The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-19
the TW0- THTRDs RULE.
Its Origin Presidcutiu EIections from the
Time of Jefferson Down.

Its Origin -Presidcnsiui Elections from the
Time of Jefferson Down.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str The
action Of the Maine Democracy foreshadows an
attempt, in the st. Louis Convention, TO abro-
gate the two.thrds rule. In view of the dis
cussion which the effort will occasion, aud
particularly since some Misrepresentation seems
to prevail as TO the origin and policy OF this
famous regulation, brief review Of It's history
may not be without interest and instruc ion.
The Congressional caucus, itself borrowed
from the politics Of England, was the original
Of the National Convention.
In 1900. At Philadelphia a caucus composed Of
Representatives and Senators Nominated JEFF
ferson and Burr FOR President and Vice-Presi-
dent Of the Uni ed States.
At Washington on the 10Th OF January, 1909, n
similar caucus nominated Madison for the Prosi-
dency; and in 1872 . caucus presented him for
reelection. Meanwhile, mucn discomfort with
this method Of selecting candidates had spread
among the Republicans; so that on the llth Of
March, 1915. when a Congressional caucus met
IN Washington to choose successor To Mr.
Madison, nineteen member Of the party refused
to attend. After q severe struggle between
Monroe and Crawford, the former was MONT
natod 10y a vote Of sxty-hve to 0fty -four. Mon
roe W reelected without opposition. In l%4
nOtwithe nding .he poOul clamOr asainst the
system. q caucus of Republican Congresslpcn
resented Crawford for the lresidencv but his
nomination was largely repudated bv the party
and IN default OF - maJorii, vote In Toe COLLEGE
OF electors, Adams wa elected Oy tue House OF
REPRESENTATIVES over Jackson.
The result WAS to the last degree odious ana
disappointing 70 tue country. and being i'm
puted TO the operation Of the method oi nOut-
nation, as well as 10 shameful Intrigue De-
tween Clay aad Adams, =" KING caucus, as II
was called IN the slang 81 the day, wss aO1ured
forever, and it, memory exists only for adj
momtiun and repruof."
Gen. jackson was nominated. both for bis
fret aud seoond term. by the Legislatures Of the
States. he trst National Convent on Tor the
nomlnnt'on o. candids,ss W - held ~ Baita,
prtyi ana they. presentei william. Writ foe
President, ana Amos Ellmaker for Vice rres,-
dent. az more infOr lation q this parry md
Convention be desired. reference may be had to
the venerable iburlOw Weed
=. In December q tie same year party styling
Itself National Republican met at baltimore
aud nominated Henry Clay and John Sergeant
for President and Vice-PresdenI.
The Democrats, ~ they now began TO dtstin-
RuiSh them selves, h ALREADY, by the s. tie Leg
islitutes. presented jackson for second term;
tut controversy existing m the choice VI can
didate for Vice Pr-sideut, for solution Of the
difficulty New Hampshire proposed tue expe-
dient Of a National Convention.
Tue irst Democratic National Convention was
called to nominate a Nice-Pfesident oaly; aud
y met IN baltimore on the list q Nay. lSia:
Robert Lucas OF ohio was chosen President OF
the bods. In determining tue selection OF
ulus NJ. Saunders Of North Carolina, adopted
the FOLLOWING resolution;
hesolued TAst elcn a'e be entitled In the nomina'
iion TO- De m.ye OF c.aidse Tor the We presde9cJ
be entitled tu Ia tue Electoral oll,gee undcr the uew
Debt snd lkai nov I.ro' " is w.oie \ toss
IN e COsresnoH shIh6e nscessdfp 70 constitute chce
Th,s Is the origin OF the now famous two
thirds rule. hartn Van Barren received the
requisite vote for the nominal ION. aud was elect
ed "n the tic~et with Andrew JACKSON.
The Dezt Democratic National Convention m ct
In Baltimore. N s ~ 1870. and Oy unanimous
vote nominated Van Hdren 90 succeed Jackson
In the Presidency. In loiO V an Buren Vas ire-
sen ed ~ another Convention at Baltimore fOr
a second tern but was defeated Oy Gen. HART
son. whom the " higs h ID nominated IN CONVEX
tOn nj Harrisburg. Tue ambition Of he Sage
Of kinderhO TX" was not to be appessed without
another iocunoency of the Presidency; aud ac-
COZ dinghy his fr,cnds urged MIN i"r nouiinattun
by the Democratic Convention which met al
dtimore the g1ln oi 4.sy, le+i But er.
Romul,rs NJ. saunders as again present with hIs
t~o-thiras rule aud on us motion the CInven-
ton adopted :. ~ vote Of las u lis. On une
FIRST ballot Van Buren, received LAG votes, ma
JOIity. out not twO-ttitas OF tue Convention.
Alter the seventh ballot an attempt was .ua re
to repeal The iwo-tnirds rule, but was def.ated
BY tue shnse vote by which IL was adopted.
namely. lis for ana las against IT'S repeai. On
the nuth uaiiot James N. POLK was nominated
by unailtuIOus vote.
In the Democr. TIC Convention which met at
Baltimore on the e of Nav, ls4s. the w OF bitds
r'ils was aesIn sdOpteu. aud under as operation
Lewis Case wiz Nominated fur the Frequency.
Tue same rule wa r. edacted at baltimore In
1852, ana has been retained 10y every succeed Ing
Democratic Convention.
II " not Lrue, tben, popui .rly re porte d. that
the tvo-tniros rule orr mated III tho Convention
OF ls4i. and was devised TO prevent toe nomiua-
ton VI Mr.. Van Buren,. 1t W s adopted IA ls1
by the nrst DemocrItic N .tional Cpnsen lou
ever held. and Is. IN trutu, on urigin |, ir,.di-
tiOual, and ornamental principle OF tue Demo-
cratic constitution.
lite policy Ut the rulo consists In IL efficacy
as = safeguard agaiust the nomination VI a Cail-
dd"te by states winch cannot contribute 10 his
election.
But tnis original argument for It's adoliion Is
indefinitely strengthened by tns uOdc.n T.. AZ
ticc Of IA unit Vote IA CJnVentiun. a ldfIe nu IL
Der ~ Stt1es now cast ineir vote as IL whole,
without reference to tue viii Of tue nlnsssity.
Ii ID Onvious that II all the Stetes were to &Opt
TINS eKpedient, ~ candid ,te mizOt 90 chosen ~
the minority u the Convention. For illustti-
trat,on: lake throe states with throc votes
e.cl in eaun OF two States Il part cuier csndi-
date has Two votes. ana one against uiu, Wine
the thrd state gives lis three votes for tue CHI
didate Of tho minority In the other two States.
lnis latter candidate h actually trc votes, and
the other fOur. Yet. hy opera ion OF tue unit
role, the man We h tOLF votes l. nominated over
the man with IRE votes! As ar.rdiug some
qua autee against this absurd aad lulq Hitous re-
suit, tue twO-tnIrds rule snnuId lie he,d iuVio-
la.e ROGER A. Pryor.