Evening star., 1936-11-01

DECISION BY HOUSE
Selection of Jefferson Came as Close of Bit
ter Campaign-1mpressive Inaugural
Ceremonies.
By John Clagetf Proctor.


By John CIagen Proctor.
TT HAS been just 1876 years since
the residents of the District Of
Columbia were permitted to vote
4 for the President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States. and per-
haps many are unaware of the fact
that the people Of the Nations Capital
ever did vote for these high Offices;
but they did, just once, and that was
in 1900, when John Adams and
Thomas Jefferson were the principal
contestants for the office of Chief
Magistrate.
In the so-called residence act of
Congress, approved July l6, 1790, pro-
viding for the acquiring of territory.
not exceeding 10 miles square, to be
located as hereafter directed on the
River Potomac" ETC., it was provided
THAT the operation of the laws of the
State within such district shall not be
affected by this acceptance. until the
time fixed for the removal of the Gov
ernment thereto, and until Congress
shall otherwise by law provide" And,
since the Federal Congress did no.
move here, and meet, to open its first
session, until November II, 1900, the
laws of Maryland and Virginia, so far
as voting for National and State Off
GERS were concerned, were. at least still
in force up to that time, and the peo-
pie of the District of Columbia, which
then included much Virginia territory,
including Alexandria-in addition to
its present boundaries-took advan-
them, and voted for the candidates
then up for election.
THAT part of the District of CO.
lumbia acquired from Maryland,
included parts of two counties-Mont-
gomery and Prince Georges-and the
polls for the latter county were set up
at Bladensburg, as we learn from the
following announcement appearing in
the National Intelligencer on Novem-
Der Z:
ELECTION OF ELECTORS.
"The Federal Republicans of the
City of Washington are requested to
meet on the Capitol Hill at o'clock,
in the morning. on Monday next (be-
ing the second Monday in November), :,
& from thence proceed to Bladensburg.
where the election will be held"
Federal Republican Candidate,
FRANCIS DEAKINS."
And then follows the statement:
Francis Deakins is we'll known for
his attachment to our excellent Con-
stitution and the Rights OF the People,
which he will support, as he has sup.
ported, the administration of the I'M
mortal washington and his venerable
successor to whom under God we owe
our present independence, peaceful
and happy situation"
When the election was held Mr..
Deakins received 201 votes for elector
while his opponent, Mr.. Duckett, who
was for Jefferson, received only 81
votes, or less than one-hal as many
In the fifteenth, or Fairfax district,
In which Alexandria was then located,
there were 218 votes cast for Adams
and 240 for Jefferson.
But the most interesting voting
place In the Territory of Columbia,
as it was then called, was in George
town, and here Mr.. Duckett, the Re-
publican candidate. received 152 votes
to Mr.. Deakins' 1873. Indeed, through
out Maryland, the race was a very
close one, as it also proved to be
elsewhere.
THE press at that time rarely gaye
the details of local happenings,
confining itself largely to political
matters and such filters" as the life
of Ben Franklin, Napoleon Bonaparte,
Julius Caesar and other notable his
torical personages. But fortunately.
one of our local historians, Christian
Hines, who was present at the George
town polls upon this celebrated oc-
casion, has left us an account, which
Is worth repeating here. He says:
IAN ELECTION IN GEORGETOWN.
THE election between Mr.. Jeffer-
son and Mr.. Adams for the presi-
dency, which eventuated in the choice
Of Mr.. Jefferson, was held in Suter's
tavern, in Georgetown, in the year
1900. The house was a one-story
frame, and stood on High street, be-
tween Bridge and Water streets, and
Q little east of the canal bridge.
George Peter, who was then lieuten-
ant in the regular Army, had, think,
his recruiting Office in a three-story
brick house directly south of the
tavern, or pretty near where Waters
-four warehouse now stands. In those
days there were two political parties
the Federals and Republicans The
Federal party upheld Mr.. Adams and
the Republican party supported Mr..
Jefferson.
"Well, the ballot-box was brought,
and the polling Of votes commenced,
while q large crowd, as Is usual on
such occasions, was gathered in front
OF the tavern. After the election had
continued some time, and the bad
whisky had begun to operate, some
OF the crowd began to dispute and
quarrel. and perhaps q few had al
ready the modification of having been
knocked down. It was very muddy
In front Of the tavern, rain having
descended but short time previously,
20 that the mud and water was nearly
ankle deep. The whisky operated
more and more until nearly the whole
crowd was in motion.
"At length, man named Shipley
stepped out and challenged any man
Of the opposite party to come out
and fight him, promising to whip him
If he would do so. A short time
elapsed when Lieut.. Peter, who was
Of the opposite party, undertook to
furnish o man to fight Shipley. So
he sent for one of his enlisted SOL
diers, named Lovejoy, who accepted
the challenge, and appeared ready