Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-24
THE TWO.THrRDS RULE.
Its OrfgIn-PresfdentIal Elections
From Ihe time of Jefferson .cOWn.

10 IhE EDlAOR VI AA1 49,
The action of the Maine Democracy
foreshadows an attempt, in the St. Louis
Convention, to abrogate the two-thirds
rule. In view of the discussion which
the effort will occasion, and particularly
since some misapprehension seems to
prevail as to the origin aud policy OF
this famous regulation, a brief review OF
its history may not be without interest
and instruction.
The Congressional caucus, itself Dor
rowed from the politics of England, was
the original Of the National Convention.
In 1900, at Philadelphia, q caucus
composed of Representatives and Sena-
tors nominated Jefferson and Burr Tor
President and Vice President Of the
United States.
\ At Washington on the 18th of January,
1908, a similar caucus nominated Mad
ison for the Presidency; and in 1917 a
caucus presented him for reelection.
Meanwhile much discomfort with this
method Of selecting candidates had
spread among the Republicans; so that
on the llth of March, 1916, when a Con-
gressional caucus met in Washington to
choose G successor to Mr.. Madison, nine
teen members of the party refused to
attend. After a severe struggle between
Monroe and Crawford, the former was
nominated by a vote OF sIxty-hve TO
fifty four. Monroe was reelected with
out opposition. In 1924, Notwithstanding
the popular clamor against the system, a
caucus of Republican Congressman pre-
sented Crawford for the Presidency but
his nomination was largely repudiated
by the party; and in default of a ma
iority vote ia the college of electors,
Adams was elected by the House of
Representatives over Jackson.
The result was to the last degree odious
and disappointing to the country, and
being imputed to the operation of the
method of nomination. as well as to q
shameful intrigue between Clay and
Adams, king Caucus" as it was called
in the slang of the day, was sbjured
forever, and its memory exists only for
"admonition and reproot."
General Jackson was nominated, both
for his FIRST and second term, BY the
Legislatures of the States. The first
National Convention for the nomination
of candidates was held in Baltimore in
September, 1881, by the Anti Masonic
party; and they presented William
. Writ for President and Amos Ellmaker
: for Vice President. Of more informa-
: ton of this party and convention be de-
+ sired. reference may be had to the vener-
able Thurlow Weed
In December of the same year a party
s STYLING itself National Republican mel
G at Baltimore and nominated Henry
Clay and JOHN Sergeant for President
and Vice President.
The Democrats, as they now began Il
: Distinguish themselves, had already BY
9 the State Legislatures presented Jackson
i for a second term; but controversy ex
4 listing in the choice for Vice President
for solution of the difficulty New Hamp
II shire proposed the ~expedient of
National Convention.
The first Democratic N%otional Conven
ton was called to nominate a Vic
President only; and it met at Baltimor
: on the 2lst of May, 1882. RobertLucas
t. of Ohio, was chosen President Of tn
" body. In determining the selection O
q candidate the convention, On motto
of Romulus NJ. Saunders, of Mort
Carolina, adopted the following resolu
le ton:
n Resolved, That each State be entitled
:. in the nomination to be made OF a cal
u didate for the presidency, to
err humber Of votes equal to the humble
that they will be entitled to in the EleI
y toral Colleges under the new apportiol
er ment in voting for President and Vic
President, and that tpo thirds Of ii
whole number of UOtes in the COnCentfO
nd shall be necessary to constitute a chOic
This is the origin Of the now famor
two.thirds rule. Martin Van Buren, 7
ceiyed the requisite vote for the nomin
~ ton, and was elected on the ticket wi
to Andrew Jackson.
IN The next Democratic National Co
%vention met in Baltimore, May 20, l8a
lls aud BY unanimous vote nominated VI
Buren, to succeed Jackson in the Pre-
dency. In 1910 Van Buren, was pl
sentad by another convention at Bal
er, more for a second term; but was {
zee feated By Gen. Harrison, whom t
:, Wings had nominated in convention
llu Harrisburg. The ambition Of the "Sa
for Of Kinderhook" was not to be sppeas
without an other incumbency Of I
Presidency; and accordingly his frier
urged him fer nomination by the Der
Oou cratic Convention which met at Ba
Irta more on the 9th Of May, 1874 But !
for Romulus NJ. Saunders was again pres
with his t~wo.thirds rule; and on his I
ton the convention adopted it by a v
of t4S to ll8. On the first ballot Y
Buren, received LAG votes, a major
!, but not two-thirds Of the convent
yen After the seventh ballot, an attempt
ines made to repeal the two thirds rule,
ldi- was defeated by the same vote by VIII
nan it was adopted, namely, ll8 for and
ot- against its repeal. On the ninth ba
II. James X. Polk was nominated By
pms unanimous vote.
ives In the Democratic Convention wi
sian met at Baltimore on the 23d of y
ling lS48, the two-thirds rule was again aC
al. ted, and under its operation Lewis
~, was nominated for the Presidency.
en- The same rule was ~re-enscted at B
ana more in 1852, and has been retained
and every succeeding Democratic Con
Ither ton.
har- 1t is not true, then, as popularl.
:. ported, that the two-thirds rule orig
mpts devised to prevent the nomination
udy- Mr.. Van Buren,. 1t was adopte
or a 1882 by the first Democratic Matt
n av- Convention ever held, and is, in II
an original, traditional and fundamt
eIs"l principle Of the Democratic e%onstitu
ed 10 The policy Of the rule consists i
that efficacy as a safeguard against the
The nation of a candidate by States "
rsian capno' GGn'rlouss 70 ms election =,
lee od out e ;nde6niteIv strsu"tben'