Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-12-01

ing to corrupt practices whenever there should
be design TO defeat the pupulaf will. These
objections were urged in 1889 and 1896, and
answered by The reply that the rule was only
adopted by each convention for itself, aud made
no odds in the result and now they were an-
swered with "precedents. A strenuous con-
test took place over the adoption of this rule
siL seeing that the fate Of the nomination de-
pended upon It. Mr.. Romnlus NJ. Saunders
of North Carolina was its mover. Messrs.
Robert ]. Walker, and Hopkins Of Virginia
its most active Importers; and precedent in
the stress of their argument Messrs. Morton
of Massachusetts, Clifford Of Maine, Dickinson
and Butler of New York, Medary Of Ohio,
and Alexander Kayser Of Missouri, were lis
principal opponents their arguments were those
Of principle, and the inapplcability Of prece-
dents founded on cases where the two-thirds
vote did not defeat, but strengthened the major
i,y Mr.. Morton, Of Massachusetts spoke The
Democratic sentiment when he said =
"Ho was he said in the habit OF advancing
his opinions in strong and plain language, and
he hoped that no exception would be taken to
anything he might say. He thought the ma
joriy principle was the true one of The Demo-
cratic party. The views which had been ad-
vanced on the other side of the question were
mainly based upon preceden,s. He did not think
that they properly applied here. We were in
danger Of relying too much upon precedent
lot MS go upon principle He had endeavored
when at school 10 understand the true principles
Of repubcanism. lie well recollected the
nomination Of Jefferson and others, and the
I l.. ~. .l.1 l. r.
it was recognized in all the different ramifca-
tons of society. The state, county and town
ship conventions were all governed by this
rule"
Mr.. Benjamin f. Butler Of New York en-
forced the majority principle as one which lay
at the foundation of our oyernment-which
prevailed al the adoption of every clause in the
/ Declaration of Indenendence-eyer elause in
the cons,i,ution-all the Legislation and all the
/ elections. both state and federal: and he total
ly denied the applicability of the precedents
cited. He then went on to expose the tricks
, of a caucus within caucus-a sub and secret
| caucus-plo,,ino.and combining 10 betray their
instructions through the ins,rumentality and un-
der the cover of the two-,hirds rule. Thus:
ale made allusion 10 certain caucusinr and
con,riying, by which il was hoped 10 avert the
well ascer,ained Jisoosi,ion of the majority. of
the Democracy. He had been appointed del
epate to the conven,;oo. and accented his ere-
deu,ials. as did his eolle,oues with instructions
to support and do all in their mower 10 secure
the nomination of a certain person ". By
By consentnp 10 the adoption of the two-thirds
rule. he. with them. would oroye unfaitbful I'm
their trust and their honor. He knew well
tha, in voting by simple majority. the friend he
was pledged 10 support would receive ten 10 &c
teen majority. and. consequently. the nomina-
tion. If two thirds should be required to make
a choice. that friend must inevitably be defeat
ed, aud that defeat caused by action of states
which could not be claimed as Democratic"
The rule was adopted, and by the help Of
delegates instructed to vote for Mr.. Van Buren,
and who took that method Of betraying their
trust while aGecing to fulfil it. The body then
organized and the balloting commenced all the
states present except South Carolina, who stood
of, although she had come into il At the prece-
ding convention, and cast her vote for Mr.. Van
Buren,. Two hundred and sixiy-six electoral
votes were represented, Of which l3i would be
the majority and III the two-ihirds. Mr.. Van
Buren received ISL on the first ballot, gradual
ly decreasing at each successive vote until the
seventh when it stood al 90, probably about the
true number that remained faithful to their con-
stituen,s and their pledges. OF those who fell
off it was seen that they chiefly consisted Of
those protesting friends who had supported the
two-ihirds rule, and who now got an excuse
for their intended deseriion and premedialed
violation Of instructions, in being able to allege
the impossibility of elecsing the nan TO whom
they were pledged.
At this stage of the voting. member from
Ohio, (Mr: Miller,) moved resolve, that Mr..
Van Bwen, hdring reoeired a majority Of fh'
potes on The first ballot, ,oas duly nominated, ana
should be so declared. This motion was an un-
expected step, and put delegates under the ne
cessity of voting direct on the majority prin'
ciple, which lies at the foundation of all poPu-
lar elections, and al the foundation oflhe Pres
ideniial election itself, as prescribed by The
e. Vl.. nnlv ran,.iraa q