=The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.=—­Jefferson was quick to take advantage of the discontent.  He drafted a set of resolutions declaring the Sedition law null and void, as violating the federal Constitution.  His resolutions were passed by the Kentucky legislature late in 1798, signed by the governor, and transmitted to the other states for their consideration.  Though receiving unfavorable replies from a number of Northern states, Kentucky the following year reaffirmed its position and declared that the nullification of all unconstitutional acts of Congress was the rightful remedy to be used by the states in the redress of grievances.  It thus defied the federal government and announced a doctrine hostile to nationality and fraught with terrible meaning for the future.  In the neighboring state of Virginia, Madison led a movement against the Alien and Sedition laws.  He induced the legislature to pass resolutions condemning the acts as unconstitutional and calling upon the other states to take proper means to preserve their rights and the rights of the people.

=The Republican Triumph in 1800.=—­Thus the way was prepared for the election of 1800.  The Republicans left no stone unturned in their efforts to place on the Federalist candidate, President Adams, all the odium of the Alien and Sedition laws, in addition to responsibility for approving Hamilton’s measures and policies.  The Federalists, divided in councils and cold in their affection for Adams, made a poor campaign.  They tried to discredit their opponents with epithets of “Jacobins” and “Anarchists”—­terms which had been weakened by excessive use.  When the vote was counted, it was found that Adams had been defeated; while the Republicans had carried the entire South and New York also and secured eight of the fifteen electoral votes cast by Pennsylvania.  “Our beloved Adams will now close his bright career,” lamented a Federalist newspaper.  “Sons of faction, demagogues and high priests of anarchy, now you have cause to triumph!”

[Illustration:  An old cartoon

A QUARREL BETWEEN A FEDERALIST AND A REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES]

Jefferson’s election, however, was still uncertain.  By a curious provision in the Constitution, presidential electors were required to vote for two persons without indicating which office each was to fill, the one receiving the highest number of votes to be President and the candidate standing next to be Vice President.  It so happened that Aaron Burr, the Republican candidate for Vice President, had received the same number of votes as Jefferson; as neither had a majority the election was thrown into the House of Representatives, where the Federalists held the balance of power.  Although it was well known that Burr was not even a candidate for President, his friends and many Federalists began intriguing for his election to that high office.  Had it not been for the vigorous action of Hamilton the prize might have been snatched out of Jefferson’s hands.  Not until the thirty-sixth ballot on February 17, 1801, was the great issue decided in his favor.[2]