The Providence Journal, And Town And Country Advertiser

From the New-England Palladium.

QUID PRO QUO.

Upon the first ballot of the House of Representatives for a President, that suffrages of six States were in favour of Mr. Burr, three more votes would have made him President; those of Mr. Lynn, of New-Jersey ; Mr. Dent, of Maryland; Mr. Claiborne: of Tennessee, would have elected Mr. Burr President of the United States ; and it was at one time confidently expected that he would be elected. Mr. Dent's constituents were deeply interested in the election of Col. Burr ; many of them assured him of this fact. and to their entreaties that he would support Mr. Burr, added a threat, that should he vote for Mr. Jefferson, they would not re-elect him to Congress A majority of Mr. Lynn's constituents, with all his immediate friends. deprecated the election of Mr. Jefferson, and multitudes of letters were written to Mr. Lynn to. that effect. Mr. Claiborne knew that all the federalists. of his State were friendly to the election of Mr. Burr, and many of the anti-federalists hostile to the project of the Virginia faction, which was either to have Mr. Jefferson President, or not to have any President. The position of Messrs. Lynn, Claiborne, and Dent, made it probable they would either vote for Mr.Burr the first ballot or finding the first was not a conclusive vote. and also finding that the Virginians could not be indulged in their preference, would then unite with the supporters of Mr. Burr Lynn, Claiborne and Dent disappointed these and by adhering to their original votes, and adopting the Virginian motto, "Jefferson or no President," they obliged the federalists. whose sacred regard for the constitution would make them prefer having any man President, rather than hazard the loss of our national government, by not having a President, to suffer Mr. Jefferson to be chosen.

Such on this important occasion was the conduct of the disinterested and public spirited Dent, Lynn and Claiborne. What has since been the conduct of the grateful Mr. Jefferson ? He has appointed Claiborne a Governor, Lynn a Supervisor, and Dent a Marshal. To enable him to settle his account with Mr. Claiborne, he turned out of office Governor Sargeant, of the Mississippi Territory, an old war-worn soldier, who went through the whole of our revolutionary struggle, who was honoured with the confidence and friendship of the great Washington, and who is highly respected by all who know him. To reward Mr. Lynn, the President (in defiance of his fine flourishes about "equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever political persuasion") turned out of office the Supervisor of New- Jersey. He is a most deserving man, and a most excellent officer; but our good President had strong reasons for dismissing him; he had been a supporter of the Washington administration, and the Washington policy ; and he.held an office which quite fitted Mr. Lynn, and Mr. Lynn had been promised an office, and Mr. Lynn wanted this office, and although great men in Virginia are not obliged to pay their debts. yet they always pay their debts of honour, and Mr. Jefferson regarded his debt to Mr. Lynn as a debt of honour. and Mr. Lynn regards Mr. Jefferson as a most honourable and a right honourable man.