Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1919 — CHOICE OF BUT TEN STATES. [ARTICLE]

CHOICE OF BUT TEN STATES.

New York state had no part in the election of the first president of the United States. For some years following the establishment of the federal government, the legislatures of most of the states chose the presidential electors, the people voting for them only indirectly, their choice being expressed by their votes for legislators. A deadlock between the senate and the assembly prevented the selection of electors from New York state. Rhode Island and North Carolina had not yet -Tattfled~tfre~~ Constitution, —su—Washington was elected the first time by the votes of only ten of the 13 states. New York city was the scene of the first inauguration, however. Washington took the oath on the portico of Federal hall, on the present site of the subtreasury, at Wall and Nassau streets, April 30, 1789. Immediately following this ceremony he retired within the building and delivered an address to congress, which met in Federal hall in those days. John Adams, the second president, also addressed congress-in person, but Jefferson broke the custom which President Wilson has revived. Jefferson stigmatized that form of address as monarchical and put his message in writing.— New York Sun.