During this period Congress was divided politically as follows: During the spring of 1823 an effort was made to revive the congressional caucus system. On February 14, 1824, 66 members of Congress met in the hall of the House of Representatives-about one-fourth of all the members, 261 being the total membership of the two Houses. At this caucus William H. Crawford, of Georgia, was nominated for President and Albert Gallatin, of Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. The caucus adopted a resolution commending Messrs. Crawford and Gallatin as the national candidates, and added the following: "In making the foregoing recommendation, the members of this meeting have acted in their individual characters as citizens; that they have been induced to this measure from a deep and settled conviction of the importance of union among Republicans throughout the United States, and as the best means of collecting and concentrating the feelings and wishes of the people of the Union upon this important subject." The caucus proved to be a failure in this campaign, and as there were no recognized parties, the presidential elec tion degenerated into a personal contest, in which the leading candidates were For President, Henry Clay, of Kentucky. John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts. William H. Crawford, of Georgia. Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee. For Vice-President, John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina. The election occurred on November 2, 1824. TWENTY-FOUR STATES VOted. In six states-Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, South Carolina and Vermont-the electors were chosen by the legislatures, and in the remaining eighteen they were chosen by the people. The following is the result of the popular vote for President, being the first recorded: John C. Calhoun was declared elected as Vice-President. No candidate for President having received a majority, the election was thrown into the House of Representatives. Accordingly, the same day, February 9, 1825, 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 the divisions within the delegations: During this period Congress was divided politically as follows: In the campaign of 1828, political parties for the first time in the century asserted themselves, and took that form which was to continue through several contests. The candidates were chosen by common consent, the legislatures of the states having indorsed and expressed a choice. The Democrats named For President, Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee. For Vice-President, John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina. The National Republican candidates were- of Massachusetts. For Vice-President, Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania. The election occurred on November 4, 1828. |