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SUCCESSOR TO MR. MONROE.

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State for Mr. Crawford. The annual election in New York transpiring in Nov. 1823, prior to the opening of Congress, disappointed these expectations in the complexion given to the Legislature which in turn was to appoint the Presidential electors. Both parties, those in favor, and those opposed to Mr. Crawford, claimed the majority. The latter, however, rested their hopes on passing a law referring the choice of the electors directly to the people. This question created what was known as the people's party-strongly opposed to Mr. Crawford for the Presi dency. The law providing for the appointment of electors by the direct vote of the people was defeated; but by the strenuous efforts of Mr. J. Tallmadge, Mr. H. Wheaton, and other prominent members of the Legislature, the friends of Mr. Crawford were badly beaten. The electoral vote of the State was given as follows: for Adams 26, for Crawford 5, for Clay 4, for Jackson 1.

CAUCUSES- THEIR HISTORY.

Congress was greatly interested and divided on the propriety of keeping up the old system of congressional nomination of candidates for President and Vice-President. The friends of Mr. Crawford, led by Mr. Van Buren, were in favor of a caucus, and were disposed to denounce all who were opposed to this method, which they termed "regular nomination," as enemies of the Democratic party. And notwithstanding an announcement in the National Intelligencer that out of two hundred and sixtyone members, it was ascertained that one hundred and eighty-one were opposed to a caucus; and, it was added that many others would not attend, should a meeting be called, the friends of Mr. Crawford insisted on adhering to the established precedent, and the caucus was held on

the 14th of February, 1824. Only sixty-six members were in attendance, of whom forty-eight were from the four States of New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. A ballot being had for President, Mr. Crawford received 64 votes, Mr. Adams 2, Gen. Jackson 1, and Mr. Macon, of North Carolina, 1. Mr. Gallatin received. the nomination for Vice-President, but afterward declined.

Niles' Register furnishes us some facts touching the history of the caucus system. It had its origin in the contentions of the two great political parties which divided the American people into two almost equally powerful sects; thus rendering it seemingly necessary, if either would carry their measures, that there should be a perfect unanimity respecting candidates for offices of trust and responsibility; hence individuals belonging to the same party would meet, express their preferences and concentrate their support on such candidates as, in their opinion, were most acceptable to the people. Mr. Adams, at the second election, received the cordial support-though he had not the private good-will-of the leaders of the Federal party. So Mr. Madison was sustained in a second election, not more because he was the best man who could be found to carry on the war, than that not a shadow of a disposition should be manifest to conclude the war save on honorable terms. These candidates both received the support of their respective parties on the ground of party

measures.

Prior to the Presidential election of 1800, a few Federalists held a meeting in the Senate chamber to confer respecting the coming election. The Philadelphia Aurora, a Republican paper, denounced this caucus as a “jacobinical conclave." For this, and other statements, its editor, William Duane, was arrested, and brought to the bar of the Senate to answer for his "false, defamatory,

CAUCUSES-THEIR HISTORY.

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scandalous, and malicious assertions." Not long after, a meeting was held of a few members, who pledged themselves to the support of Messrs. Jefferson and Burr. This arose from the charge made upon the South that the latter had not received a sufficiently united support from that direction.

It would seem that the first regular Republican caucus was held in February, 1804. Its prime object was to select a candidate for Vice-President, for which post George Clinton was named, and Thomas Jefferson for President.

A meeting of the same party was called on the 10th of January, 1808. S. R. Bradley, senator from Vermont, issued the call, which commenced thus: "In pursuance of the powers vested in me, as President of the late convention of the Republican members of both Houses of Congress, I deem it expedient, &c." This call, thus issued, was vehemently denounced by several members, and a large proportion of them refused to attend ; " unwilling,' they said, "to countenance by their presence the midnight intrigues of any set of men who may arrogate to themselves the right (which belongs only to the people) of selecting proper persons for the important offices of President and Vice President."

وو

The meeting was, however, attended by ninety-four members of both Houses. Notwithstanding Mr. Monroe had been strongly urged by outside influence, Mr. Madison received an almost unanimous nomination.

The congressional caucus of 1816 was held on the 16th of March, and was attended by one hundred and nineteen out of one hundred and forty-one Republican members. Resolutions were offered by Mr. Clay, of Kentucky, and Mr. Taylor, of New York, declaring it inexpedient to proceed to a nomination; these propositions were nega

tived. Mr. Monroe received 65 votes to 54 for Mr. Crawford. There being no opposition to the Republican party in 1820, no caucus was held.

So odious had the caucus system become, that the nomination received by Mr. Crawford (1824) damaged his prospects; failing as it did to unite the party strength as similar nominations hitherto had done.

The contest of 1824 was an earnest one, and resulted in no choice by the people. The candidates voted for were Messrs. Jackson, J. Q. Adams, Crawford, and Clay. Of the electoral votes Mr. Jackson received 99; Mr. Adams 84; Mr. Crawford 41; and Mr. Clay 37.

After declaring the electoral vote as above, the Senate retired, and the House proceeded in accordance with the provision of the Constitution, to the election of a President from the three having the largest number of votes.

The House was called, and the votes cast by States, as its majority directed. John Q. Adams received the votes of thirteen States; Andrew Jackson received the votes of seven States, and W. H. Crawford received the votes of four States.

The Speaker declared the result, and announced that John Q. Adams was duly elected President of the United States for the four years next ensuing.

John C. Calhoun was chosen Vice-President by the electoral colleges, receiving one hundred and eighty-two votes-the remainder scattering on various persons.

CHAPTER VIII.

ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, 1825-1829.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS was inaugurated as President of the United States, on the 4th of March, 1825. After pronouncing his inaugural address, Mr. Adams descended. from the chair and took the oath of office, at the close of which the House rang with the plaudits of the immense audience.

The President elect appointed as his constitutional advisers, Henry Clay, of Kentucky, as Secretary of State; Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania, Secretary of the Treasury; James Barbour, of Virginia, Secretary of War. The nominations of Messrs. Rush and Barbour were unanimously confirmed by the Senate, while that of Mr. Clay met a strong opposition. He was, however, confirmed by a vote of twenty-seven for, to fourteen against it. William Wirt, of Virginia, Attorney-General, and John McLean, Postmaster-General, officers under Mr. Monroe, were continued as such by Mr. Adams. It is worthy of being recorded, that Mr. Crawford was offered a seat in the Cabinet by the President elect, which was, however, declined.

The Cabinet as constituted was an able one, but this did not secure the Administration against a determined and persistent opposition. At so early a day was this

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