Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-06-19
THE FIRST NATIONAL CONYEN-
TIONS FOR NOMINATING TIE
PRESIDENT.

dates Tor Presldent and Nlce-Presldent
met. The example was set, curiously
enough, not b. either of the regular po-
litical parties, but by the faction which
came into existence solely to oppose the
secret order of Masonry. 1t is worth
while to notice that it was this move
ment which gave an opening to the pub
lie careers of two men who afterward
rose, one to the Presidency, the other to
the Senate and the Secretaryship of
State. These were VIM. H. Seward and
Millard Fillmore The anti-masonic
party grew out of the excitement pro-
duced by the mysterious disappearance
of VIM. Morgan. member of the order
who was supposed to have divulged its
secrets. In September, 1881, nation
al convention 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 de-
clined. The convention then rendered
the nomination to the famous Maryland
lawyer, William Writ, formerly Attor-
ney-General, who accepted it; and Amos
Ellmaker of Pennsylvania, was added to
the ticket as candidate for Vice-Presi-
dent.
The caucus system was now evidently
extinct no party would have dared to
attempt its revival. The system of ma
tional conventions, excmplifed by the
Antimasons, was seen to be the only fea-
sible substitute. AS the supporters of
Jackson now called themselves "Demo-
crats," SO his opponents adopted the des-
'ignation of National Republicans. +"
The latter party was first in the field to
call national convention, and this con-
vention met at Baltimore in December,
1881. It's session was brief, for public
opinion had already marked out Henry
Clay as its candidate. Clay was nomin-
ated on the first ballot, and John 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 first call at this time for a
Democratic National Convention-the
first of that long series of powerful and
exciting conclaves which have so often
designated our rulers since The body
met in May, 1882. The Democracy raj
lied in large numbers at Baltimore,
which may be called the City of Con-
ventions, as we'll as of Monuments, SO
often has it been chosen for their meet
ing-place. General Lucas of Ohio, was
chosen president. One of the first mo-
tions passed by this convention was to
adopt the famous two-thirds rule, which
more than once afterward did deadly
work with the aspirations of statesmen.
The form of this rule as adopted at Bal
timore was as follows:
"ResotUed, That each State be enti-
tied, in the nomination to be made of a
candidate for the Vice. Presidency. to a
number of votes equal to the number
that they will be entitled to in the Elec-
toral Colleges under the new apportion-
ment in voting for President and Vice
President and that two-thirds of the
whole number of votes In the convention
shall be necessary to constitute a choice. y
There was no doubt at all Of the re.
nomination of President jackson and
the wording of the first part of this res.
olution is explained by the fact that the
contest was upon the nominee for Vice
President. John G. Calhoun had occu
pied this Office, but had separated frou
the jackson party. and had become the
apostle of notification. On the othel
hand, Martin Van Buren, one of th,
shrewdest Of politicians, and the Presi
dents most familiar friend, had been re
jected for minister to England by th,
Wing Senate. General jackson was un
derstood to be very desirous that VaI
Buren should have the second place OF
the ticket; and as the convention wa
composed largely Of Jackson's adherents
Van Buren was nominated on the frs
ballot. receiving 203 votes, TO 40 fol
Philip Barbour Of Virginia, and 2G fol
Col. Richard NJ. johnson of Kentucky.
The result Of the campaign thus inau
gurated by the first national conventions
in our history was terribly disastrous Il
hr. Clay. and was the second Of the lonl
series of his defeats in attempting Il
reach the Presidency. General Jackson
was reelected by 2l9 electoral votes
Dir. Clay had but 40; Writ carried Yer
mOnt's votes Pennsylvania east it
vote for Wm. wilkins and South Car
ollna voted for John Floyd Of Virginia
Martin Van Buren was abundantly con
sOled for the rejection by the Senate o
his nomination as envoy to London. fo
he became Vice-President, and Was al
ready designated as the fayorite Of Gen
eral jackson for the succession TO th'
executive chair.-Harpey's Magazine
REsTITUTIos.-You have defraudes
your neighbor. You have done him Al
;-sr-. ..of 1oofdNuf.Ifc k..t a.. ,,,.x,sea.