Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-09-28
From the Fl Dorado Times History of Political Conventions.


 newspapers, yet, having had repeated con- verations with many of my democratic friends and others, during last year and this, upon the propriety of holding conventions, andinding so much dissatisfaction with thepractice, and seeing also, that the op- position parties have been, and are using this democratic custom with telling effect against the democracy, l have concluded to wrie, for the benefit of those interested, a shod dhistorical account of conventions, do- ing title more than copying.
 The first account see in history, relat- ing to political conventions held since the adoption of the federal constitution, is, that in 1900, MT. Jefferson ras ogain nominated by his party for President-having, there fore, been nominated of course before in | 1196, when he run against Mr. Adams. In 1894, caucus or convention was held by the federalists, and nominated c. C.. Pinckney for President, and Rufus King for Vice President. Further than this, have not been able to see any account of the conventions of 1894, except the name of the chairman or President. Stephen R. Bradley, signed to notice which was post ed up in Washington City, calling on mem. bers of Congress to meet in caucus or con vention, to nominate a candidate for Pre- sident and Vice President.
 In 1908, on January 23d, a convention met, and proceeded to nominate candidates MT. Madison received S3 votes, Mr. Clin- ton 3, Mr. Monroe 3, for President. and MT. Clinton was nominated for Vice Pre- sldent, receiving 19 votes. Thus, it will be seen, that the nominations were almost Unanimous. Ilbelieve every State in the Union was represented by it's senators and representatives. Some of the senators and representatives were federalists, and of course not in the convention I find no nominations made in 1908, by the fedora lists. They, however, ran Mr. ssPinckney and Mr. King, as independent candidates against the democratic nominee.
 Another convention was held the 18th of Nay, 1912, at Washington City, by the dHmocratic members of Congress, r sena- tors and 63 epresentatives-th being. as suppose about the democratic strength II Congress at the time-to nominate can ddates for President and Vice President. which resulted in the nomination of Mr. Madison and Mr. Langdon, the latter from age and iniirmity declining, and a demo- eatic convention in June following, nomi- nting MT. Gerry for Vice President. I hve in my possession the proceedings sf te convention, and list of the members ad the States they represented. The pro- eedings are too long for this article. A fw names, however, might not be amiss. 4mong them were Wm H. Crawford. and Geo. M. Iroup, Ga., Henry Clay and R. I Johnson, Ky, c. w. Campbell and felix Grundy, Tenn, and G. Poindexter Mississippi Territory
 The federalists held convention of de- gates in the city of New York, in Sept. SIP, to nominate a candidate for President nd Vice President, eleven States being re- resented by seventy delegates, which re- ulted in the nomination of Dewitt Clin- on for President, and James Ingersoll. of a., for Vice President.
 A congressional caucus or convention vrs held on the 10th day of March, 1916. t Washington City, full democratic re- presentation being present, and nominated llr. Monroe for President, and Daniel D. Thompson for Vice President. The fede- lal party made no nomination, but ran Mir. King as an independent candidate for Pre- lldent, and threw away their votes on diffe- ent persons for Vice President
 In 1929, Mr. Monroe and MT. Tompkins were nominated by the democratic congress sional convention. The federal party had dissolved, and had no national organization and run no candidate
 In 1923, the democratic party was the only organized party in the United States The old disbanded opposition commenced war on conventions, in which, many of the democratic party joined, and upon a call for congressional convention, it was determined to have none; yet, few demo- crats, not more than one in four, who were there at the time and place, and entitled to seats, would participate or go into the con- vention; yet, those who went in nominated William h. Crawford for President. The no party men made no nomination. The result was, that there were four democratic candidates in the field, Crawford, Calhoun. Jackson and Clay. The opposition SUD, ported John Quincy Adams, and elected him. In this you see the fruits of disor- ganization and departure from the old ems. tom of holding conventions.
 In 1929, the legislature of ofTennessee nomi- mated Gen. Jackson for the Presidency, and he was nominated by several State conven tions during the same year.
 In 1925, Jackson was nominated by the legislature of Tennessee, for President.
 In lS27-S, Jackson was nominated by State legislatures and State conventions. there existing a prejudice in the public mind against Congressional caucusses or conventions, they were abandoned by the democratic party so far as to nominate can- didates for President and Vice President.