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JOHN ADAMS FAVORED FOR VICE-PRESIDENT.

In a letter to Lafayette, he says:

"Your sentiments, indeed, coincide much more nearly with those of my other friends, than with my own feelings. In truth, my difficulties in crease and magnify, as I draw towards the period,

when, according to the common belief, it will be necessary for me to give a definitive answer in one way or other. Should circumstances render it in a manner inevitably necessary to be in the affirmative, be assured, my dear sir, I shall assume the task with the most unfeigned reluctance, and with a real diffidence, for which I shall prob

ably receive no credit from the world. If I know

my own heart, nothing short of a conviction of duty, will induce me again to take an active part in public affairs. And in that case, if I can form a plan for my own conduct, my endeavors shall be unremittingly exerted, (even at the hazard of former fame or present popularity,) to extricate my country from the embarrassments in which it is entangled through want of credit, and to establish a general system of policy, which, if pursued, will ensure permanent felicity to the commonwealth. I think I see a path as clear and as direct as a ray of light, which leads to the attainment of that object. Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry, and frugality, are necessary to make us a great and a happy people. Happily the present posture of affairs, and the prevailing disposition of my countrymen, promise

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nected for many years with the diplomatic service in Europe. Yet, he was somewhat out of sympathy with American democracy; was rather untactful, unable to put himself in another's place, and not especially resourceful. Indeed, he was charged even with being priggish, unsocial, aristocratic, of monarchial tendencies, and inclined to favor" the rich, the well-born, and the capable." * Nevertheless, his integrity and honesty of purpose were never questioned.

As already stated, the first Wednesday in January, 1789, had been fixed as the day on which the election of members of the first Federal Congress was to be held. That important day passed quietly, and before night electors had been chosen by all the ratifying States save New York,

to co-operate in establishing those four great and which, owing to a quarrel between the essential pillars of public felicity."

To avoid sectional jealousy, it was felt that a New England man should

It was

be chosen Vice-President. deemed unwise to put into high office those who had opposed the union, and this eliminated the noted Federalists, Hancock and Samuel Adams. Hence the choice fell upon John Adams. A sincere patriot and a strong Federalist, he had such an extensive training in world politics as would perfectly fit him for high office, having been con

*Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iv., 538. p. John Adams, Works, vol. i., p. 444; Stanwood, History of Presidential Elections, pp. 12-13.

Senate and Assembly, made no choice.† She, therefore, cast no vote for the first President, nor was she represented in the upper house of Congress during the first session of that body. Among the members of Congress then chosen were some of the ablest and best men of the country, among them Fisher Ames, James Madison, Jonathan Trumbull, Roger

Adams, Works, vol. iv., p. 290. See also Morse, John Adams, p. 241 et seq., and for counter opinion, pp. 251-252.

Stanwood, History of Presidential Elections,

p. 11.

McMaster, United States, vol. i., pp. 525–526. For the manner in which Patrick Henry, as Governor of Virginia, prevented the election of

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No. of electoral votes.

5

10

STATES.

G. Washington, Va.

John Adams, Mass.

S. Huntington, Conn.
John Jay, N. Y.
John Hancock, Mass.
R. H. Harrison, Md.
George Clinton, N. Y.
John Rutledge, S. C.
John Milton, Ga.
Jas. Armstrong, Ga.
Edward Telfair, Ga.

Benj. Lincoln, Mass.

30

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10 10
7 5 2

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New Hampshire.
Massachusetts.

7

Connecticut..

6

New Jersey

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* McMaster, vol. i., pp. 533-534; Bassett, The Federalist System, pp. 7–9. On the method pursued in the count of the votes, see Curtis, Constitutional History, vol. ii., p. 124 et seq.

On the first Wednesday in February the electors met in the various States and cast their ballots for the two highest officers of the country, in accordance with the provision of the Constitution. The new Congress was to have assembled on March 4, but bad roads, delays in elections, reprehensible want of punctuality, etc., prevented the opening of the session on that day, when only 8 of the 22 Senators and 13 of the 59 Representatives presented themselves.† Omitting Rhode Island and North Carolina, the number of Representatives in the first House was to be 59, 30 of whom would constitute a quorum. Appeals were sent to the numerous absentees, but not until the end of March were the required 30 members present. Only posed Legislation upon that Subject. With an April 1, therefore, did the House organize. Muhlenburg was chosen Speaker, but as nothing could be done until the Senate had a quorum, a week elapsed before the ballots for Presi

Madison to the Senate, see Wirt, Life of Patrick
Henry, p. 316; W. W. Henry, Life of Patrick
Henry, vol. iii., p. 425 et seq.; Hunt, Life of Mad-
ison, chap. xvii.

* Oberholtzer, Life of Morris, p. 229.

Johnson, in Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, vol. vii., p. 267.

The votes for President will be found in Benton, Abridgment of Debates, vol. i., p. 10; the American Almanac, 1860, p. 198; Lalor's Cyclopædia of Political Science, vol. ii., p. 53, vol. iii., p. 1001, and passim. See also Bancroft, vol. vi., pp. 467-469; Schouler, United States, vol. i., pp. 81-82, 532; The Presidential Counts: A Complete Official Record of the Proceedings of Congress at the Counting of the Electoral Votes in all the Elections of President and Vice-President of the United States; together with all Congressional Debates Incident Thereto, or to Pro

Analytical Introduction (New York, 1877); M. W. Cluskey, Political Text-Book; E. G. Tileston, Handbook of the Administrations of the United States (Boston, 1871); M. C. Spaulding, Handbook of Statistics of the United States (1789-), a Record of Administrations and Events (New York, 1874); E. W. Gilliam, Presidential Elections Historically Considered, in Magazine of American History, vol. xiv., p. 1897; Early Presidents, in ibid (February, 1884), and Unsuccessful Candidates for the Presidency, in ibid (Febru ary, 1884), and Unsuccessful Candidates for the Presidency, in ibid (November, 1884). See also the articles on Causus System and Nominating Conventions in Lalor, Cyclopædia of Political Science, the first, by F. W. Whitridge, being

WASHINGTON NOTIFIED OF HIS ELECTION.

