The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-06
Democratic National Conventions.

united states, under the federal constltu-
ton, candidates for president were
brought before the people by congressional
and legislative caucuses. Washington, of
course, was an exception to this practice.
He was elected by nearly unanimous
concurrence of the American people. But
opposition to the tendency Of affairs to-
unwarranted power by some Of his prom
iuent supporters gradually chrystslized
into an organization called the Republican
party, and of which Jefferson was the ac-
knowledged head, while John Adams.
then vice president, was the leader Of the
strong government" party-called the
Federal party" BY common consent
these great men became opposing candi-
dates for the presidency, on Washington's
retirement, In 1877. Mr.. Adams received
the largest electoral vote (7l) and became
president, while Mr.. Jefferson, having the
next largest vote (6S) became under the
then mode Of choosing these officers) vice
president
The first Republican congressional eau
Gus to nominate candidates for president
and vice president is said to have been
held in Philadelphia, in the year 1900, and
to have nominated Mr.. Jefferson for the
first office and Aaron Burr for the sec.
ond, No record of that caucus has been
preserved.
John Adams, Of Mass, and Charles G.
Pinckney, of South Carolina, we're the
candidates of the Federal party.
The struggle was exciting and desperate,
but the Republican candidates were elect.
cd, Jefferson receiving 10 electoral votes
and Adams Ga.
In 1904 Jefferson was reelected, with
George Clinton, of New York, for vice
president, the Federal candidates, G. G.
Pinkney, of South Carolina, and Rufus
King, of New York, receiving only IA out
of l76 electoral vetcs No record of the
manner Of these nominations can be
found
In January 1903, when Mr. Jefferson's
second term was near it's close, Republi-
can congressional caucus was held in
Washington to decide between Messrs.
Madison and Monroe, as Jefferson's sue
cessor, and "a Of the l36 Republican
members Of congress attended the caucus.
Mr.. Madison received SO votes, while the
other II were divided between Mr.. Monroe
and George Clinton. The Federal party
supported Mr.. Pinckney, but the Republi-
cans were uccessful-Madison 1852, Pinck.
ney As.
Towards the close of Madisou's term he
was, in May, 1912, nominated for reelec
ton, by a Republican caucus, held Al
Washington, and was reelected -Madisor
127, and De Witt Clinton, the Fedora
candidate, SO.
In 1916, the Republican congressional
caucus nominated James Monroe, VIII
was elected by large majority-Monro
1873, aud Rufus King, the Federal candi
date, "a.
The rivalry between the Republica
friends of VIM. fl. Crawford Of Georgia
aud the Republican friends Of Mr.. Nor
roe. at the caucus of 1916, had produce
its results, and, in 1924, large majorit
Of the Republican congressman refused
20 into caucus at all. or to abide tho re
suits Of, one. But caucus was called, an
attended only by the friends of Mr.. Crav
ford. Of the 26l members of congress a
that time, PIG were Republicans. Ye
only &C attended the caucus, Ga of whor
voted to nominate Mr.. Crawford as tn
Republican candidate for president. TIL
nomination was extensively repudiate
throughout the county, and three compe
ing candidates were brought into tn
field through legislative caucuses or non
mating meetings held IN the differeI
states. These candidates were Andre
JscksJn, John Quincy Adams, and Henr
Clay-all of whom were then member
Of the Republican party. The result
this famous free-for-all race showed ii
fatal effects of dissensions and division
No one was elected by the people. Jacl
son received 80 electoral votes, Adams 8
Crawford al, and Clay 81. The electic
then devolved upon the house OF repr
seutatives, and Adams was chosen,
receiving the vote for Is states, against
for Jackson aud 4 for Crawford. IT
friends OF Mr.. Clay supported Adams.
This was the end of congressional ca
cuses. Gen. Jackson was immediate
placed in nomination by the legislature
Tennessee, for the election of 1928, al
the nomination was generally acquesc
in by the Republicans, or, as they we
then beginning to be called, the Democrat
throughout the country.
The Federal party had nicknamed L
Republicans, or the Jefferson Marty
way Of derision, Democrats, called the
'Agrariaus," and the party genera
adopted the name. Mr.. Richie, of t
Richmond Enquirer, always spoke of I
party as tho Democratic Republica
party, as did many. others, but it so
began to be called the Democratic" pal
and has beeu known by that name e,
since. Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay til
affiliated with the Federalsts, and
party soon took the name of ."Whig." a
was thus known until it died out and
present Republican party was formed
ks disruption, in lS54,-though many
Al