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judgement of an enlightened public body, it has smoothed all the obstacles[1] which are not inherent in the elective system.
In the forty-four years which have elapsed since the promulgation of the Federal Constitution, the United States have twelve times chosen a President. Ten of these elections took place simultaneously by the votes of the special electors in the different States. The House of Representatives has only twice exercised its conditional privilege of deciding in cases of uncertainty: the first time was at the election of Mr. Jefferson in 1801; the second was in 1825, when Mr. Quincy Adams was named.
CRISIS OF THE ELECTION.
The Election may be considered as a national crisis.—Why?—Passions of the people.—Anxiety of the President.—Calm which succeeds the agitation of the election.
I have shown what the circumstances are which favoured the adoption of the elective system in the United States, and what precautions were taken by the legislators to obviate its dangers. The Americans are habitually accustomed to all kinds of elections; and they know by experience the utmost degree of excitement which is compatible with se-
- ↑ Jefferson, in 1801, was not elected until the 36th time of balloting.
