Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/202

170 ment on affairs of state very much in the style of the by standers at a game of chess. They point out moves which might be made, congratulating themselves on the brilliancy of their own combinations, but forgetting that these combinations are not subjected to the test of an adverse player.

It is, also, a modern fashion to underestimate the intelligence of the American people in the early part of the nineteenth century, and to represent them as inferior to the people of Europe, or to the Americans of the present day. This is a serious mistake. There has never been a period of history when any people evinced greater native sagacity. This is especially true of the Western people. Their strong common sense made them competent judges of their own affairs. They comprehended the wisdom of their leaders, and by judicious support enabled them to carry their measures to successful conclusion. Their contemporaneous verdict is a vindication of the policy pursued, which carries a weight more convincing than theoretical criticism. They were voting for the protection of their best interests, and they were in earnest. The verdict is given in the electoral vote of 1808, according to the following table, one elector not voting:

STATES.

PRESIDENT.

VICE-PRESIDENT.

James Madison.

George Clinton.

C. C. Pinckney.

George Clinton.

James Madison.

James Monroe.

John Langdon.

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Connecticut

Vermont.

New York

New Jersey

Pennsylvania