The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-19

The OLD SYSTEM OF PRESIDENTIAL NosfINA-
TIoN.-Our Presidents and Vice Presidents
were at first nominated by caucuses COM
posed of the Senators and members of the
House of Representatives belonging to each
party. This caucus system, although we often
see it decried by English writer's and papers,
was really derived by our early politicians from
England. II became the habit of the ParIa-
mentary leaders of the Wings and Tories, soon
after the revolution of 1858, to meet at taverns
or club-houses in order to provide discipline for
the party ranks, to discuss and decide on meas
ures, and even on special votes, and to desg-
nate the personnel of new ministries. Many
an entertaining story of these conclaves, which
often partook of a festive and literary as well
as dellberative character, has come down to us
in the writings of Addison, Steele, Hervey and
Horace Walpole; and although they were not
known as ''caucuses," they were such in form
and in purpose.
Even before the Revolution, American poll
tics had taken distinct party shape, apd what
were virtually caucuses were held in the quaint
old inns of Boston, New York, and Philadel-
phia, on the part both of the Tories and the
patriots. 1t was often decided in these confer.
ences who should be sent to the General Court,
who should be made colonel of militia, who
should be delegated to the Continental Con.
gress. At the Green Dragon" in Boston.
notable conferences of the caucus order were
wont to be held, in which Hancock, Adams.
Otis, and Warren were leading and inspiring
spirits.
For the first three Presidential elections. how
ever, there were no nominating caucuses of
Congressman, for the reason that the candi-
dates were very clearly designated by the
events of the Revolutionary and Constitution
forming period.
1t was in the year 1SOO when a successor was
to be chosen to President Adams, that the first
caucus recorded in our history was held. 1t
met at Philadelphia, was called by the Repub-
lican opposition, and comprised thirty.seven
members of the Lower House and nine Sena-
tors. There was nothing very strict or formal
about the meeting. These gentlemen met to
discuss candidates. very likely in one those
coffee houses which early Congressman used to
frequent in the Quaker City, and there seems
to have been no very sharp rivalry for the
places on the ticket. TIE caucus was of one
accord that Jefferson should be presented to
the people for the Presidency
The first caucus in which there was a con-
test was held in January, 1905 Jefferson was
about to retire from the Presidency. 1t was
certain That the nominee of his party would be
elected: Virginia, that had already furnished
TWO out OF the three Presidents, supplied the
rival candidates to the Republican caucus.
One was James Madison, who having began
as Federaist had become strong Dolitical
adherent of Jefferson, and was now Secretary
of State. The other was Colonel Monroe who
had been midster to France. The caucus com
prised ninety four Senators and menabers. and
Madison was nominated by SO votes. George
Clinton, the then Vice-President, receiving a
denomination for that ofice.-Georqe H. To1ole,
IN HaTper's Magazine for Jltly