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

ton was composed largely OF JacksonS adhe-
rents, Van Buren, was nominated on the first
ballot, receiving 203 votes, to 49, for Philip
Barbour, of Virginia, and 26 for Col. Richard
III. johnson, of Kentucky.
The result of the campaign thus inaugurated
by the first national conventions ia our history
was terribly disastrous to Mr.. Clay, and was the
second of the long series of his defeats in at
tempting to reach the Presidency. Gen. Jack
son was reelected by 219 electoral votes Mr..
Clay had but 40; Writ carried Ve:mont's
votes Pennsylvania cast its vote for William
Wilkins and South Carolina voted for John
Floyd, of Virginia. Martin Van Buren, was
abundantly consoled Tor the rejection by the
Senate of his nomination as envoy to London,
for he became Vlce-presldent. and was already
designated as the favorite of Gen. Jackson for
the succession to the executive chair.
Gen. Jackson's political policy was of so bold
and aggressive a character that toward it's close
all who were not his submissive supporters had
been driven into opposition. Some time before
the period of new Presidential election, Gen.
Jackson not only intlmated to his followers his
wish that the Democratic nominations should
be made by national convention, but that his
successor in the executive chair should be the
Vice-president, MIR. Van Buren,. There was
great opposition to Mr.. Van Buren, in the
Democratic ranks and his opponents were re-
solved not to go into the convention, but to
concentrate their support on another candi-
date. AS has been seen, the Legislatures Of
the States had been in the habit of making
nominations for the Presidency for some years.
Indeed, after the cessation of the COMPRESSION
al caucus system. this had generally been the
method by which candidates had first been
brought before the country, though afterward
sometimes formally named by the national
conventions. This method was now adopted
alike by the opponents and by the friends of
Mr.. Van Buren-by his opponents So substi-
tute for convention, and by his friends in
order to strengthen the decision of the Demo-
cratic convention when it met.
Early in the year 1885 the Tennessee Legis-
lature nominated Hugh Il. White, one of the
Senators from that State, pure and venerable
man. He was the chief of those who had
broken away from Gen. Jackson, and opposed
the succession of Van Buren, and this nomina-
ton was confirmed by the Alabama Legislature
and the Tennessee delegation In Congress.
Mississippi nominated Van Buren,. Meanwhile
the Wings, who had as yet held no national
conventions, had not been idle. They hoped
to profit by the discussions in the Democratic
ranks and early in the year a large Wing
public meeting at Harrisburg, Pa, placed
Gen. William Henry Harrison in nomination.
Then Wing caucus in Ohio presented the
name of John Mclean of that State and the
Wings of the Massachusetts Legislature put
their Titan, Daniel Webster, into the field.
Such was the State of the campaign when
the Democratic convention, 600 st ong, assem-
bled at Baltimore III May. 1t was not an in
teresting convention, for it included only the
devoted adnerents of Gen. Jackson, and it's
work had been already laid out for it at the
Van Buren, was unanimously nominated
for President. A brief struggle en-
sued Oh the Vice-presidency, which was
claimed by the Virginia delegation for
William G. Rives. But Col. Richard M. John
son was nominated, in accordance with Gen.
Jacksons wish.
The course Of events during Van Burens
Presidency was such as to cause people to look
forward with keen interest not only to the cleo
ton, but to the nominating conventions, OF
1840 The bright prospects before the Wings
brought several rivals to the front BIB candidates
for their nomination for the first time the two
giants of that party, Webster and Clay, were
face to face as antagonists. 1t was seen that
it wonld be at last necessary for this party,
which had hitherto looked upon national con-
ventions as Democratic device, to adopt this
system Of choosing candidate, or else submit
to defeat in consequence of rival Legislative
nominations. The first convention, however,
held in view of the election of 1910 was that OF
the Abolitionists, who met at Warsaw IN No
vember, 1885, and selected James G. Blrney,
of Michigan, and Francis J. Lemoyne, of Penn
sylvania, as their candidates for President and
Vice-president. @
Then came the first and memorable Wing
national convention, which assembled at Har-
risburg in December, 1889. 1t was remark
able body, comprising an unusual number OF
distinguished men, and full of party zeal
breasts of all that they we're about to choose
the next President, tho first Wing occupant OF
the chair. Its proceedings were awaited with
the keenest anxiety at New York and at Wash
| ington. The friends of the gallant and clio.
| quent Clay were especially sanguine and al
| though it seemed probable when the oonven-
| ton gathered that there would be some con.
| test, Clay and his friends thought the result
assured. Clay had just made stirring speech
at Buffalo. beseeching his party to take hif
name out of the way if it presented the least
obstacle in the way of unaEimity. The conven
| ton met, 400 delegates being present. Gov
Barbour, of Virginia, presided, and In his open
ing speech he announced as the Wing creed
lone Presidential term, the integrity of pub
lie servants, the safety of the public money.
and the general good Of the people" The or
ganiZation effected, the convention proceeded
amidst intense excitement, to take an informal
ballot. This resulted in a small plurality fo1
Henry Clay. The politicians who opposed his
nomination, on the ground that the Antima-
sons and anti-tariff Wings would not support
him. now began to work like beavers among
the delegates. Besides Mr.. Clay, the calrdi-
dates voted for were Gems. Scott and Harrison.
A few votes were cast for Mr.. Webster, but his
friends held him back in the hope that
the other candidates would kill each other
eff and make a way fer him. The first formal
ballot showed Mr. Clay still slightly leading
the next proved that he was weakening.
Twenty-four ballots We're taking, when, Gen.
Scott having been killed off, and Webster's
friends having at last cast their whole strength
against Clay and in favor of Gen. Harrison the
''he4'o of Tippecanoe" was nominated. The
last ballot stood. for Harrison, 148; for Clay,
co. and for Scott 16
This event was most bitter blow to Henry
Clay. When he heard of his defeat, he gave
way to ungoverned rage, declared his friends
faithless and worthless, complained that he was
always nominated when there was no chance,
and always deserted when there was, and swore
that he would bid adieu forever to public life in
which there was neither gratitude nor honor.
Happily for his party and his own fame, this
determination was but momentary, and gave
way when the excitement Of defeat had passed.
The Democratic National convention met at
Raltimora in Nav 1S49 and Gov, William Car