Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-04-05
Communicated
Origin OF the Two-thirds Rule.

MEssRs. EDITORS In the New York Herald Of
the 3D. instant the editor, in speaking Of the
resolution of the Virginia Democratic convention
in favor of continuing in force the two-thirds
rule at the Baltimore National Convention, re-
marks: sThe two-thrds rule will operate to Sc
| cure candidate acceptable to the South, as in
the case of Polk, in 1914, against Van Buren,,
,Ohea the rule pqs first adopted as the only way of
defeating the Little Magician" There is very
general error prevailing in regard to the origin
of this two-thirds rule. 1t is generally believed
as is there stated that "Me rule acas first adopt
ed" in 1874 for the express purpose of defeating
Mr.. Van Buren's nomination. 1t is due to that
Baltimore Convention, and to the Democratic
party, that that erroneous impression should be
corrected for am very sure that the Baltimore
Convention would not have done such injustice
as to adopt the two-thrds rule for the first time
for the express purpose of defeating Mr.. Van
Buren's nomination. But if the rule was known
to have been adopted by the preceding Demo
cratic National Conventions, then there was no
injustice in adopting it in the National Conven-
ton of 1874. proceed now to give the origin
and history of the two-thirds rule, having been
familiar with it from the commencement of it to
the present time.
The candidates for President and Vice Pres-
dent of the Democratic party were formerly nom
mated by Congressional caucus of Democratic
members These Congressional caucuses having
become unpopular, a Democratic National Con-
vention for the nomination of President and Vice
President assembled, for The first time, at Balti-
more, in May, 1882. 1t was after Mr.. Van Bu-
ren's rejection as Minister to England by the
Senate of the United States. There was strong
feeling with the Democratic party in New York
in favor of his nomination Vice President, with
General Jackson for President. 1t was also un-
derstood that General Jackson was favorable to
Mr.. Van Buren's nomination, which gave him
great strength with the party throughout the
Union. The delegation from New York was COM
posed of the Hon. Silas Wright and other lead
ing and prominent men of the party The Ma
tional Convention assembled. On casting about,
it was soon asccrtaned that General Jackson was
the unanimous choice for President, and that
there was but little opposition to Mr.. Van Buren,
for Vice President. In this state of things, and
with the full knowledge that Mr.. Van Buren,
could command much more than two-thirds of
the votes Of the convention, Mr.. Wright sug-
gested to his colleagues that a proposition
should be made to the convention that it
should require two-thirds to make nomination
for President and Vice President. This was done
by way of showing the liberality and magma
nimity of Mr.. Van Buren's friends-namely, that
they did not wish him nominated unless he could
demonstrate, by thirds vote, the strong hold
he had upon the feelings and confidence of the
party. The two-thirds rule was accordingly
adopted on the suggestion of the Hon. Silas
Wright, with the appreciation of his colleagues,
all being prominent friends of Mr. Van Buren,,
and Mr.. Wright considered as standing at the
head of the delegation. General jackson was
unanimously nominated for President, and Mr..
Van Buren,, with much unanmity, for Vice Presi-
dent
In 1886 the Baltimore Convention again as
sembled. The thirds rule was again adopted
Mr.. Van Buren, was nominated for President.
But it was ascertained that Colonel johnson,
who was the prominent candidate for Vice Presi-
dent, could not obtain two-thirds for his nomina-
ton. The State of Tennessee had refused to
send delegates to the first convention, and
also to the second. This was the result of the |
influence exercised by Judge White with the
Democratic party Of that State, who brought
lim out as a candidate against Mr. Van Buren,.
There happened, however, to be at Baltimore q
DR.. Rucker, citizen of Tennessee and in order |
TO secure two-thirds for Colonel Johnson's nomi-
nation, he was admitted into the convention, |
and authorized to give the vote Of that State |
This expedient enabled Col. johnson to get two |
thirds, and he was accordingly nominated. Vir
gnia gave her vote for Mr.. Van Buren, for Presi-
dent and for William Smith, of Alabama, for
Vice President This defeated Col. Johnson's
election by the people. Mr.. Rives was a candi- |
late for Vice President before the convention |
and was very strongly supported by the Virginia
delegation The convention having been 'Ruch- |
srized," according to the political slang of the
lay, in order to nominate Col. johnson, Virginia
may not have felt such nomination binding on
ler and therefore gave her vote against the nomi
nee. Col Johnson's name and that of Francis
Granger being the two highest on the list, came
&c Of tha Tpit Ctotn ,,J
being Democratic majority in that body, Col |
Johnson was elected Vice President by the Senate.
In 1910 the two-thirds rule was again adopted |
by the Baltimore Convention. Mr.. Van Buren, |
was nominated for President. Col. Johnson was
a prominent candidate for Vice President but !
could not command two-thirds, and the conven- |
ton adjourned without making any nomination |
for Vice President.
Down to this period no difficulty had occurred, |
under the two-thirds rule, in relation to the nom
nation of President. And although Col. Johnson
had experienced some inconvenience from it, still
the public mind not particularly called to it.
Hence when the two.thirds rule was adopted by
the Baltimore Convention in 1874, it struck al
most everybody with surprise, and ii has been
the general belief ever since that il was now
adopted for the first time, for the express pur-
pose of defeating Mr.. Van Buren's nomination.
This was not So The rule was adopted in ac-
cordance with the uniform practice OF the Demo
cratic National Convention from 1882 down to
1874 1t originated with Mr.. Ean Buren's own
particular friends, and, therefore, he and his
friends had no reason to complain of its adoption
in 1874.
-" They did but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, returned
To plague the inventors"
The two-thirds rule was again adopted by the
convention in 1S4S, when General Cass and GEN
oro1 Rutlor were Nominated for presideuf and
Vice President. 1t will undoubtedly be adopted