A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign by Larson Edward J

Author:Larson, Edward J. [Larson, Edward J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Free Press
Published: 2007-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

FOR GOD AND PARTY

SUMMER was a quiet season in the American political calendar during the early national period. Legislatures traditionally convened in the winter and spring, drawing public attention to political matters. Adding to the interest, some places held town meetings or local and state elections in the late winter or early spring. Politicians used this time to plot and posture with an eye toward the fall, when most elections occurred. When summer came, legislators went home, and other concerns took precedence over politics. Farmers would tend to their fields and flocks, the rich might move to their summer homes, and everyone would complain about the heat. Epidemic diseases, particularly cholera and malaria, became a threat in some urban areas. Life slowed, and only extreme partisans showed much concern about politics. Campaigns stalled and candidates struggled to get attention or simply took a break themselves.

Despite the heightened level of partisanship that marked the year, political issues lost traction during the summer of 1800 as well. Even Adams and Jefferson settled into something akin to their customary summer routines at home. With no critical elections scheduled for the summer, observers and participants had time to assess the state of play, which was so much in flux.

The spring elections in New York were touted as decisive before they occurred, and they might have been if Federalists had won them. For Jefferson to prevail in the final count, however, Republicans still needed at least a half-dozen more electoral votes from northern or middle states than New York’s twelve to supplement those expected to come their way from southern and western states, and even more to offset any votes for Adams or Pinckney from the Carolinas. Pennsylvania with its fifteen electoral votes could supply them all if Federalists in the State Senate either gave in to the will of the governor and the State Assembly or lost their slim majority after the October elections. Alternatively, if Federalists could keep Pennsylvania from voting or split the vote there, then a Federalist sweep in Maryland could supply the margin of victory for Adams or Pinckney. If these two contested middle states broke about evenly, New Jersey stayed in the Federalist column, as was expected, and North Carolina voters chose at least some Federalist electors in their district elections, as even many Republicans conceded, then South Carolina legislators would decide the presidency with the selection of their eight electors. No one could know what they would do until they did it.

As the overall debate quieted considerably with legislators and the candidates headed home for the summer, in its place issues of extraordinary concern to select groups of voters rose to the fore. One issue that gained particular attention was the supposed scandal regarding Jefferson’s religion.

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