The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-23
National Conventions.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Charleston Convention-for the nom-
ination of candidates for President and
Vice President-wil be the eighth National
Democratic Assembly which has convened
for that purpose under the present organiza-
ton. The first Democratic National Con-
vention was held at Baltimore, in 1882, and
nominated General Jackson for re election
as President and Martin Van Buren, for
Vice President. The State of Pennsylva-
MIA did not, however, abide by the decision
of the Convention on the Vice Presidency,
but threw away her vote for William Will
kins. The next Democratic National Con-
vention was held at Baltimore in December,
1885, and selected Martin Van Buren, for
President, and Richard M. johnson of KY,
for Vice President. In May, 1910, the
third Convention was held. Mr.. Van
Buren, was nominated for re election but
no selection of Vice President was made.
The Democrats all voted for R. NJ. johnson,
except Virginia, which cast her electoral
vote for William Smith. In May, 1874,
the fourth Convention was held and chose
James K. Polk for President, and George
NJ. Dallas for Vice President. The fifth
Convention convened at Baltimore, in May,
1S4S, and designated General Cass for
President, and William 0. Butler, of KY,
for Vice President. The sixth Convention
was held at Baltimore in May, 1852, and
nominated Fradklin Pierce, of New Hamp-
shire, for President, and William R. King,
of Ala, for Vice President. The seventh
Convention met in Cincinnati on the first
of June, 1856, and nominated Buchanan
aud Breckenridge.
Previous to the holding of National Con.
ventions, the Democrats used to nominate
candidates for President and Vice President
by Congressional caucus. The Demo-
cratic members of Congress convened and
nominated Jefferson, Madison and Monroe
successfully for President, and the people
ratified the selections. Those districts and
States that had no Democratic members of
Congress, of course had no voice in the
nomination. In 1924 the last Congressional
caucus for the nomination of President
was held. BY this time the system became
unpopular. Only sixty-one members of
Congress met out of two hundred and forty.
They selected VIM. H. Crawford of GeOr-
gia, for President, and Albert Gallatin, of
Pennsylvania, for Vice President. The
great mass of the Democracy, however,
supported Gen. jackson, for President. In
1928 he ran again, without any national
nomination as candidate, and was triumph
antly elected.
The opposition to the Democracy never
had any regular National Convention for the
nomination of President and Vice Presi-
dent, until December, 1889, when they met
at Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania, and nomi-
mated Gen. William Henry Harrison, of
Ohio, for President, and John Tyler, of
Virginia, for Vice President. Since then
they have had their conventions regularly
every four years. The Democratic people
have agreed with remarkable unanimity
upon Stephen A. Douglas for President,
who is the choice of not less than l 500 900
of the 100000 men who voted for Mr..
Buchanan nl856, the convention at Charles
ton will have an easy time of st. The peo-
pie having made the nomination all that the
delegates will have to do will be to give it
form and expression by the passage of a
resolution declaring their will. The con-
vention is representative body, and must
and will carry out the will OF the people.