Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-06-29

THETwo-THIRps RULE.-The follow
ing is the history Of the two-thirds rule
which obtains in Democratic National
Conventions and the reasons for ITS ori-
gin and retention as governing princi-
pie in the selection Of candidates for
president and vice-president:
The Congressional caucus, borrowed
from the politics of England, was the
original Of the National Convention.
In 1900. at Philadelphia, caucus
composed of Representatives and Sena-
tors nominated Jefferson and Burr for
President and President of the Un-
tied States.
At Washington on the 10Th Of Janu-
ary, 1893, similar caucus nominated
Madison for the Presidency: and in
1912 caucus presented him for re.
election. Meanwhile, much discomfort
with this method Of selecting candidates
had spread among the Republicans; so
that on the llth of March, 1916, when
q Congressional caucus met in Wash
ington to choose q successor to Mr..
Madison, nineteen members of the par
ty refused to attend. After a severe
struggle between Monroe and Crawford,
the former was nominated by vote of
sixty five to fifty.four. Monroe was re-
elected without opposition. In 1924,
notwithstanding the popular clamor
against the system, caucus of Repub-
hcan Congressmen presented Crawford
for the Presidency; but his nomination
was largely repudiated by the party;
and in default Of majority vote in the
college of electors. Adams was elected
by the House Of Representatives over
Jackson.
The result was to the last degree odi-
Gus and disappointing to the country,
and being imputed to the operation OF
the method of nomination, as well a.
the supposed intrigue between Clay and
Adams, King Caucus" as it was called
in the slang of the day. was abjured for
ever, and its memory exists only for
admoEition and reproof."
Gen. Jackson was nominated, both for
his first and second term by the Legisla-
lures of the States. The first National
Convention for the nomination of candi-
dates was held in Baltimore in Sep
tember. 1881, by the Anti Masonic par
ty; and they presented William Writ
for President. and Amos Ellnaker for
Vice President.
In December of the same year par
ty styling itself National Republican met
at Baltimore and nominated Henry CLAW
and John Sergeant for President and
sident.
The Democrats, as they now began
TO distinguish themselves, had already,
by the State Legislatures, presented
Jackson for a second term: but contro-
versy existing in the choice of candi-
date for Vice sident, for solution of
the difficulty New Hampshire proposed
the exredien mt of National Conv ention
The first Democratic National Con-
vention was called to nominate Vice
President only; and il met in Baltimore
on the 2lst Of May, 1892. Robert Lu-
cas- OF Ohio was chosen President of the
body. In determining the selection of
q candidate the Convention, on motion
Of Romulus Nj. Saunders, OF North Car.
olina, adopted the following resolution :
Resasred, That each State be entitled, in the
nomination to he made OF q candidate for the
NioePresidency, to = number Of votes equal 10
the number that they will be entitled 10 in the
Electoral Colleges under the new sppor,ioumeni
In ~o'ing for President and Vice President, and
fAsf tso;Airds g, the rkol< sssber u rotes ~ As
C"aren''O" ssa be nseessary TO eOnssssss choice.
This is the origin Of the now famous
two-thirds rule. Martin Van Buren, re-
ceived the requisite vote for the nomi-
nation, and was elected on the ticket
with Andrew Jackson.
The next Democratic National Con-
vention met in Baltimore, May 90, 1898,
and by unanimous vote nominated Van
Buren to succeed Jackson in the Pres
ideney. In lS4O Van Buren, was pre-
sented by another Convention at Balt-
tmore for 4 second term; but was de-
feated by Gen. Harrison, whom the
Wings had nominated in convention
at Harrisburg. The ambition Of the
Sage Of Undertook" was not to be
appeased without another incumbency
OF the Presidency: and accordingly his
friends urged him for nomination by the
Democratic Convention which met at
Baltimore on the eth Of May, lS44.-
But Mr.. Romulus NJ. Saunders was again
present with his two-thirds rule; and on
his motion the Conv adopted il by
vote Of las to lis. On the first bal
lot Van Ruren received li6 votes, ma
jority, but not two-thirds OF the Con-
vention. After the seventh ballot an
attempt was made TO repeal the tw o.