From this letter of Mr.Gallatin, then the last surviving witness of the election, only one conclusion can be drawn: that the Republicans would have preferred violent resistance to temporary submission, even though the officer exercising executive powers was appointed in accordance with law.

Fortunately for the young country there was enough good sense and patriotism in the ranks of the Federalists to avert the danger.
On the suggestion of Mr.Bayard it was agreed by a committee of sixteen members, one from each State, that if it should appear that the two persons highest on the list, Jefferson and Burr, had an equal number of votes, the House should immediately proceed in their own chamber to choose the president by ballot, and should not adjourn until an election should have been made.

On the first ballot there was a tie between Jefferson and Burr; the deadlock continued until February 17, when the Federalists abandoned the contest, and Mr.Jefferson received the requisite number of votes.

Burr, having the second number, became vice-president.
Mr.Gallatin's third congressional term closed with this Congress.

In his first term he asserted his power and took his place in the councils of the party.