The choice was directed from Mr.Jefferson by a constitutional restriction on the power of the electors, which would necessarily deprive him of the vote to be given by Virginia.

It being necessary to designate some other opponent to Mr.Adams, George Clinton, the governor of New York, was selected for this purpose.
Throughout the war of the revolution, this gentleman had filled the office of chief magistrate of his native state; and, under circumstances of real difficulty, had discharged its duties with a courage, and an energy, which secured the esteem of the Commander-in-chief, and gave him a fair claim to the favour of his country.

Embracing afterwards with ardour the system of state supremacy, he had contributed greatly to the rejection of the resolutions for investing congress with the power of collecting an impost on imported goods, and had been conspicuous for his determined hostility to the constitution of the United States.

His sentiments respecting the measures of the government were known to concur with those of the minority in congress.
[Sidenote: George Washington again unanimously elected president.] Both parties seemed confident in their strength; and both made the utmost exertions to insure success.

On opening the ballots in the senate chamber, it appeared that the unanimous suffrage of his country had been once more conferred on General Washington, and that Mr.Adams had received a plurality of the votes.
The unceasing endeavours of the executive to terminate the Indian war by a treaty, had at length succeeded with the savages of the Wabash; and, through the intervention of the Six Nations, those of the Miamis had also been induced to consent to a conference to be held in the course of the ensuing spring.