The Shasta courier., 1859-11-12
SHASTA COURT Err.
The Two.Thirds Rule.

From an article in the Sacramento Union OF
the 4th inst, we excerpt the following:
nThe two-thirds rule in the Democratic state
National ?1 Convention was introduced In lo4f
10 kill off Van Buren. 1t known that he
had a majority in the Convention, but as his
anti-Texas letter did not suit the Southern
managers. they determined TO effect his defeat
and accomplished it by means of the two-third
rule. They succeeded by inducing sundry dele
gates instructed to go for Van Buren to vote for
the rule After that was adopted, they went
through the mockery OF voting for him in Con-
vention Since that day the two thirds has
been considered the standing rule in nomina-
ting candidates for the Presidency"
1t is very general impression, and this Ian
guage will serve to confirm it in the minds of
many, that the famous two-thirds rule was
first introduced in National Democratic Con-
vention in 1874, by " the Southern managers" ;"
for the purpose of killing off Van Buren. The
truth is that the two-thirds rule was adopted by
the very first National Democratic Convention
ever held-the Convention which, in response to
a call of the Legislature of New Hampshire, as
sembled at Baltimore on the 2lst of May, 1882,
and which was presided over by Robert Lucas,
of Ohio. That famous two-thirds rule was
drawn up by Mr.. Saunders, of North Carolina,
and reads thus:
ResoiDed, That each State be entitled in the
nomination to be made of a candidate for the
Vice Presidency, to number of votes equal to
the number that they will be entitled to in the
Electoral Colleges under the new apportionment
in vo ing for President and Vice President, and
that two thirds of the whole number of votes
in the Convention shall be necessary to consti-
tute choice.
AS will be observed, the Convention was call
ed with view particularly to the nomination
of a candidate for the Vice Presidency, in place
of the then Vice President, John C. Calhoun
one of the "Southern managers" the Union
will observe-who had quarreed with Jack
sons Administration. At that time the De-
mocracy thought of no one else than Gen. Jack
son for the succession to the Presidency 1t
was therefore not deemed necessary to call a
National Convention to endorse a nomination
already formally made by the Legislatures of
several States, and by the common consent of
the Democracy of the Union.
The next National Convention, held May the
ZOtn, 1000, consisting OF more tnan SIX nun
dred members, gave Van Buren, a unanimous
nomination. Every delegate in the Convention
was for him-hence the re-adoption of the two
third rule would have been wholly supereroga-
tory. This was the first nomination for the
Presidency ever made by Democratic Nation
al Convention.
The third National Democratic Convention,
held at Baltimore on the 9th of May 1910, in
order to simplify business, appointed commit
tee to report the names of candidates. This
committee reported the name of Van Buren,
who again received unanimous nomination
thus again rendering the passage of the two
third rule an sbsurdty.
In the Convention of 1874 the two-third rule
was again adopted, on motion of its author, Mr.
Saunders. So also in the Conventions of ls48
and 1852. In the Convention of 1856, the rule
was not formally adopted, but was observed in
making nominations.