2481. ELECTIONS (Presidential, 1800), Parity of Vote.—[further continued].
Although we have not
official information of the votes for President,
and cannot have until the first week in February,
yet the state of the votes is given on such evidence,
as satisfies both parties that the two republican
candidates stand highest. From South
Carolina we have not even heard of the actual
vote; but we have learned who were appointed
electors, and with sufficient certainty how
they would vote. It is said they would
withdraw from yourself one vote. It has
also been said that a General Smith, of
Tennessee, had declared that he would give
his second vote to Mr. Gallatin, not from
any indisposition towards you, but extreme
reverence to the character of Mr. Gallatin.
It is also surmised that the vote of
Georgia will not be entire. Yet nobody pretends
to know these things of a certainty, and
we know enough to be certain that what it is
surmised will be withheld, will still leave you
four or five votes at least above Mr. Adams.
However, it was badly managed not to have
arranged with certainty what seems to have
been left to hazard. It was the more material,
because I understand several of the high-flying
federalists have expressed their hope that
the two republican tickets may be equal, and
their determination, in that case, to prevent a
choice by the House of Representatives (which
they are strong enough to do), and let the government
devolve on a President of the Senate.
Decency required that I should be so entirely
passive during the late contest that I never
once asked whether arrangements had been
made to prevent so many from dropping votes
intentionally, as might frustrate half the republican
wish; nor did I doubt, till lately, that
such had been made.—
To Aaron Burr. Washington ed. iv, 340.
Ford ed., vii, 466.
(W.
Dec. 1800)
