Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-11-11
THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTS
OF THE UNITED STATES.

The minds of everybody and his wife
are, about these days, exclusively occu-
pied with the exciting details Of the mo-
mentous election which has just taken
place. We are in the same state Of mind,
and feel as little in the mood for lengthy
editorial dispositions as our readers are
for reading such illusions. From the
election Just over, the transition Of thought
and conversation is naturally TO elections
past. We find the following article in
Wednesdays Alta, which is just about
the bill of fare to suit the present appe-
lite of the people:
In the early days OF the American Union,
politics excited much less interest than at
present. The system of caucus and primary
election, and the dividing Of spoils among
the victors had not arisen. Usually the con-
test was decided on personal grounds and a
large portion of the voters did not turn out.
The election of 1901 was the only one which
was fought on the principles between l7SS
and 1882.
We have compiled below table showing
the popular vote at the different elections,
from iS2i inclusive, to the present cam
In 1924, Jackson, had 1852; Adams.
l05,32l; Clay, 46, 5S7, and Crawford, A, 2S2.
No candidate had majority in the Electoral
College, and Adams was elected by the
House Of Representatives. There were no
parties. and there had been none for eight
years. All were called Republicans or Dem
ocrats. There vas no notable difference
on questions of policy; the contest was per-
sonal.
In 1928, Jackson had 647,23l and Adams
5O9,O97.
In 1882, Jackson, Democrat, had 6S7, SOP,
and Clay, National Republican, had $40, lS9:
The Democrats were against, the National
Republicans for, Bank and Protective Tariff.
In ll36, Van Buren,, Democrat, had 16l,-
$40; Harrison, White, Mangum and Web
ster, Wings, had 1866. The questions
were the same as in 1882.
In 1910, Harrison, Wing, had l,2T5,0ll;
and Van Buren,, Democrat, had |, l22,9l2,
and Birney, Abolitionist, had 1863. The
questions were the same as in 1896.
In 1914, Polk, Democrat, had l,337 ,243;
Clay, Wing, had l,299,O62: Birney, Adolf
zionist, had s., 300. In addition to Bank and
Tariff, the question Of the annexation of
Texas had arisen, the Democrats being for,
and the Wings against. If the Abolitionists
had voted for Clay they would have elected
him and prevented annexation. Polk had
plurality, not majority OF the votes.
In 1913, Taylor, Wing, had 1850, 099; Cass,
Democrat, had l,220,54 and Van Buren,,
Free Democrat, had 29l ,263. Taylor was
another plurality President. Van Buren, was
opposed to acquiring any more territory for
slavery. The old questions Of Bank and
Tariff had been greatly modified, and the
question of extending slavery was arising
In 1852, Pierce, Democrat, had 1901, pa;
Scott, Wing, had 1856, $50; and Hale, Free
soil, had l55,S25. The Wing platform said
nothing Of Bank or Tariff, but accepted the
compromise measures of 1850. The Freesoil
platform declared against the fugitive slave
law, and against the extension of slavery.
In 1856, Buchanan, Democrat, had 1885,
1863; Fremont, Republican, had l,34l ,264;
Fillmore, American, had S74, 534. Buchanan
was another plurality President. Connecti-
cut, Massachusetts,, Michigan, New Hamp-
shire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wiscon-
sin, gave majorities for Fremont. Iowa,
Maine, New York and Ohio, gave large plu-
ralities for him. The grand question in this
campaign was whether the extension Of sla-
very should be prohibited.
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln, Republican,
had ], 500, +52; Douglas, Popular Sovereignty
Democrat, had 1875, l57; Breckenridge, Slav-
ery-extension Democrat, had SAL ,954; and
Bell, Unionist, had 590,63l. Linco!n's plat
form was opposition to the extension Of slav-
cry. He was elected BY a plurality.
The following was the vote cast for Presi-
dent in 1860 BY the States now in rebellion: