The Portland daily press., 1876-06-19

THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTIONS FOR
NOMINATING THE PREsIDENT.-It was in the
year 1881 that the first national conventions to
nominate candidates for President and Vice.
President met. The example was set, curiously
enough, not by either of the regular political
parties, but by the faction which came into ex-
istence Eo,ely to oppose the secret order of Ma
sonry. 1t is worth while to notice that it was
this movement which gave an opening to the
public careers of two men who afterward rose,
one to the Presidency, the other to the Senate
and the Secretaryship of State These were
William III. Seward and Milard Fillmore.
The Anti-masonic party grew out of the excite
ment produced by the mysterious disappear
ance of William Morgan, a member of the or
der who was supposed to have divulged its Sc.
crets. In September, 1881, national conven-
tion of this party assembled at Baltimore
John M Lean Of Ohio since judge of the United
States Supreme Court, was adopted as their
candidate for the Presidency, but he promptly
declined. The convention then rendered the
nomination to the famous Maryland lawyer,
William Writ, formerly Attorney General.
who accepted it; and Amos Ellmaker, of Penn
sylvapia, was added to the ticket as for Vice
President.
The causus system was now evidently ex.
tinct; no party would have dared to attempt
its revival, The system of national conyen-
tiors, exemplifed by the Antimasons, was
seen to be the only feasible substitute. As the
supporters OF jackson now called themselves
democrats" so his opponents adopted the
designation of National Republicans" The
latter party was first in the field to call a ma
tioual convention, and this convention met at
Baltimore in December, 1881. Its session was
brief, for public opinion had already marked
out Henry Clay as its candidate. Clay was
nominated on the first ballot, and Johu Ser
geant was given the second place on the ticket
Thus the opposition to jackson, which was
strenuous and hot, was yet divided at the start
of the race between Clay and Writ
The Legislature of New Hampshire issued
the fist call at this time for Democratic Ma
tional Convention-the first of that long series
of powerful and exciting conclaves which have
so often designated our rulers since. This BODY
met in May, 1882. The Democracy rallied in
large numbers at Baltimore. which may be
called the City Of Conventions, as well as OF
Monuments, so often has it been chosen for
their meeting place. General Lucas of Ohio.
was chosen president. One of the first motions
passed by this convention was to adopt the IA
nous wO-thirds rule, which more than once
afterward did deadly work with the aspirations
of statesmen. The form of this rule as adopt
ed at Baltimore was as follows:
"ResotUed That each state be entitled in the nom
inaon to be made of candidate for the Vice. -Presi
dency, to q number of votes equal to the number
that they will be entitled to in the Electoral Colleges
under the new apportonment in voting for President
tlce-freSlQe0U, anu TWO UllruS OF tine WlO0
number of votes in the convention shall be necessary
to constitute choice"
There was no doubt at all of the renomina-
ton of President Jackson; and the wording of
the first part of this resolution is explained by
the fact that the contest was upon the nominee
for Vice-Presdent John G. Calhoun had oc-
cuped this office, but had separated from the
Jackson party, and had become the apostle of
publication. On the other hand, Martin Van
Buren,, one of the shrewdest of politicians and
the Presidents most familiar friend, had been
rejected for minister to England by the Wbig
Senate. General Jackson was understood TO be
very desirous that Van Buren should have the
second place on the ticket; and as the conyep-
tion was composed largely of Jackson's adher-
ents, Van Buren, was nominated on the first
ballot, receiving 203 votes, to 40 forI Philip
Barbour, of Virginia, and 26 for Colonel Rich.
ard NJ johnson, of Kentucky
The result OF the campaign thus inaugurated
by the first national conventions in our history
was terribly disastrous to Mr. Clay, and was
the second of the long series of his defeats in
attempting to reach the Presidency. General
jackson was reelected by 219 electoral votes;
Mr. Clay had but 40; Writ carried Vermont's
Z votes; Pennsylvania cast its vote for Will
liam wilkins; and South Carolina voted for
John Floyd, of Virginia Martin Van Buren
was abundantly consoled for the rejection by
the Senate of his nomination as envoy to Lon
den, for he became Vice-President, and was
already designated as the favorite of General
jackson for the succession to the executive
ohair. George H. Toeole, in Hdrper's Magazine
for July.