The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-13
The Future.

yention that met in November, was the follow.
ing
Resolved, That we earnestly recommend TO all
parties in the slayehodng States, to refuse TO
go into, or eountenance tiny National Conven-
ton, whose object may be to nominate eandi-
dates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency OF
the United States, under any party demonstra-
ton whatever, until our constitutional rights are
secured.
In this resolution we cordially concur. 1t is
founded on reasons that must compel convic'
ton in the minds OF all who are faithful to
Southern rights. If national conventions OF
both parties of both sections are held, they must
result in the complete subsection OF both par
ties in the South, to the WILL the policy and the
interests of the North. For such conventions
must be held in the spring of 1852, and the re-
presentation must be according to the apportioiI-
ment under the census of 1850. So that even
if the two.third rule were TO prevail, the North
would have almost, if not quite, the number OF
delegates requisite to decide.
The policy of nominating candidates for the
Presidency of National Convention was origi-
mated Uy Mr. VAN buren,. 1t was adopted first
in 1882, soon after he acquired an ascendancy
in the councils Of General JACKSON, and In that
wear it was used to set aside WILLIAM c. RlvEs,
and TO nominate R. Nj. JOHNSON, for the Vice
Presidency. The nomination OF General JACK.
SON at that time for the Presidency, Was mere
Formally, as his personal popularity rendered
him independent Of any mode Of nomination.
But Mr. VAN buren, did not desire to see MIR.
RIygs r any other man nominated as Vice Pre-
sident who would be Il formidable competitor
for the Presidency; as at that time the policy
was, to change the usage which had before pre-
vailed of making Presidents of Secretaries OF
State, who were appointed and thus nominated
by Presidents, to the policy of indicating by the
Vice Presidential nomination, the successor for
the Presidency. At that time Dir. VAN buren,
was just emerging from great appropriately. lie
was called the "Arch magician" and had made
himself odious by his influence in the rejection,
by the famous seventeen senators OF New \ ork,
of the law to give in that State the election OF
Presidential electors to the people, instead of its
retention by the Legislature.
Mr. VAN lIuREN was not then popular enough
to be nominated as Vicc-President, and thus III
dicated rs the successor of General JACKSON He
was afraid to let Mr. RIvEs take that position,
and therefore, used his influence in getting Col
JOHNSON nominated, as one not so likely to stand
in his own way to the Presidency.
Mr. VAN buren,, also, had deeper interest
in the National Convention system. He was q
Northern man. But majority of the Demo
cratic party was in the South. If the previous
mode of nominating continued, that by con-
grcssional Democratic caucus, the majority OF
such a caucus being Sou hern, would incliae to
the nomination Of Southern man, as they had
done before. Dir. VAN BUkEN therefore, wanted
the policy adopted Of nominating by National
Convention, because the North had ma oritl
Of the electoral districts, and would have ma
inrity in such observation-disclosures the Sout
had Il majority Of the Democratic or Republican
party. Bv the National Convention system
Vermont which contained but few Democrats
and never gave majority for the Democratic
candidate, had then about the same vote az Mis-
si>sippi or Alabama, which gave almost invara,
bly, their support to that party. The scheme OF
National Convention was, therefore, q cunning
device of Mr.. VAN buren,, to give minority OF
Democrats, and they from the North, the nomi-
nation of the Presidential candidate for thai
party. The scheme succeeded. And Mr.. VAN
BUREx succeeded by it, in obtaining tie nomina.
8, ,j,o d.. in,
ton in 1910. But in 1914, the Southern Demo
Gratis seeing that this policy would result in Civ
ing the North the contro. of the Federal Execu
tive, insisted on the two-thirds rule, and thus
secured to the South, some share in controlling
the nomination. This rule resulted in the de-
feIt of Mr. VAN buren,, and the nomination Of
Mr. Polk, the latter being done at the instance
of Mr. VAN BUREN's friends, when his case be
came desperate AS he could not get the re
Quisite vote, they selected one who could, ano
WHO WAS yet known to be personally favorabl,
to them.
The old practice Of nominating by a congress
sional caucus of the republican members, was
vicious. There was no necessity for romina
ton at all by any body of public functionaries
And nomination by members of the Contra
Government had tendency to imp ir the Fed
erative, and to augment the consolidating ten
deuces Of the system. There was no adcquat,
excuse either, for resorting to any extraordinary
cxpedients to secure an election by districts
rather than by States. For it had been a com
nronisn made after serious dissension in tn,
Convention Of 1889 between the advocates of
Feder.tive and of National system, that thu
election of President, if not made on the frs
trial by districts, should be made by the States
each having an equal vote One mode there
fore was rs constitutional rs another-and tn,
latter preferable to The former in the eyes of al
who prefer the Federative to the National ten
dcncy of the system. But the Congressional
Caucus system nevertheless was preferable t.
the National Convention system, for this inevi
A. IL "a, 80 l,,t- -,