The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-15
Old time Conventions.


tions there were no nominatingicaucusts 8
of congressman, for the reason tnat the
candidates. were very clearly designated
by the events of the Revolutionary and
Constitution-forming period.
1t was in the year 1909, when a suc-'
cessor was to be chosen to President
Adams, that the first caucus recorded in
our history was held. 1t met at Phila-
delphia, was called by the Republican
opposition, and comprised tbirty-seven
members OF the Lower House and nine
Senator'S. There was nothing very strict
or formal about the meeting. These
gentlemen met to discuss candidates,
very likely in one of those coffee-houses
which early .Congressmen used to ire
auent in the Quaker City, and there
seems to have been no very sharp rival-
ry tor the places on the ticket, The
caucus was of one accord that Jefferson
should be presented TO the people for the
Presidency. ...
The first caucus in which there was a
contest was held in January, 1908.
Jefferson was about to retire from The
Presidency. 1t was certain that tn, rom :
nee oil his party would be ected. Vlr-
ginia, that had already furnished two
out OF tue three Presluents, supplied The
| the rival candidates to the Republican
|
having begun as a federalist. had
| become strong political adherent ol
Jefferson, and was now Secretary ol
State. The other was Colonel Monroe,
who had been minister TO France. Tue
caucus comprised ninety-tour Senators
/ and members. and Madison was nomi-
mated by eighty-three votes, George Clir'
| ton, the then Vice Presiuent, receiving
a denomination for thai Office. " was il
| tue year 1881 that the first national con
yentions TO nominate candidates .iol
President and Vice Presidentm met. The
example was set, curlously enough, ao1
by either of the regular political parties
| but by the iaction wnicn came into ex
istence solely 10 oppose the secret Or
der of Masonry. 1t is worth while tC
notice that il was this movement whicl
| gave an opening to the public careers o.
two men who aiterWard rose, one to the
Presidency, the other TO the Senate and
tl,e Secret aryship OF State. These were
] William III. Seward and Mlllard Fill
Il more. 4 w. lsu-. s...
The caucus system is now evidently
4 extinct; no party would have dared u
attempt its revival. The system OF ma
tional conventions, exempllhed by th'
IAntimasons, was seen to be the only
feasible substitute. AS the supporter
lnDemocrats," SO his opponents adoptet
the designation of '.National Repubii
cans,n The latter party was first IN the
field to call national convention, ant
this convention met at Baltimore In De
| ceraber, 1881. Its session was brief, 10
bubble opinion had already marked ou
/ Henry Clay as its caldidate. Clay Wal
nominated on the first ballot, and Johi
Sergeant was gwen the second place OF
the ticket.
4 Tho Legislature. Of New Hampshire
issued the first call at this time for
Democratic National Conyention-th'
first OF that long series of powerful AM
) exciting conclayes which have 80 oftei
designa ed our rulers since. This b0dy
| met In May, 1892. The Democracy raj
Lied in large numbers at Baltimore
which may be called the Clty Q
Conventions as well as Of Monu
lments, SO often has 1t been chose
: for their meeting place, General Lu
cas-, of Ohio, was chosen President. On
: OF the first motions passed by this Con
yention was to adopt the amous two
thirds rule, which more than once after
ward did deadly work with the aspira
7 tions Of statesmen.
The result OF the campaign thus In
laugurated by the first National Conven
tons In our history was terribly disas
trous to MIR. Gay, and was the secon
Of the long series OF his defeats in al
. tempting to reach the Presidency. Ger
Jackson was reelected by 2l9 electora
votes.- [Harpers Magazine.
VI .