The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-06-23
Miscellaneous.
HISTORY OF DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL con-
MENTIONS.

MENTIONS.
There have been various and sundry times
within our recollection when the party
in opposition to the Democracy confidently
asserted that it bad become extinct as po-
litical organization. Doubtless, the wish
was father to the thought for from the days
Of Thomas Jefferson to the present, in all
national as well as IL all State elections, the
Democrats have had candidates before the
people, with Il distinctive avowal of princi-
pies, mostly with successful result, and al
ways. with Il powerful and telling vote. 1t
has ever been national party, founded upon
Il strict construction and faithful execution
Of all the provisions and stpulations of the
| Constitution Of the United States of course
| opposition to its principles could only come
from paIties who were equally in opposition
to the Constitution itself Hence, we see at
this time an organization avowedy built
upon the idea of a higher law than the Con-
stitution endeavoring to carry out, at the
| point of the bayOnet, an unconstitutional
| object and in Congress, the same party
organization repeating all the laws that coh-
flict with its notions, although some of them
were approved by the President Washing
ton, and all of them have the sanction of
the plain requirement of the organic law.
In the midst of such wholesale departures
from well-established principles and sound
doctrines, it is most gratifying to find the
old Democratic organization steadily and
consistently opposing itself to those innova-
tions, and as one man urging a return to the
faith and practice of the Fathers Of the Re
public, and asking the people, in view of its
past history, to intrust it once more with
position and power. In view Of its present
standing before the country, and as a pre-
face to an abstract Of its proceedings i'll the
coming national convention, we propose to
give short sketch of all previous Demo-
cratic National conventions. OF course, in
an article like the present, it is impossible
to give more than the most meagre statement
of the action of the several bodies, withou t
entering at all into the resolutions adopted.
Nominations for President of the United
States were originally made by the Demo-
cratic members of Congress, assembled in
caucus. Up to, and including that for 1924,
such ad been the uniform practice. The
Democratic Caucus candidate of that year
was William II. Crawford, who was beaten
by John Quincy Adams. The caucus sys-
TEN grew out of favor after this defeat, that
being one of the prevailing causes of the
opposition to it and Mr. Crawford was the
last Democratic candidate nominated bby
Congressional caucus.
General Jackson had been candidate in
bring him forward again as a candidate at
the next election. Accordingly, in 1928,
without waiting for or desiring any action
on the part OF the members of Congress
the people, in State conventions and mass
meetings nominated Andrew Jackson fol
President, and John C. Calhoun was sup.
ported for and Elected Vice President.
1t being understood that General Jackson
would be a candidate for reelection in 1892
it became necessary for the Democratic
friends Of his administration to unite on
candidate for Vice President to succeed Mr.
Calh Oun, who had quarrelled with Presiden
Jackson, and had also, in consequence o
his course, fallen out of favor with the De
mOcracy The plan of National Conyen
ton was hit upon, and the proposition wa
started in New Hampshire by the Demo
crati C members of the Legislature of tina
State
1t was responded to in nearly al! of tn
States, and the first Democratic Nations
Convention for the nomination of Presiden
and Nice-President, was held at Baltimor
on Monday, May twenty.tirst, 1892 1t wa
a complete success, al was attended by It
immense number { f people from all parts {
the United States.
Mr. Sumner, of New Hampshire, calle
the Convention to order and stated the oil
ject of the call which originated in his Stat
General Robert Lucas, Of Ohio, was chose
President of the Convention. Four Vic
Presidents and three Secretaries were ais
appointed. The Committee to prepare rule
proposed the celebrated two-thirds rul
which originated with Mr.. Saunders {
North Carolina, and has since been adopte
by the Democratic National Conventions t
a precedent to wit
"Resoired. That each State shall be eI
titled in the nomination to be made of
candidate for the v ice Presidency to a nun
Der of votes equal to the number to whic
they will be entitled in the electoral college
und er the new appOrtionment, in voting IL
President and Vice President and that tw
thirds OF the whole number of voters in III
convention, shall be necessary to cOnstitut
Il choice"
Much has been spoken and written for an
against this rule; the main objection to
bel ng, that it seems to be, or actually is col
trary to the Democratic rule of government
by mere majority that certainly if a mi
jority can elect President, a majorit
should be suflcentto nominate q candidate
But this objection is more plausible tina
solid. 1t should be recollected that this is
convention of friends, assembled iorthe recOI
Cling ofdiherences, aud the selection of som
eminent citizen who shall combine in himse
the castn umber of Objectionable elements, j
order to secure the greatest unanimity
votcs,as we'll as that he shall be distinguishC
by the utmost integrity and ability, so tn
there shall be the least possible opposite
to him and it cannot be doubted that, a
things consi dered, the man who can col
mand two.thirds of an unpurchased and Il
pdcked cOntnntiOn, stands the best chance
gathering to himself the scattered elemen