Calhoun had been elected vice
president with little opposition. But no one of the presidential
candidates had obtained an electoral majority, and the task of
choosing among the highest three would, under the terms of the
Constitution, devolve upon the House of Representatives. When, by the
middle of December, the returns were all in, it was found that Jackson
would have 99 votes in the electoral college, Adams 84, Crawford 41,
and Clay 37.
The country awaited the 9th of February--the day of the official
count--with great interest. Clay was, of course, eliminated. Crawford
likewise, by reason of his poor showing and the precarious state of
his health, could not expect to do more than hold his own. The contest
had narrowed to Jackson and Adams, with Clay holding the balance.
There were twenty-four States in the Union; the successful candidate
must command the votes of thirteen.
The choice that Clay now had to make was distasteful, although not
really difficult. Jackson had obtained a substantial plurality of the
electoral votes; he probably had a plurality of the popular vote,
although in the six States in which the electors were chosen by the
Legislature the popular vote could not be computed; the Legislature of
Clay's own State called upon the Congressmen from the State to give
the Tenneseean its support.
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