed, you cannot fail,
while performing it, to take into view the fu-
ture probable situation of the territory for the
happiness of which you are about to provide.
You will consider it as the capital of a great
nation advancing with unexampled rapdty
in arts in commerce, in wealth. and in popula-
ton; and possessing within itself those ener-
gies and resources which, If not thrown away,
or lamentably misdrected, viii secure to it a
long course of prosperity and self-goyernment."
This first session of congress in the new Cap
ital was destined TO witness some OF the most
though the Federasts had small majority in
congress- il was evident that the political con-
troll of the country which they had had since
constitutional government went into effect was
fast slipping away from them. Adams rigor-
Gus enforcement OF the alien and sedtion laws
had driven many foreign-born citizens into the
rising Democratic-Republlcan party. Then, too,
there were other causes for bitterness which
marked the doom of the once all-powerful Fed
eralists who had been in control Of the govern
ment Of the new nation continuously for eleven
years.
The Presidential campaign of 1900 was an
exciting one with John Adams as the Federal
ist candidate for reelection, running with
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney as Vice President.
Opposed TO them on the DemOcratc-Republica
ticket was Thomas Jefferson (then Vice Pres
ident) for President and Aaron Burr for Vice
President.
The election resulted in a victory for the
Democratic Republicans who received ~ cleo
toral votes to the Federalists' 65. The Consti-
tuition at that time provided for each Presiden-
tia elector to vote for two persons without
designating which was to be President and
which to be Vice President. The person re-
ceiving the highest number of votes was to be
President and the next highest Vice President.
(By an amendment to the Constitution in 1904,
the electors are now required to vote separate
ly for President and Vice President)
When the electoral votes were cast it was
found that the crafty political manipulation of
Aaron Burr had resulted in a tie vote for him.
self and Jefferson, both being higher than the
vote for Adams. So the election was thrown
into the house of representatives. Amid the
greatest excitement, the house began to ballot
for President on February II. 1901. There were
106 members from 16 states and each state had
one vote with the majority of the states neces-
sary for a choice The house sat with closed
doors and balloting went continuously day
and night.
On the first ballot eight states voted for JEFF
ferson and six for Burr. Two states Vermont
and Maryland, were divided and could not cast
vote. Ballot after ballot was taken with no
change in the result. Finally on February II
break came and Jefferson was elected Pres
dent by the votes of ten states
During the balloting the excitement in the
country was intense. Charges of all kinds flew
thick and fast. 1t was charged by the Demo
cratic-Republicans that the Federasts were
voting for Burr to prevent an election until
after March when they would usurp the Of
flee of President by making Chief Justice Mar
shall of the Supreme court, President thus es-
tablishing a Federalist limited monarchy On
the other hand the Federalists charged Jeffer-
son with every sort of crime asserted he was
an infidel and spread the report that if he were
elected the Bibles would be taken away from
the people
Finally the Federalist leader in the house
James A. Bayard of Delaware got control of
enough votes to be able to elect Jefferson or
prolong the contest. So he made a deal with
Jefferson, receiving from him the assurance
that he would support the public credit, main
tain the naval system and would not remove
from public Office certain minor officials on DO.
litical grounds. In return for this, Bayard ar.
ranged for Vermont and Maryland to cast a
unanimous vote and give the two necessary
votes to Jefferson. Thus he was finally declared
elected and his inauguration took place March
4, 1901. the first President to be inaugurated
in the new Capital of the United States
10 hv Western Newsnaner Union