After George Washington announced he would not seek a third term, political parties began to play a role in presidential elections. John Adams, who had been Washington’s vice president, was the favorite for the Federalist Party. He had supported Federalist ideas as a vice president and wanted to expand the power of the executive office. The Democrat-Republican Party candidate was Thomas Jefferson, who preferred maintaining ties to France. He believed that the Federalists relied too much on the British model of government and fought to protect individual liberties over a centralized growth in power. Not all Federalist thought that Adams was the best choice, however, and some supported Thomas Pickney. The following excerpts are comments made during the presidential election of 1796.
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Our excellent President, as you have seen, has declined a re-election. ‘T is all-important to our country that his successor shall be a safe man. But it is far less important who of many men that may be named shall be the person, than it shall not be Jefferson. We have every thing to fear if this man comes in, and from what I believe to be an accurate view of our political map I conclude [determine] that he has too good a chance of success, and that good calculation, prudence [carefulness], and exertion [action] were never more necessary to the Federal cause that at this critical juncture [point of decision]. . . . Well weighed, there can be no doubt that the exclusion of Mr. Jefferson is far more important than any difference between Mr. Adams and Mr. Pinkney.
—Alexander Hamilton, from a letter, November 8, 1796
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A division, not very unequal, had already taken place in the honest part of that body [Congress], between the parties styled Republican and Federal. The latter, being monarchists in principle, adhered [clung] to Hamilton of course, as their leader in that principle, . . . But Hamilton was not only a monarchist, but for a monarchy bottomed on corruption.
—Thomas Jefferson, from “The Hamiltonian System”
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The public & the papers have been much occupied lately in placing us in a point of contention [contest] to each other. I trust with confidence that less of it has been felt by ourselves personally. . . . I have no ambition to govern men. It is a painful and thankless office. Since the day too on which you signed the treaty of Paris our horizon was never so overcast. I devoutly wish you may be able to shun for us this war by which our agriculture, commerce & credit will be destroyed.
—Thomas Jefferson, from a letter to John Adams after the election, December 28, 1796
