The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-08-22
The History OF the "TwO-Thirds
RuIe,"

The regularity OF Mr.. Douglas nomina-
ton at Baltimore, sccerding to the usages
Of the Democratic party, is denied BY those
who are opposed to him. The history Of
the action Of every Democratic Convention
since this rule was originated, proves be-
yond question or cavil the entire regularity
of Mr.. Donglas' nomi nation.
We fad in the St. Louis Republican, an
article from the pen Of Charles D. Drake,
Esq, which collates all the testimony in
the case, and gives from the record the ac-
tion OF every Democratic Convention since
1882, when the rule was adopted. The
writer says:
The Rule, from the day Of it's first adop-
ton in 1882, has required two thirds OF ell
the votes gipen; and no man will deny that
Stephen A. Douglas received far more than
that proportion Of all the votes given at
Baltimore. 1t were easily shown, as 1t
has many times been, that he receive two.
thirds of all tho votes full Convention was
entitled to cast; but that is not the matter
now under consideration. The question is
ives he nominated in accordance with the
usage of the party! Did he get the number
OF votes required by the 1.-Two thirds Rule?"
Ifmy position is correct, that the Rulere-
quired only two.thirds OF allthe votes given,
then he was nominated in accordance with
the usage Of the porty-otherwise not
Let Us, then, exsmine the Rule and ts his
tory in each of seven Democratic National
Conventions, held prior to this year.
.l-.s CONVENTION 1892. 't.e; 4
The report of the proceedings OF this
body resorted to, is that. found in Niles
Register, vol. AZ, p. 234. .s......
! The following resolution was adopted;
.sResolved, That each State be entitled in the
nomination to be made of a candidate for ihe Vice
Der to which they will be entitled in the electoral
colleges under the new appointment 10 voting fol
PRESIDENT and that two. thirds of the whole numbel
of votes in th' Convention shall be necessary to con
stitute choice"
ON the ballot for candidate for Vice Presi
dent, the vote was as follows: r..
Van Buren,, 208
johnson, 26
Barbour, 40
1t appears that Mr.. Van Buren had re
ceived msiority OF more than two-thirds O
all the votes given, he was declared to b
selected as the candidate nominated by th
; Convention for the Vice Presidency.
. Afterwards Mr.. Jefferson Phelps oferet
the following:
"WHEREAs, Martin Van Buren,, of New York, hi
received upon the first ballot more than two thrt
of all the votes given for the purpose Of selecting
candidate for the Vice Presidency of the Unite
ssResoIvsd, That the Convention unanimously col
cur in recommending him to ths people of the ln
ted States fnr that Office at the ensuing election"
Which preamble and resolution wer
adopted unanimously.
3 CONVENTION OF 1885.
: The report resorted to for the proceeding
of this body Is in Niles Register, vol. Al
PIP. 227, 228, 244.
The following resolution was reported b
O COMMITTEES:
Q .'Resolved, That the delegates from each State
this Convention be entitled to as many votes sele
ing suitable persons for the Offices of President
. Vice President as such State is entitled TO in Il
Electoral College for the choice of the those] Office
. by law and that the two thirds of the whole numb
Of votes given be required for a nomlna alton and
:. questions connected herewith"
Mr. Allen, of Massachusetts,, moved
amend this resolution, by inserting tn
word "mqj3rity" instead of "two.thirds
y. which WIS agreed to by vote OF 25l ay
to 2l0 nays.
, The next day Mr.. Strange. of Nor
: Carolina, moved that,the vote requiring
m4i)rity only to constitute nomination
e reconsidered and that two thirds be require
o which motion was carried. -G
CONVENTION OF 1910. s,.u
The report re sorted to for the proceedn
Of this body, is that contained in the Er;
: Globe of May Is, 1910, being No. of VI
:, g..
Il In this Convention the too thirds rule 20
not mentioned, nor Was any ballot had.
Mr. Clay, of Alabama, offered resolutio
10 which was adopted, for the appointment
1t Committee Of onh member from ea
'e State, for the purpose of taking into cons
'e Grafton, and reporting upon tn, subject
the nominations of President and vi
i. President. ..
IN The resolution is as follows:
Resolved, That this Convection do present
5e name Of Martin Van Bqren TO the people as the D.
!, ocratic Candidate for the ice Of President Of
United States, and that will spare no honors
I'm Efforts to secure his election.
{. Which, ION motion of Mr.. Grundy, '
W unanimously adopted.
ne '" CONVENTION OF 1914.
Is In Niles Register the rule is not gi,
he in terms, but in Vol. 65, PIP. 2l4, 2l5,
Ter the proceedings in relation to it are Fept
of ed. ,e
1t was proposed by General Sanders
- North Corolina, who had proposed it in Il
H and 1896, and the whole tenor of the deb
tor goes to show that it was in substance
en same as adopted in those yeart. But
s, proceedings Of the convention of le
he stated next below. show its exact terms
sit 1t wss,adopted by vote of 1870 llS.
es, CONVECTION OF lS4s. E4
,o' The report resorted to for the proce
10 iDgs OF the body, is the official journal pr
ed in pamphlet form. . .... ., ...
DO Mr.. Morton, OF Massachusetts,, preser
rts the following resolution:
Resolved, That this Convention be governed
ar proceedings by the rules adopted by the Demoe
st National Convention Of 1874, and the same are
by adopted as tho rules of this Convention.
la' To which the following amendment
ely moved by Mr.. Morse, Of Louisiana:
ar. Mr. Yancey, of Alab anna, at the req
est of the Convention, read the rules reie
YER to, viz:
i've Resolved, That the rules OF the House Of Repr'
-" tatiyes, as far as applicable for the governme
y this Convention, be adopted as the rules Of this
4 vcntion. D' !tta-A -" =
Z votes given shatl be necessary to q nominate
C, candidates for President and Vice President {
y United States by this Convention.
on The question was taken on the secot
AID those resolutions separately, and it
adopted by vote ofl76sto 78.9 F,