The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-08-16

dent. They p0lled seven thousand votes
at the ensuing election, receiving votes in
every free State but Indiana.
The first National Convention of the
Wing party was held at Harrisburg, Decem
Der, 4th 1886 twenty-five States were rep
resented by about four hundred delegates
On an informal ballot, per capita, Mr.. Clay
had plurality but no majority.
Initiating the examples of the Democra
cy, the Wings desired to put forward Gen
eral Scott In speech at Buffalo, Mr.
Clay came out in the most gallant manner
and told his party to put his name away il
it was considered the slightest obstacle to
harmony. Small politicians were afraid
that they could sot lead him. by the nose
and therefore said the anti-Masons, the an
ti-tariff Wings, etc.. would not vote for him.
and they spared no means to prevent his
nomination. They also succeeded in kill
ing off General Scott, and General Harri.
SON. in vote by States, after the manner
of the Democratic conventions, received
one hundred and forty-eight, Clay ninety,
and Scott sixteen. John Tyler, of Viz.
ginia, was nominated for Vice President.
The Democratic National Convention
met at Baltimore May 5, lS40.. Twenty
one States sent delegates. Gov. VIM Car
roll of Tennessee, presided. In order to
simplify business, q committee was appoint
ed to report the names Of candidates. They
reported the name of Mr.. Van Buren, for
Pres dent, but made no report on the sub
jrct of candidate for the Vice Presiden-
cy. r. NJ. johnson received, however, the
Democratic vote. In this convention
tbaro mana obo,k txro brnslra1 urI 6ffx,
delegates, representing twenty-one States.
The Issue of this struggle is well known.
Harrison and Taylor were carried into
power by popular majorities, unprecedent-
ed since Monroe's second term. But, in
1874, the Democratic party rallied strong
er than ever; and the fourth Nationa Con-
vention, held at Baltimore, May u, 1874,
was curious, exciting, interesting and ex-
traordinary body. Every State, except
South Carolina, was represented. The
number of delegates was three hundred
and twenty-five, entitled to two hundred
and twenty-six votes. The Hon. B. II.
Wright, of Pennsylvania, was chosen chair
man. Mr. Saunders laid on the two-thirds
rule of 1892. After long debate, it was
carried, one hundred and forty-eight 10
one hundred aud eighteen, Mr.. Van Bu-
rem had a majority ON the first vote, but
not two-thirds. He fell off on the fourth
ballot, and Mr.. Cass had a majority. On
the ninth ballot James X. Polk, of Tennes
see, received one hundred and forty-four
ly nominated. rt.. e.i.
The question of Who is James K. Polk
was immediately asked in all parts of the
Union, except Tennessee TWAS answered
on the ensuing 4th of March, by the Chief
Justice of the United States. r1
At the same time the Democratic Con-
vention was held in Baltimore, Tyler
Convention was held in that city and Mr..
Tyler was put in nomination, but the strug-
gle being hopeless one, he retired from
the field in August +
The Wing National Conyention was held
at Baltimore, May l. 1t was more like a
mass meeting, and the Wings came up re-
solved to give Mr.. Clay a chance. Am
brose Spencer, of New York, presided, and
every State in the Union was represented:
There were two hundred and twenty-five
delegates, Mr.. Clay was nominated by ac-
clamation for President, and Mr.. Ere
linghuysen, of New Jersey, for Viee-Presi-
dent. The Texas question was the great
issue in this canvass Mr.. Clay wrote a
letter opposing the annexation Of that Re
public, and that killed him, while Mr.
Polk was understood to stand on the plat
form of the remuneration of Texas at the
earliest practicable moment, and to go for
the whole of Oregon.
The Abolitionists took up the Texas
question and nominated James G. Birney
for the campaign of 1874. He received
sixty-two thousand one hundred and forty
votes.
We come now to l84S, a memorable year
in the history or conventions and party
The war with Mexico had
given the Wings and the Democrats sever
al heroes, but none appeared so fOrcibly
to the public heart as General Taylor,
whose proclivities were believed to be
Whig, hut who was innocent on the subject
of politics. Cn the other hand stood Clay
and Webster, the lights of the great Wing
party, with their thousands Of worshippers.
The Wing leaders resolved on the final
slaughter of Clay, and, on the 9th Of
January, 1913, a meeting of the Wing
members of Congress was held in Wash
ington. This meeting called a National
Nominating Convention, to be held at Phil
adelphia, on the 7th of June. The Demo
Gratis were called to meet in May, as usual,
at Baltimore. 1t assembled ON the 22d,
Andrew Stevenson, of Virginia, in the
chair. The New York difficulties were
then for the first time introduced into the
councils of the party. The friends of Mr..
Van Buren, now called Softs were then de-
nominated Barnburners, and the friends OF
Mr. Cass [now transferred to Dickinson,
and called Hards were termed Hunkers.
The convention voted to admit both dele
cations, but both declined 70 take part in
the discussions or the votes. The two
thirds rule [263 whole vote was adopted,
and Mr. Cass was nominated on the fourth
ballot; Gen. w. o. Butler, of Kentucky, for
Vice President.
The convention failed to restore harmo-
ny to the party in New York, and Mr..
Van Buren, friends look ground in favor
of prohibiting slavery in territory to be ac-
quired hereafter
A convention was held at Utica, New
York, on the 22d and 23d of June, when
Mr. Van Buren, was nominated for Pesi-
dent, and Henry dodge for Vice President.
Mr. Dodge subsequently [June 29thl de-
clined, and National Convention was
held at Buffalo in 1873 august. ninth,
when nearly all free States were represent.
ed. A strong anti-slavery platform was
adopted, and the convention then put in
Mr. Van Buren, and Mr. Ad-
ans [son of President j. @. Adams]. his
divided the vote in New York, and defeat
ed the Democratic party.
The wings met at Philadelphia on the 7th
of June, l849, and held what is called the
"Slaugther-house Convention" The po-
litical death of Clay, Webster and Scott
had long been resolved upon; at least,
they were to he put out of the way for that
General Taylor was the man,
and he was nominated by q majority vote
n the third ballot, The second place on
the ticket was given to Mr.. Fillmore.
The Democracy were early In the field
in 1852, and the Central Committee called
a convention to meet at Baltimore On the
first of June. Hon. John W. Davis, of In
diana, presided There was tremendous
crowd of delegates, and the cid two thirds
rule was put on by large vote. Every
State, except South Carolina. was repre-
sented, add the number of delegates was
two hundred and eighty-eight.
The convention sat FIVE days, most of
which time was spent in Intellectual ballot
ings. On the thirtieth, Virginia changed
from Buchanan and gave fifteen votes to
Pierce. On the forty ninth ballot, Mr.
Pierce received all the votes but six, and
was nominated. w. r. King, Of Alaba-
ma, was named second on the ticket