99 84 41 37 182 30 24 13 9 2 The President of the Senate (Mr. Gaillard) then declared that no person had received a majority of the votes given for President of the United States; that Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and William H. Crawford, were the three persons who had received the highest number of votes, and that the remaining duties in the choice of a President now devolved upon the House of Representatives; and that John C. Calhoun was duly elected Vice-President. The Senate having retired, the House immediately proceeded to elect a President. A roll-call showed that every member of the House except Mr. Garnett of Virginia, who was sick at his lodgings in Washington, was present. Mr. Webster of Massachusetts and Mr. Randolph of Virginia were appointed tellers. The House conducted the election according to the rules already adopted, and on the first ballot John Quincy Adams was chosen. The votes of thirteen States were given to him, those of seven to Jackson, and of four to Crawford. The Speaker declared Mr. Adams elected, and notice of the result was sent to the Senate. The votes of the States are shown by the following table, which indicates both the divisions within the delegations, and the person for whom the vote of each State was given. The bitterness of this election did not cease when a choice had been effected; and the "Annals of Congress show that the desirability of making another change in the Constitution, so as to prevent the calamity of an election by the House of Representatives, was urged by many members. But no action was taken, and fortunately there has been no need of such another election during the sixty years which have elapsed since Mr. Adams was chosen. XII. JACKSON'S TRIUMPH. Ir was during the administration of the second Adams that parties took the form which they were destined to retain for the next quarter of a century. The partisans of Jackson were angry that he had not been chosen President instead of Mr. Adams, and the friends of Crawford were also greatly irritated. The choice of Mr. Clay as Secretary of State was especially a source of vexation to them. Although all politicians throughout the country professed the same constitutional principles, it was evident from the very beginning of Mr. Adams's term that he was to be strongly, bitterly opposed, and thwarted if possible. General Jackson was not to be outrun in the race of opposition by any one. In October, 1825, before the President had met Congress at all, and before he had indicated -except in his inaugural address, which was excellent in spirit, and well received by the country—what his policy was to be, the Tennessee legislature nominated Jackson for the succession. He accepted the nomination in an address which he delivered before the two Houses of the Legislature, and resigned his seat in the Senate. Thus the presidential canvass was begun three years before the electors were to be appointed, and at a time when no other reason than a personal preference for one man rather than for another, by members of the House of Representatives, could be given for making a change; but when men are resolved to find reasons for opposing an administration they seldom fail. Especially was it easy to create an opposition party when a gentleman of so positive a character as Mr. Adams was at the head of affairs. His measures were such as gave room for wide difference of opinion. He had been the real author of the Monroe doctrine, and the proposition for a conference of American republics was one which was very dear to him; but his wishes were opposed and his plans thwarted. He was opposed in domestic politics, too, and his enemies could find nothing good in his propositions. They assailed his position on the tariff, although General Jackson had voted in the Senate for protection. They denounced the internal improvements policy as unconstitutional, although Jackson had voted for that also. They professed anger at the extravagance of the administration, because the expenditures had increased, - forgetting, or refusing to admit the validity of the argument, that the country was growing, - and preached economy, which was certainly not the distinguishing characteristic of Jackson's administration. After the nomination of General Jackson by the Tennessee legislature, that gentleman received a great many similar nominations from conventions and meetings in all parts of the country; but in order to make his election certain it was necessary to combine the friends of Crawford with the "Jacksonians." This is supposed to have been effected in the course of a Southern tour made by Mr. Churchill C. Cambreleng, a great figure in New York politics at the time, and a member of Congress from the city of New York, from 1821 to 1839. Mr. Van Buren, a Crawford man in 1824, and a believer in the caucus system of nominating presidential candidates as long as he lived, was now a Jackson partisan and an advocate of the coalition. Mr. Calhoun, the Vice-Presi |