The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-28
From the Cincinnati Sun.

THEY WILL DO IT."
From the Cincinnati SUM-
The REJECTED CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT.
Not every one has been elected President, who
has been thought fit for it, by considerable
number, if not the majority of the intelligent
people of the country. There has come to be a
wide distinction between fitness and available
ty Nor is this altogether recent thing. At
all times, except in the case of Washington,
(who was both fit and avaabe) there has been
more regard paid to the arrangements of parties,
and the popularity of the day, than to what was
the real standing of the individual before the
nation in experience, qualifications, moral and
political worth. Mr.. Monroe, for example, was
elected with less opposition, than any man since
the day OF Washington. And, yet it would be
IN absurdity to suppose that the intelligent peo-
pie Of this county thought him superior to
Dewitt Clinton, or Adams. They did no such
thing. Mr. Monroe was an inoffensve man
and by the arrangement of caucus.es, the last
Legitimate heir of the Virginia dynasty He had
to serve out his time, and the war of parties,
since furously carried on, was the legacy left
by his administration to the country
But there have been many persons actually
voted for who were never elected, and who, in
the opinion OF tens Of thousands of persons
were thought fl for the Presidency and when
as was the case, the persons 40 thinking were
among the most intelligent and respectable in
the country, that vote is a high honor. We have
only to look over the short roll of Presidential
contests, to see that success has not always
been the greatest honor. nor defeat always a
disgrace. Let US see, ,oho have been voted for
as President, and look over the roll of the re.
jected. In 1889 and.l793 there was no oppo-
sition to Washington. In 1897, John Adams
and Thomas Jefferson were the opposing can.
didates, and Adams elected. In 1901 Jefferson
and Adams were again opponents and Jefferson
elected. At this election all persons were voted
for as President, and no one as Vice President:
the highest to be President, and the next high
est to be Vice President. Aaron Burr, who was
Intended as Vice President, had an equal num-
Der of votes with Jefferson, and Il part of the
House of Representatives endeavored to make
him President. The scheme failed and he be-
came Vice President. Barr was never voted
for with the idea of making him President. He
is not on the list ofthose whom the people have
thought fit for President
In 1906, Jefferson and Charles Cotesworth
Pinckney, of South Carolina, were voted for
the latter receiving but ii electoral votes
In 1909, James Madison, Charles Cotesworth
Pinckney and George Clinton, of New York,
were voted for as President. Pnckney receiv-
ing but AT votes, and Clinton g.
In 1912, James Madison and Dewitt Clinton
were voted for-Cinton receiving 80 electoral
votes.
In 1916, James Monroe received 1873 votes
and Rufus King "a.
In 1920, John Quincy Adams received the
only vote in opposition to Mr.. Monroe.
In 1924, John Quincy Adams was elected
Jackson, Crawford, and Clay being his oppon-
ents.
In 1928, Jackson was lected-Adams being
his opponent.
In 1882, Jackson elected--Clay, John Floyd
of Virginia, and William Wit, of Maryland, be-
ing his opponents.
In 1886, Van Buren, was elected Gen. Harri-
son, Judge White, Daniel Webster and Willie
p. Mangum being his opponents. In 1910, it
was Harrison and Van Buren,. In 1914, Clay
and Polk. In lS4S, Cass and Taylor. We
must recolect, however, that in 1924, and since
Mr.. Calhoun has been ardently held up for the
Presidency and so has Judge Mclean.
Let US now look at the list of the rejected.
These are Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and
John c. Calhoun, of South Carolina George
Clinton, Dewitt Clinton and Rufus King, of N.
IoIh VHllatu II. CTaWioTu OF georgia I1e0-
ry Clay, Of Kentucky; John FLOYD, of Virginia
William Writ of Maryland Hugh White, of
Tennessee; Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts
Willie p. Mangum, of North Carolina; Lewis
Cass, of Michigan and John Mclean, of Ohio.
Now, we think, no one who reads the roll of
the Presidents, and then reads the roll of the re
jecsed, will think the Presidency has been the
prize of genius, Of greatness, or even of worth.
No one will suppose, that in the volume ofhis-
tory, such men as Monroe, Van Buren, and Polk,
will outshine such illustrious names, as Dewitt
Clinton, Rufus King, William H.. Crawford, or
Henry Clay! No. The Presidency has been
given for service rendered, undoubtedly, but not
always service of the highest or the best kind.
Among the rejected candidates have been Dem
acrats, Federasts, Wings, and we speak Impair
TALLY, when we say, that there are few brighter
names in our country, than those, which may be
called, from the rejected candidates for the Pres
idency; and, when hereafter others rejected are
added to the list, they will have the distinction
of being associated with men whose statues will
be called for when Presidents are forgotten.