2480. ELECTIONS (Presidential, 1800), Parity of Vote.—[continued].
We are brought into
dilemma by the probable equality of the two Republican
candidates. The federalists in Congress
mean to take advantage of this, either to prevent
an election altogether, or reverse what has been
understood to have been the wishes of the
people as to the President and Vice-President;
wishes which the Constitution did not permit
them specially to designate. The latter alternative
still gives us a Republican administration.
The former, a suspension of the Federal
Government, for want of a head. This opens to
us an abyss, at which every sincere patriot
must shudder.—
To John Breckenridge. Washington ed. iv, 342.
Ford ed., vii, 469.
(W.
Dec. 1800)
