“Gentlemen, I pray you to make acceptable to the House, the assurance of my profound gratitude for their confidence, and to accept yourselves my thanks for the friendly terms in which you have communicated to me their decision.”

The diffidence manifested by Mr. Adams in accepting the office of President, under the peculiar circumstances of his election, and his wish, if it were possible, to submit his claims again to the people, were unquestionably uttered with great sincerity of heart.  He was the choice of but a minority, as expressed in the electoral vote; and in accordance with his republican principles and feelings, he would have preferred another expression of public opinion.  But the constitution made no provision for such an arbitrament.  He must either serve or resign.  In the latter case, the Vice President would have discharged the duties of President during the term.  Mr. Adams had no alternative, therefore, but to accept the office, agreeably to the terms of the constitution.  Had either of his competitors been elected by the House of Representatives, they would have been, as he was, a minority President.  Notwithstanding Gen. Jackson received fifteen more electoral votes than Mr. Adams, yet it is believed that in the primary assemblies the latter obtained a greater number of the actual votes of the people than the former.

“Although Gen. Jackson had a plurality in the nominal returns from the electoral colleges, the question is, whether he had a plurality in the popular votes of the States.  In North Carolina, the Crawford men had a great plurality over either of the Jackson and Adams sections; but the two latter joining their forces, gave the electoral vote of the State, it being fifteen, to Gen. Jackson.  Deduct this from Gen. Jackson’s plurality—­as it should be, if the principle of plurality is to govern—­and it leaves him eighty-four, the same as the vote of Mr. Adams.  But Mr. Adams had a great plurality of the popular vote of New York, and on this principle should be credited the entire thirty-six votes of that State, whereas, he received only twenty-six.  This adjustment would carry Mr. Adams up to ninety-four, and leave Gen. Jackson with eighty-four.  Besides, the popular majorities for Mr. Adams in the six New England States were greatly in excess of the Jackson majorities in the eight States which gave their vote for him; which largely augments Mr. Adams’ aggregate plurality in the Union over Gen. Jackson’s.  Then deduct the constitutional allowance for the slave vote in the slave States, as given by their masters.  It will not be pretended that this is a popular vote, though constitutional.  Gen. Jackson obtained fifty-five electoral votes, more than half his entire vote, and Mr. Adams only six from slave States.  It will therefore be seen, that on the principle of a popular plurality, carried out, and carried through, (it ought not to stop for the advantage of one party,) Mr. Adams, in the election of 1824, was far ahead of Gen. Jackson.” [Footnote:  Colton’s Life and Times of Henry Clay.]