New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-21
MORE ABOUT PRESIDENT-MAKING MA
CHTNERY

In December, 1889, the first National Con-
ventiOn ever held by the Wing party assem-
bled at Harrisburg, Pa. How it was called,
we do not remember; there was no preGxist-
ing National Committee or other organization.
About two hundred delegates attended, in
Guiding ex-GovernOrs of eight or ten States
among them James Barbour (who presided)
and John Tyler of Virginia. Joseph Vance of
Ohio, and Thomas Metcalf of Kentucky Gov.
| Ritner and ex-GOv Shuttle of Pa. were, il
not members, deeply interested spectators.
| The Convention was at least three days in
making nomination. A plurality of its
members wanted to nominate for Presi-
dent Henry Clay, whom thrce-fourths
of the party preferred for that Office; the
greater number of delegates, fearing that Mr.
| Clay, if nominated, could not be elected, voted
for Gen. Harrison or Gen. Scott and ulti-
mately united on the former, giving him the
nomination. ExGov. Tyler of Virginia, who
was Jealous supporter of Clay, was nom
mated for Yice-President The Wing ticket
| for 1910 was thus made up of the candidate
for President spontaneously supported by the
Northern Wings in 1886, with the candidate of the
| Southern Wings in that year for VicePresident.
This was unQuestionaby the strongest COM
bination that could have been made, as the
event proved. No platform OF declaration of
principles was put forth The Democrats met
some months later at Baltimore, and renOm-
mated Van Buren, and johnson. After an
animated, ringing canvass Harrison and Tyler
were chosen by 234 Electoral Votes to 60-Only
seven States Gncluding Virginia, the birth
place of Harrison and Tyler, Clay and Gen.
Scot0 casting their votes for Van Buren,.
In 1874 a Wing National Convention assem-
bled at Baltimore, May 1, and unanimously
nominated Henry Clay for President TheO.
Frelinghuysen was after a spirited contest,
nominated for Vice-President. The COnven-
ton unanimously pronounced for Protection
to Home Industry and against the reelection
of President while in Office.
The Democratic Convention met in the same
city some weeks afterward. majority of
the delegates thereto had been elected to re-
nominate Van Buren,, and voted for him on
the first ballot, after adopting a rule which
required concurrence of twO-thirds of the dele
gates to make O nomination. They gradually
fell away from Van Buren, to Cass, Buchanan,
and others, until at length James X. Polk of
Tennessee was proposed and speedily nomi-
mated. Sias Wright of New-Yor was nomi-
mated for Vice-President, but promptly de-
clined, when George NJ. Dallas of Pennsyl
vania was presented in his stead.
After most spirited and energetic canvass,
Polk and Dallas were elected, having carried
Pennsylvania, York, and Louisiana by
very small majOrites-s as the Wings
asserted and believed, by fraudulent votes.
change Of New-York alone would have
elected Clay.
In 1913, the Democrats nominated Gen.
Lewis Cass of Michigan for President, with
William o. Butler of Kentucky for Vice
President.
The Wing Convention met this year in Phila-
delphia. No candidate had at first majority,
but Gen. Zachary Taylor of Louisiana had
plurality, which ultimately grew into ma
jOrity and nominated him. Willard Fillmore
of Ncw-York was nominal ID for Vice Presi-
dent This ticket was elected by the support
Of New-York and Pennsylvania; Ohio and
every other State northwest of the Ohio river
going for Cass. Van Nren and c. Francis
Adams were supported by the "Free SoiIo
party, which thus contributed to the defeat of
Cass and Butler.
In 1852, the Wings again held Convention
at Baltimore, and, after good many ballots,
nominated Gen. Winfield Scott for President,
over Willard Fillmore Qncumbent sInco Con.