Page:The Iowa journal of history and politics, v. II.pdf/25

Rh accused the other of gerrymandering the districts. The Anti-Federalists were especially active in Virginia. Madison said that nine of the twelve electors and seven of the ten representatives were Federalists. He wrote that one Federalist elector was elected "by a coalition between the two parties in Spottsylvania;" and that this man's opponent received the unanimous vote of Amherst because of his previous declaration "on the subject of the president, which satisfied the Federal party." In these words we catch a glimpse of the political manœuvring that marked our first elections. The strength of the Anti-Federalists, who were led by Patrick Henry, came from the backwoods districts and from the great planters. Henry was chiefly instrumental in defeating Madison for the Senate, and in electing William Grayson and Richard Henry Lee, both Anti-Federalists. Madison was more successful as a candidate for representative against Monroe, whom he defeated by three hundred votes. Madison wrote many letters in his own behalf, left his seat in the Continental Congress—with reluctance, however,—made speeches in his district, and personally conducted his campaign. Leaving out Madison, Virginia's first congressional delegation was not a strong one. One of Virginia's representatives came from Kentucky, which at this time was a part of the mother State, and constituted one of her congressional districts.

Two Federalist electors in Virginia did not vote. For