Vice-President Adams received five votes; Clinton, three; Jay, one; and Hancock, one. Clinton's votes came from the three Anti-Federalist electors. The votes for Jay and Hancock were probably thrown away from fear that Adams would defeat Washington. Madison thought Virginia took little interest in the election of the Vice-President.
Massachusetts, November 20, provided for a popular election of representatives, and, with some restrictions, of all the electors, except the two at large.[1] Such provision was not made without disclosing a difference of opinion in the General Court. Most, if not all, the Anti-Federalist members together with a fraction of the Federalists favored a choice of electors by the people, and of representatives, not by districts, but at large. Another faction of the Federalists wished the electors be chosen by the legislature and the representatives by districts.
According to the statute of November 20, the State was divided into eight congressional districts. The electorate of each district voted for a representative and also for two candidates for elector. From the two electors that received the most votes the General Court selected one. The General Court also chose the two electors at large. The law required a majority to elect a representative, and in case no one received so many votes, the Governor was authorized to order another election, choice now being made between the two highest. This method caused much delay in several districts, especially the western ones, where the embers of Shays' rebellion were still alive, and party feeling consequently ran high. Only four districts elected a representa-
- ↑ Laws and Resolves of Massachusetts, 1788-9, 258.
