2489. ELECTIONS (Presidential, 1800), A President pro te.—[further continued].
We do not see what is
to be the issue of the present difficulty. The
federalists, among whom those of the republican
section are not the strongest, propose to
prevent an election in Congress, and to transfer
the government by an act to the C. J.
(Jay) or Secretary of State, or to let it devolve
on the President
pro tem. of the Senate, till
next December, which gives them another
year's predominance, and the chances of future
events.—
To Tench Coxe. Washington ed. iv, 345.
Ford ed., vii, 475.
(W.
Dec. 1800)
