The vice-prefident then declared, that in virtue of the conftitution, the candidate having the greatcft number of votes above an abfolute majority of the electors, was the perfon appointed to be prefident; and that the total number of electors being one hundred and thirty-nine, the candidate having seventy-one votes was in the prefent cafe duly elected. As the choice fell upon himself, and by his prefent office it became his duty to proclaim himself prefident, he betrayed evident figns of embarrassment; and did not recover from his agitation till after fome moments of filence; when he declared, that John Adams, having feventy-one votes, a number beyond an abfolute majority required by the conftitution, and no candidate having more votes, John Adams was elected and proclaimed prefident of the United States for four years-and that Thomas Jefferfon, having fixty-eight votes, and no other candidate having the fame number, was elected and proclaimed vice-prefident, for the fame term of four years. He concluded this concife proclamation, by befeeching the Almighty to favour and protect the objects of the election. The functions of the new prefident were not to commence till the 4th of March; and John Adams, in his quality of vice-prefident, continued to to be president of the fenate. Fifteen days afterwards, he requested that house to name a provifional president, that he might employ the interval in preparing for the functions of his high office. The fecretary of state, whofe duty it was to inform Mr. Jefferfon of his nomination to the office of vice-prefident, sent an express to him for that purpose, and at the fame time a duplicate of the dispatch by the regular poft. The precaution turned out to be neceffary; for the extraordinary meffenger fell fo fuddenly and extremely ill, at the distance of forty miles from Philadelphia, that he was not even able to declare the object of his dispatches; and it was by the post that Mr. Jefferfon received the account of his nomination. Mr. Jefferson proceeded to Philadelphia, and on the 4th of March the new members of the executive authority entered on their functions. The house of representatives, which by the conftitution was diffolved on the 3d of March of its fecond year, no longer exifted. The conftitution, in prefcribing to the new prefident the neceffity of taking the oath before he entered on the exercife of his functions, had not declared at what time, or in what manner, or before whom the oath was to be taken. John Adams followed the example of his predeceffor; he repaired to the the houfe of reprefentatives, preceded by the fheriffs, marshals, and other officers, and placed himself in the chair occupied by the fpeaker during the fittings of the house. Such members of the fenate as remained in the town, took their ordinary feats; the other feats were filled with fpectators, among whom were many ladies. Mr. Jefferson, the new vice-prefident, placed himself at the foot of the platform on the right, and the late fpeaker of the house of representatives on the left. In the front, and round a table, were four of the judges of the fupreme court of the United States, among whom was Mr. ELSWORTH, the chief juftice. The galleries and tribunes were crowded. The foreign minifters, although not formally invited, attended without ceremony, and, with many others, ftood behind the platform. The prefident, the fimplicity of whose drefs was not distinguished by any thing but a black cockade and a fword, pronounced a difcourse, in which he declared his political faith; after which, having defcended from the platform, he repeated, in a loud voice, the usual oath, after the chief-justice, and kissed the book of the evangelifts, and then returned to the platform. In a short time after, he retired, preceded by the officers who accompanied him on his entrance. Nothing Nothing can be more fimple than the ceremony of this installation; but this very fimplicity has fomething in it fo delightful, so noble, and fo nearly, refembling the grandeur of antiquity, that it commands our reverence, and feizes upon our worthiest affections. I fpeak at least of the effect it produced on my feelings. This change of the perfons exercifing the most awful functions of the state, with fo little pomp, but with fo great folemnity; and which places a man who, the evening before, was among the crowd of fimple citizens, at the head of the government, while he who held the firft office of the ftate the preceding evening, is returned again to the clafs of fimple citizens-is full of the qualities that constitute true greatness. The prefence of the late prefident, who mingled with the other spectators of this scene, added to its intereft, and compleated the greatness of its effect. Mr. Jefferson, having returned to the chamber of the fenate, took the oath, in prefence of the members and the fecretary; having first pronounced a short discourse, full of talent and wifdom, and which received the approbation of all who did not attend with a refolution to be diffatisfied with Mr. Jefferson's conduct. DFPART |