While the Presidential election was taking place in the House of Representatives， amid① scenes of great excitement， strife and intrigue②， which was to decide whether Jefferson or Burr should be the chief magistrate of the nation. Jefferson was stopped one day， as he was coming out of the Senate chamber， by Governor Morris， a prominent leader of the Federalists.
Mr. Morris said， “I wish to have an earnest talk with you， Mr. Jefferson， on the alarming situation of things.”
“I am very glad，” said Jefferson， “to talk matters over with you.”
“As you well know，” said Mr. Morris， “I have been strenuously③ opposing you， as have also the large majority of the States.”
“To be frank with you，” he continued， “we are very much afraid of you. We fear， first， that you will turn all the Federalists out of office； second， that you will put down the navy； third， that you will wipe off the public debt. Now， if you will declare， or authorize④ your friends to declare that you will not take these steps， your election will be made sure.”
Mr. Jefferson replied， “Governor Morris， I naturally want to be President， and yet I cannot make any terms to obtain the position. I shall never go into the office by capitulation. I cannot have my hands tied by any conditions， which would hinder me from pursuing the measures， which I deem best for the public good. I must be perfectly free. The world can judge my future course by that which I have hitherto⑤ followed. I am thankful to you for your interest， but I cannot make the slightest promise.”
① amidprep. 在……之间，在……之中
② intriguen. 阴谋，诡计
③ strenuouslyadv. 奋发地，费力地
④ authorizev. 授权，批准，允许
⑤ hithertoadv. 迄今，至此
不为当选总统而做任何承诺
当总统选举正在众议院进行，在决定到底应该是由杰斐逊还是博尔来做国家总统时，其中充斥着一幕幕异常激烈而又充满斗争和阴谋的戏剧。一天，正当杰斐逊走出参议院的时候，他被莫里斯州长，一个卓越的北部联邦同盟盟员的领导人拦住了。
莫里斯先生说：“杰斐逊先生，我想就这一令人担忧的形势和你进行一次诚恳的交谈。”
“我非常愿意和你讨论这些问题。”杰斐逊说道。
“正像你所熟知的那样，”莫里斯先生说，“我一直都在坚决反对你，就好像美国的绝大多数人那样。我们都很怕你。我们担心，第一，你会把所有的联邦主义者赶出政府；第二，你会削减海军；第三，你会了结公债。现在，如果你宣布，或者授权你的朋友们宣布你将不采取这些措施，那么你的选举就会得到保证。”
杰斐逊先生回答道：“莫里斯州长，我自然想当总统，然而我不能为获得这一职位而达成任何协议。我将永远也不会通过投降而就职的。我的双手不能被任何将妨碍我追求那些我认为对公众利益最有利的措施的情况所束缚。我必须完全自由。世界可以判断迄今为止我一直在遵循的未来的路线。我感谢你对此的兴趣，但我不能做丝毫的承诺。”