The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-30

DOM talent and experience they possess In great
representative assemblage, to select each "the best
man In the party" to offer for the support OF an
enlightened public invites attention to the history
and peculiarites Of the system by which Presiden-
tial candidates are now presented. 1t may seem
strange to the present generation, which has be-
come thoroughly habtuated to the prevailing mode
Of choosing party standard bearers, as the
nominees OF political bodies are denomnated, that
the method now In vogue Is OF comparatively re-
cent introduction. But very little reflection will
show that In the nature OF things 1t could not be
otherwise. Until the means OF locomotion were
made easy and expeditions through the agency Of
steam the assembling Of large collections OF men
from distant parts for mere political purposes was
impossible. The general convention system cOnse-
quently has only been attained and by gradual APP
proaches, being one of the outgrowths Of modern
innovations and improvements In the methods Of
travel.
At an early day. when State Legislatures, and In
one instance Congress- found 1t impossible to organ
lie ut the stated time for lack Of the constitutional
quorum, owing to 'hOrrid roads' and bridgeess
torrents, 1t could not be expected that the most
resolute party zeal would carry men great way
simply to elect partisan candidates. In fact poiti
cal conventions for nominating purposes-now so
common-were for long time after our govern
ment had gone into operation quite unknown.
Nevertheless parties existed In those days as well
as now, and candidates were equally necessary.
OUR FIRST PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON,
was supported and elected by common consent,
although clearly defined parties, owing to the dis
cusslons and dissensions that attended the adop-
ton of the federal constitution then existed. His
reelection was not opposed, Notwithstanding there
was considerable satisfaction with his admins
tratlon, both In and out OF Congress- although
chiefly directed against his Cabinet, and particu-
larry Hamilton. BY the time his second term had
expired and 1t had become necessary by reason OF
his decension OF third, to find another successor
the old federallsts and republicans were In full
blast against each other both being anxious to Sc
cure the seat Of power. On the federast side the
candidate was determined by circumstances. John
Adams was not only very eloquent
and worthy man. but as Vice President
had O claim to the succession which
was then thought to be very strong although now
midable rival in the federast ranks, Hamilton,
was ineligible to the Presidency by reason Of his
foreign birth. On the republican side the candi-
date was almost as clearly defined In the person Of
Jefferson, who had led the anti-federalst opposi-
ton In WashngtOn's Cabinet, and upon being
beaten there had retired to his "clover flelds' at
Monticello with the honors Of martyrdom. No
formal nominations OF that election were, there
fore, required.
JEFFERSON THE FIRST NOMINATED PRESIDENT.
But at the next and fourth Presidential election,
In 1900, a departure was found necessary. JefYer-
son was still the first choice Of majority Of the
republicans, but he had rival In Aaron Burr, who
was the favorite Of portion Of the party; and,
besides, Jefferson had become obnoxious to good
many republicans in consequence Of his supposed
Inv ha VII nj ha oh
Jacobins. To reconcile these differences and
satisfy the disconnected and suspicious, the ex-
pedient of o regular nomination was re-
sorted t0-the first Of which we have
any record In our history. Nine Senators and3
thirty-seven Representatives In Congress got to-
gether In Philadelphia, where Congress was then in
session, they being majority Of the republican
members OF Congress, and publicly nominated JET
ferson for President and Burr for Vice President.
They did more than that: they adopted plat form.
To quiet the fears Of the anti-French element in
their party they laid down certain propositions in
the form Of o series Of resolutions which they sup
posed would be satisfactory and which Jefferson in
published letter addressed to political friend,
took occasion soon after to endorse. Here, then,
was the first OF our nominating system-platform
and all-seventy-two years ago, and after the gov
eminent had been twelve years in operation, the
invention OF that astute politician, Thomas Jeffer-
son, who, in the course Of his subsequent corrc-
OF the whole scheme. The plan was completely sue
cessful as well as decidedly ingenious, for Jefferson
was elected, and political revolution was thus
brought about. This was enough to secure its
repetition.
But although at the time probably no fairer sys
TEN could have been pursued in the selection OF
candidates, delegate convention being out of the
question: 1t was not long before serious exceptions
were taken to the Congressional caucus. No objec-
ton was made to 1t at the time Of Madis0n's nOm-
nation as Jetfers0n'S successor, but when renOn
n Of tdnnt iu1
interference and control was raised by the advo-
Gates OF the one-term principle Of that day that
would have been not unworthy Of the clamor we
now hear about Office holders ruling our conven-
tons. This complaint came chiefly from the friends
Madison. and whose supporters dd all in their
power to prejudice the people against the
agency by which Madson's denomination had
been secured, pronouncing 1t the mere instrument
of Presidential clique and unfair to the party. OF
course, while urging this objection, 1t was neces.
sary to show the public that some other and better
system was attainable. Accordingly, the clinton
ians adopted two mSehods OF bringing their man
formally before the people. One was by the recon-
mendation Of State legislative caucus-a aority
OF the republican members OF the New York Legts.
lature having got together and endorsed Clinton as
a az" general convention" The last. and which NAV
be regarded as the first suggestion OF our present
national convention system, was the invention OF
the federalists who, desparing OF their ability to
elect member OF their own party, held a
general convention" In the city OF New York,
which was attended by representatives from oil OF
the States north Of the Potomac and from one
south, and there adopted Clinton as their nominee.
HENRY CLAY DENOUNCED THE CONGRESSIONAL
CAUCUS.
But, notwithstanding Cllnton's double nomina-
ton, he was beaten, and the Congressional caucus
sustained. Still, opposition to 1t continued, and
gradually grew stronger At the next Presidential
election 1t manifested itself In way that was well
calculated to command attention. When the can
Gus had assembled, embracing pretty much all the
republican members OF Congress- Henry Clay, then
Speaker OF the House of Representatives. and re-
publican in good standing, offered q resolution to
the effect that 1t was nexpedent to make in caucus
United states OF persons in the Judgment Of this
meeting, nty and suitable to ill the Offices Of
President and Vice President OF the United
States.n That having been voted down, John
w. Taylor, OF New York, another very distinguished
republican, supplemented 1t by another declaring
that "the practice OF nominating candidates for the
ofces OF President and Vice President OF the United
states by q convention Of the Senator'S and Repre-
sentatives In Congress Is tnexpedent, and ought
not to be continued.- This RESOLUTION shared the
90 az vii nani oil IL Tor