The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-23
NOMINATING THE PRESIDENT.
Review OF the Previous National Con-
ventions Of the Political Parties TIL q
Candidates and the BalIotings.
lFrom Harper's Monthly for July

ventions Of the Political Parties The
Candidates and the BalIotings.
tFrom Harper's Monthly for Julyl
National conventions for the nomination OF
party candidates for president and Vice-presi-
dent and the building of party platforms of
political principles, are peculiarly an American
device and custom. No other country exhibits
these tumultuous and excited assemblies,
sprung from the town csucuses and State con-
Serences OF the land.
In view Of the conventions which are tc meet
the present year, it will perhaps be interesting
10 give a sketch of those which have already
heou held in the course of our political history
for such sketch will deal with familiar names
the fate Of famous ambitions, and what may be
called the romance Of our politics.
Al the formation of tho Cover nment the law
provided that the person having the highest
number OF electoral votes should be President
aud The person having the next highest, Vice
president Of the United States. This rule was
found 90 operate sometimes to defeat the will
OF the people. 1t once made Aaron Burr, who
was the Republican candidate for Vice-presi-
don't. the rival of Jefferson. the candidate ,of
that party for President. These two received
an equal number of votes the voters intending
thai JEFF erson should have the first place and
Burr the second. The election being thrown
anto the House Of Representatives ii was for
dong time not improbable that Burr might as a
result of this state of affairs attain the Presi-
III.
according TO the evident popular will The
othor way IN which the law operated to the re-
verssi OF the popular will was where there
were two candidates Of opposite parties, the
majority would choose tho President, indeed,
but the opposition candidate would receive the
next highest number of votes for President.
and 80 become Vice president This was the
Case wheu John Adams WIS chosen TO the chief
place. aud jefferson, his opponent, chosen by
this method, Vice-president. The law was, in
consequence, altered, 40 that the electoral COL
legce should specifically designate their choice
for tue two Offices.
OuI Presidents and ce-pre.idents we're
first nom mated by csucuses composed of the
Senators and Members OF the House of Repre-
sentst,vcs belonging to each party. This eau
Gus sytstcn, although we often see il decried by
English writers and papers, really derived
Gzy our carly politicians from England.
For tho frst three Presidential elections
SnSwover there were no nominating caucuses
r OF Congressman. for the reason that the can
didatcs we're very clearly designated by the
eveuts Oi he Revolutionary ana Constitution.
Corning Ier.od. The Will OF the young nation
was altoSdy demonstrated 40 clearly thar eau
cuRca wers usel sas Certain men we're 30 re-
sairfssl Jha. 10 general voice proclaimed them
'chAthGGtef. Wellington was chosen with one
accord, sni Oy she ala OF nc political conclaye
on party nEchinery and although. when his
, iBt term approach cd its end, there had grown
up a Rci1oUs Cpposition TO his Federa!ist avn
! pathics and especially to the paramount iifiu-
= epro OF Hamilton, no attempt was made to set
way. q rive. candidate By the tune tina third
SsicUiion, tEat of 1876. came round however
tho Republican opposition had become eti ong
enou-h % contest the country. But even now
there wss 10 need or a caucus. John Adams
tho vice~Vf esident, was clearly the most emf
,ne~S Federslist after Washington nor vas
Jcaesous position as the founder chief and
guido o. the Republican party less well estab-
Hnhcd. These two, therefore, naturally took
position ~ csndidete5. The result of the cleo.
ton betrayed that the parties had nearly equal
strength Tor while Adams had seventy-one
elecJors! sStgr Jefferson had six,y-tiglit
Itwda IL ..e year 1900 when succes sor was
10 ba chceep 10 President Adams, that tho first
caucus recorded IN our history WAS held 1t
mot NJ Phile3elphG, was cai!,d by the Republ-
can oppoeitioJ. aud comprised thIrty-seven
menbors Of the Lower House and nine Sens-
tors Thcge was nothing very strict or formal
mot 10 discuss candidates, very
likely ia o. OF those coffee-aouses which early
CouErcssrceu used 10 frequent in the Quaker
City, aud shere seems to lave been no very
sharp rivslTy tor tho places on the ticket. The
csucus was os one accord that Jefferson should
ibc presented b the people for the Presidency
ana although there was some opposition TO
Burr. the New York representatives insisted
that lac should DO taken FOR Vice-president TO
carry the Empire State ana to checsInate HAM
IlJOn. l!se feuoralst5. VINO were generally
favorable 10 giving Adams second chance,
accepted him rs their candidate, only 20 see
bun defested by the Republican chef, wlule
Charles CoteswOrth Pinclsney was their unsuc-
ccssfui candidate for Wco-president. Jefer-
son'a administration was 80 brilliant and sue
cossiu' chat no caucusing WA done when the
per;od came for his reelection. There is
scarcely doubt that he, Ike Washington.
might have had third term by simply accept
ing IL ; hrt, again like Washington he saw TOO
clearly the evil precedent-that thts would es-
tselisiL 70 crafty his amb ion to the country's
injury.
The fiis, caucus in who'i there was a con-
Test wa held in January, 1888 Jefferson WA
about TO retro from the Presidency It was
certain that the nominee OF his party would be
eiectcd- Virginia, that had already Furnished
wv, out Of tie three Presidents, supplied tbe
rivaa candidates TO the Republican caucus.
ono was Jamcs Madison, who, having begun