Democratic Rule,   mi-mi.           159
 

CHAPTEE XIL

THE BEGINNING OF DEMOCRATIC RULE.   1801-1821.

In the electoral college, Jefferson and Burr, the Demo-
cratic-Eepublican candidates for President and Vice-
President, had a tie vote under the curious system then
prevailing, and this left the House of Eepresentatives to
decide which should be given the Presidency. The
Federalists, as a whole, from hatred to Jefferson, sup¬
ported Burr; but Hamilton, to his honour, opposed this
move with all his might, and from thenceforth was
regarded by Burr with peculiar and sinister hostility.
Jefferson was finally chosen.

In the spring of 1801 the Democrats also elected the
veteran George Clinton as governor, De Witt Clinton
being at the same time made one of the Council of
Appointment. They then for the first time had complete
and unchecked control of the entire governmental system
of the nation and State, and therefore of the city.

From that day to this the Democratic party has been
the dominant party in New York City. Occasionally,
in some period of violent political upheaval, or at a mo¬
ment when the ever-existing faction-fight in its own
ranks has been more than usually bitter and exhausting,
its opponents for the time being, whether Federalists,
Whigs, Eepublicans, or members of ephemeral organ¬
izations, like that of the Native Americans, have suc¬
ceeded in carrying a given election.    But their triumph