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lights of religion and knowledge: Now, therefore, I have judged it my incumbent duty to recommend to the good people of this State, the observance of Wednesday, the 12th day of December next, as a day of prayer and thanksgiving: and I do so in the earnest hope, and in the confident expectation, that all, except such as may be withheld by scruples of conscience, will on that day assemble in their respective places of worship, and present the sublíme spectacle of a whole people offering the homage of devout and grateful hearts to that Great and Good Being from whose bounty we derive all that we enjoy.

"In witness whereof," &c.

Both here and at Saratoga springs, doors are very generally left unlocked during the night. Shutters to the windows are not common. Clothes are left out to bleach during the night on the uninclosed greens in the villages. On my wife applying for a washerwoman two or three days ago to wash some clothes, our landlady said that they should be washed in the house, and that she would get in a lady to assist. The lady, when she appeared, turned out to be a lady of colour. It will not at all do here to talk of the lower classes; "Send for that fellow :-order such a woman to come here." Language of that kind will not be tolerated by any part of the community in this country. The feeling of self-respect exists here almost universally.

Soap and candles are very generally manufactured at home. Wax candles are much used even in ordinary

boarding-houses, and said to be almost as cheap; much use is made in washing of water run off wood ashes. When tallow candles are not made at home, it is usual to exchange the wood ashes, and the fat offals from meat used in the family, for soap and candles, with the manufacturer for sale.

GENERAL ELECTION.

231

CHAPTER XI.

General Election for the State of New York-Contest between John Quincy Adams and General Jackson for the Presidency-Explanation of particulars-Twenty-four States, among which Representatives and direct Taxes are apportioned according to their numbersCongress President and Vice-President of the United States Powers of President and of Congress-Separate government of each of the twenty-four States-Union of the States limited to distinct objects-In other respects, the twenty-four states are separate republics -Elections generally by Ballot-Senate of the State of New YorkHouse of Assembly-Right to vote--Division of State of New York into Counties, with Sheriff, Coroner, &c.-Division of Counties into Townships, and of these into subdivisions—Each township an election district-Public Notices of the Elections-Election at Ballston Spa, 5th November 1828-Votes taken by Inspectors-Objections to Voters instantly determined-Quietness of the Election day-Canvassers afterwards make up Returns-Number of Votes given for President-Election completed in three days-Dr Dwight's description of an Election Opinions of Chancellor Kent-Joseph Gerald and James Flint-Act against Bribery in Elections-Caucus, or preparatory Meetings-Specimen of proceedings at such Meetings-Issue of Elections announced by County Canvassers in Newspapers-Excitement at Elections soon subsides.

5th November 1828.

I HAD been at Ballston Spa but a very few days, when a meeting for election, one of the most important that has ever occurred in this country, was held.

This being the last of the four years of the presidency of Mr John Quincy Adams, and he and General Jackson being candidates for the chair for the four years commencing in the month of March next, the people had to give their votes by ballot, the method of voting now almost universal in the large states, for electors of a president and vice-president of the United States. They had also at the same time to give their votes for the governor and lieutenant-governor of the State of New York; for a senator, and representative to the Congress of the United States; for three members of Assembly of the State of New York; for a sheriff; for four coroners, and for the county clerk.

Some short general explanation may be necessary to make the particulars of this election understood.

The North American Confederacy is now composed of twenty-four states; among which, representatives and direct taxes are apportioned according to their numbers, of which, therefore, a census is taken at the end of every term of ten years. Each state, whatever its population may be, has at least one representative in the House of Representatives; and is not entitled to have more than one for every 30,000 inhabitants. The number of representatives was at first between sixty and seventy ;—it now exceeds 200. Each state, whatever its population may be, sends two senators, and no more, to the Senate of the United States. The Senate of the United States, therefore, at present consists of forty-eight senators.

The representatives are elected for two, and the senators for six years.

PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.

233

The House of Representatives and the Senate are styled the Congress of the United States.

The mode of election of representatives and senators to Congress is regulated by the legislatures of the respective states.

The president and vice-president of the United States are elected for four years by delegates,-neither representatives nor senators, appointed by the people of the respective states, according to forms, which, although an attempt has already been made to amend them, have been found troublesome in practice, and will therefore probably be altered.

The powers of the president and of Congress relate to peace and war, the support of the army and navy, the militia, the imposition of taxes for the expence of the general government, contracts for public loans, coining money, regulation of commerce, the post-office establishment, the punishment of piracy, and offences against the law of nations, and the establishment of the necessary tribunals for the adjudication of all cases touching the general constitution, arising between the states themselves, and between citizens of the states and foreign states; but under the express declaration, that all other powers are reserved to the states respectively; and most especially, that Congress shall make no law respecting a religious establishment; and that in all the states a prisoner shall, in criminal trials, have the assistance of counsel for his defence, and that the right of trial by jury in all cases exceeding twenty dollars shall be preserved.

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