Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-07-25
The tWo,thirds Rule.


Lancaster Mtelligacer, and we hope every
Democrat will read it. 1t States nothir 6
but the facts in tho case. "The twoothirds
rule was adopted by the first Democratic
National Convention, in 1882, and by it
Gen. JACKSON was nominated lor Presi>
dent, and MARTIN VAN buren, for Vice
President. 1t was established for the
purpose Of protecting the certain Demo.
cratic States from having obnoxious cans
ddates forced upon them by the dele
gates from Opposition States who might
possibly control bare majority of the
Convention. The rule has been adhered
TO in every instance since then. until the
present time. In 1914, Mr. VAN BuREN
had decided majority of the Convention
from the start but, failing to obtain the
requisite two-thirds, he was defeated, and
Mr.. Polk received the nomination ard
was elected
The recent Convention, which assem-
bled at Charleston, also adopted the rule,
and declared that 202 votes 1.-TWO thirds of
a full Convention of 303( were neceessa-
ry TO make nomination. This rule was
not repealed at any subsequent stage Of
the Convention, either at Charleston or
Baltimore-consequently no candidate
not receiving that number of votes can be
said to have been regularly nominated
In the portion Of the Convention which
remained in session, and which nomina.
ted Mr.. DoUGLAs, there appears TO haze
been only 1874! votes all told. including
some twenty or more, principally from
Southern States, who were admitted to
seats to the exclusion Of the regularly
elected delegates from those States. The
highest number of votes which Mr.. DoUG~
LAS appears to have ATTAINED at any time
WAS lSl2-being 204 less than the requi.
red number under the two-thirds rule
even admitting the legitimacy Of all the
votes cast.
The seeding portion of the Convention
which met at the Maryland Institute,
numbered but los full votes, all OF which
were cast for Mr.. BREcKINRIDGE on the sec
ond ballot The State of South Carolina
was not represented in either Convention
at Baltimore. In the first Convention
twenty six States were represented, in
whole or in part, at the time of the nomi-
nation ; and in the second Convention,
twenty-five States were wholly or partial
ly represented.
The above statistics VIC have taken
from the record. The facts, as they APP
pear, clearly show that, under the two
thirds rule, adopted before the balloting
commenced. neither of the Democratic
candidates for the Presidency now before
the people can lNy claim to regular nom.
ination, rs nominations have heretofore
been made. Mr.. Douglas comes nearest
toit, but still does not quite reach the
standard recognized by eight consecutive
National Conventions, including tn, re.
cent one held first at Charleston and then
at Baltimore. Had he received a clear
and undisppted majority of tvo>thirds Of
the regularly elected delegates of the
Convention, or had the rule been repeal
ed before the nomination was made, then
1t would have been the bounded duty OF
every Democrat (no matter what his per-
sonal objections may be- to yield him q
hearty and jealous support as it is Dem
ocrats are lett to prefer him or Mr.. BRECK-
INRIDGE and we know Of no better plan
of operation by which to keep tho party
together in Pennsylvania, whatever may
be the condition of things elsewhere, than
for all Observation-Disclosures men and
|
BRECkENRIDGE men-to carry out, fairly
and honestly, the recommendation OF t& e
State Central Committee, by voting the
same electoral ticket. By SO doing, Mr.
DOUGLAS will secure the vote of the State,
if it can bo made available for him any
other course must, of necessity, result in
giving the electoral vote of Pennsylvania
to LINCOLN, as also in endangering the
election oil FOSTER, and defeating all, OF
nearly all, the Democratic candidates fol
Congress, State Legislature, and County
Officers. We hope our Democratic friends
who prefer Mr.. DOUGLAS, and desire his
election, will ponder well upon these
things before they take step which viii
inevitably result in his defeat
Our course shall 6e to do justice tc
both candidates, and carry out in Gooo
faith. so far as we have the power or ahili
ty, the fair and honorable recommenda,
tion of the State Committee. If any 9th.
er course could be attended with better
or even as good results, we would cheer,
fully adopt it. We are actuated solely in
this matter by an honest desire to har.
monize and consolidate the party. and
save the State from falling into the hand:
of the Republicans-nothing more, no
thing less"
!
al O. ia