The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-06-22
DOMINATING THE PRESIDENT.


Candidates and the BaIlOtings.
(From Harpers Monthly for July.l
National conventions for the nomination of
party candidates for President and Vice-presi-
don't. 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 caucuses and State con-
ferenoes of the land.
In view of the conventions which are to meet
the present year, it will perhaps be interesting
to give a sketch of those which have already
been 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.
At the formation of the Government the law
provided that the person having the highest
number of electoral votes should be President,
and the person having the next highest Vice
president of the United States. This rule was
found to operate sometimes to defeat the will
of the people. It once made Aaron Burr who
was the Republican candidate for Vice-presi-
dent the rival of Jefferson, the candidate ,of
that party for President These two received
an equal number of votes, the voters intending
that Jefferson should have the first place and
Burr the second. The election being thrown
6ntO the House of Representatives, it was for a
long time not improbable that Burr might, as
result of this state of affairs, attain the Presi-
dency. Jefferson was, however, finally chosen,
according to the evident popular will The
other way in which the law operated to the re-
versal of the popular will was where there
were two candidates of opposite parties the
majority would choose the President, indeed,
but tho opposition candidaee would receive the
next highest number of votes for President,
and SO become Vice president. This was the
case when John Adams WIS chosen to the chief
place, and Jefferson, his opponent, chosen by
this method, Vlce-president. The law was, In
consequence, altered, so that the electoral COL
leges should specifically designate their choice
for the two Offices.
Our Presidents and Vice-presidents we're
first nominated by caucuses composed of the
Senators and Members of the House of Repre-
sentatVes belonging TO each party. This eau
Gus system, although we often see it decried by
English writer's ana papers, was really derived
Eby our early politicians from England.
.FOr the first three Presidential elections
however, there were no nominating caucuses
of Congressman. for the reason that the can
didates were very clearly designated by the
events Of the Revolutionary ana Constitution
forming period. The will OF the young nation
was already demonstrated so clearly that eau.
cuses were useless. Certain men were 80 re-
eminent that the general voice proclaimed them
candidates. Washington was chosen with one
accord, aud by the d of no political cOnclave
or party machinery and although. when his
first term approached it's end, there had grown
sup serious opposition to his Federalist svm-
pathies. and especially to the paramount intu-
,ence of Hamilton, no attempt was made to set
rup rival candidate. BY the time the third
election, that OF 1856 came round, however
tthe Republican opposition had become stiong
,enou- b TO contest the country. But even now
Ehere was no need OF a caucus. JoI.. Adams
the Vice-president, was clearly the most emf
nent Federaiist after Washington; nor was
-Jeffe1sOn's position as the founder, chief and
guide Of the Republican party less we'll estab-
aished. These two therefore, naturally took
position as candidates. The result of the cleo.
zion betrayed that the parties had neatly equal
strength for while Adams had seventy-one
electoral votes, Jefferson had sixty-eight.
It was IN the year 1900, when successor was
20 be chosen 20 President Adams that the first
caucus recorded IN our history was held. It
snet at Philadelphia, was called by the Republi-
can opposition, and compr'rei thirty-seyen
members of the Lower House and nine Sena-
tors. There was nothing very strlct or formal
about the meeting. These gentlemen
met to discuss candidates, very
likely in one of those coffee ouses which early
congressman used to frequent in the Quaker
City, aud there seems to have been no very
sharp rivalry for the places on the ticket The
caucus WIS OF one accord that Jefferson should
be presented ID the people for the Presidency ;
ana although there was some opposition to
Burr, the New York representatives insisted
that he should be taken for Vice-president, to
carry the Emp re State ana to checkmate HAM
alton. The Federalsts who were generally
favorable to giving Adams second chance,
accepted him as their candidate, only TO see
bum defeated by the Republican chief, while
Charles Cosesworth Pinckuey was their unsuc-
'cessful candidate for Yice-president. Jeffer-
sons administration was so brilliant and sue
cessfu! that no caucusing was done when the
period came for his reelection There ia
scarcely a doubt that he like Washington.
might have had third term by simply accept
ing it; but, again like Washington, he saw Too
clearly the evil precedent that this would es-
tablsh, togratify his ambition to the country's
injury.
The frs caucus in which there was q con-
feat was held in January 1898 Tofforo
about to retire from the Presidency 1t was
certain that the nominee OF his party would be
elected. Virginia, that had already furnished
GwSt out of the three Presidents. supplied the
Eival candidates to the Republican caucus.
One was James Madison, wnO having begun