Although Adams did not receive a majority of the whole, he was designated," after the choice of the President, the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors," and thus he became Vice-President.* Official announcement of the result was sent to Washington and Adams, and preparations were immediately begun for installing the new government. Some New York merchants contributed $32,500 so that Federal Hall might be in suitable order for the use to which it was to be put.t

Though Washington knew the result of the election, it was not until April 14 that the secretary of the Con

published separately, in Economic Tracts, no. viii.; G. W. Lawton, The American Caucus System, its Origin, Purpose and Utility (1884), in Questions of the Day; T. V. Cooper and H. T. Fenton, American Politics (Philadelphia, 1882); Orrin Skinner, Issues of American Politics (Philadelphia, 1873); Arthur Holmes, Parties and their Principles: A Manual of Historical and Political Intelligence (New York, 1859); Walter R. Houghton, History of American Politics, Embracing a History of the Federal Government and of Political Parties in the Colonies and United States from 1607 to 1882 (Indianapolis, 1883); Joseph Brucker, Chief Political Parties in the United States, Their History and Teachings (Milwaukee, 1880); Lewis O. Thompson, Presidents and their Administrations (Indianapolis, 1873); William C. Roberts, Leading Orators of Twenty-Five Campaigns, with a Concise History of Political Par ties (New York, 1884); S. M. Allen, Old and New Republican Parties, 1789-1880 (Boston, 1880); R. McK. Ormsby, History of the Whig Party (Boston, 1860). President Harrison, in This Country of Ours (1901) gives an account of the way a President transacts business with the Cabinet officers.

*For details of Hamilton's fight against Adams see McMaster, United States, vol. i., pp. 527-530. Lamb, City of New York, vol. ii., p. 329; McMaster, p. 532.

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tinental Congress, Charles Thomson, arrived with the official notification that he had been elected to the Presidency.* The delay was very acceptable to Washington, since sufficient time was allowed him in which to place his private affairs in comparatively good order before assuming the duties of his new office. In a letter to General Knox, he thus expresses himself:

"I feel for those members of the new Congress, who, hitherto, have given an unavailing attendance at the theatre of action. As for myself, the delay may be compared to a reprieve; for in confidence, I tell you, (with the world it would obtain little credit) that my movements to the chair of government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution; so unwilling am I in the evening of life, nearly consumed in public cares, to quit a peaceful abode for an ocean of difficulties, without that competency of .political skill, abilities, and inclination, which are necessary to manage the helm. I am sensible that I am embarking the voice of the people, and a good name of my own, on this voyage, but what returns will be made for them, Heaven alone can foretell. Integrity and firmness are all I can promise. These, be the voyage long or short, shall never forsake me, although I may be deserted by all men; for of the consolations which are to be derived from these, under any circumstances, the world cannot deprive me." †

Two days after receiving the notification, Washington set out for New York, an entry being made in his Diary that day as follows: "About ten o'clock, I bade adieu to Mount

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INAUGURATION OF WASHINGTON.

Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity; and, with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful sensations than I have words to express, set out for New York in company with Mr. Thomson and Colonel Humphreys, with the best disposition to render service to my country in obedience to its call, but with less hope of answering its expectations."*

The journey to New York was a triumphant procession, everywhere along the route the citizens showing their appreciation of his devotion to their interests. Addresses were pre

sented him by numerous towns, cities, and organizations; parades were held in his honor; and triumphal arches

were erected. At New Brunswick the

governor of New Jersey joined him, accompanying him to Elizabethtown Point, where he was received by a committee of Congress. On April 23 he embarked from the Point in an elegant barge of thirteen oars, manned by thirteen sailors in white uniforms,† and thence was conducted to New York Bay. The display seems, however, to have given Washington pain rather than pleasure, for in his Diary he makes the following remark:

"The display of boats, which attended and joined on this occasion, some with vocal, and others with instrumental music on board, the decorations of the ships, the roar of cannon, and the loud acclamations of the people, which rent the sky as I passed along the wharves, filled my mind with sensations as painful (contemplating

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the reverse of this scene, which may be the case after all my labors to do good) as they were pleasing.".

Upon landing at Murray's Wharf, he was saluted by the artillery and conducted to his residence at the corner of Cherry Street and Franklin Squaret by the governor of the State and a large body of officers, clergy, foreign ministers, and others. In the evening the whole city was brilliantly illuminated.‡

Congress had promised itself that when Washington took the oath of office there should be a ceremony fitting the occasion,|| April 30 being fixed upon as the day on which the inaugural should take place. Shortly after noon on that day the committee appointed by Congress waited upon Washington, and, after the procession had been formed, the march to Federal Hall was begun. Upon his arrival there, Washington went to the Senate Chamber and thence passed to the balcony in front, where the oath of office was administered by Chancellor Livingston. Turning to the people in the street, the Chancellor said:

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Long live George Washington, President of the United States!"§

*Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iv., p. 546. Mr. Boudinot, in a letter quoted in The Republican Court, pp. 130-134, gives a very interesting and full account of the animated scene exhibited on this occasion in the Bay of New York.

+ Schouler, United States, vol. i., p. 85. Lamb, City of New York, vol. ii., p. 334; McMaster, vol. i., p. 539.

For the various proceedings in Congress respecting the inaugural, see Richardson, Messages and Papers, vol. i., p. 47 et seq.

§ Benton, Abridgment of Debates, vol. i., p. 12.

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