2488. ELECTIONS (Presidential, 1800), A President pro te.—[continued].
The prospect of preventing
[the Senate from naming a President pro
tem.] is as follows: Georgia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Vermont, Pennsylvania,
and New York can be counted on for their
vote in the House of Representatives, and it
is thought by some that Baer of Maryland, and
Linn, of New Jersey, will come over. Some
even count on Morris, of Vermont. But you
must know the uncertainty of such a dependence
under the operation of caucuses and other
federal engines. The month of February,
therefore, will present us storms of a new
character. Should they have a particular issue,
I hope you will be here a day or two, at
least, before the 4th of March. I know that
your appearance on the scene before the departure
of Congress, would assuage the minority,
and inspire in the majority confidence
and joy unbounded, which they would spread
far and wide on their journey home. Let me
beseech you, then, to come with a view of staying
perhaps a couple of weeks, within which
time things might be put into such a train, as
would permit us both to go home for a short
time, for removal.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. iv, 343.
Ford ed., vii, 470.
(W.
Dec. 1800)
