The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-23

rents, Van Buren, was nominated on the first
ballot receiving 203 votes, to 40 for Philip
Barbour, OF Virginia, and 26 for Col. Richard
M. johnson, OF Kentucky. AnH3i4t4
n Thsresu OF the campaign thus innngurated
by the first national conventions In our history
was terribly disastrous to Mr.. Clay and was the
second OF the long series OF his defeats in at
tempting to reach the Presidency. Gen. Jack
son was reelected by 2l9 electoral votes Mr..
Clay had but 40; Writ carried Vesmonts
votes Pennsylvania cast it's vote for William
wilkins and South Carolina voted for John
Floyd, OF Virginia. Martin Van Buren, was
abundantly consoled FOR the rejection by the
Senate OF his nomination Ms envoy TO London,
for he became Vice-presdent. and was already
designated as the fayorite OF Gen. jackson for
the succession to tho executive chair.
Gen. Jacksons political policy was Of 30 bold
and aggressive character that toward its close
all who were not his submissive supporters had
been driven into opposition. Some time before
the period Of new Presidential election, Gen.
Jackson not only intimated to his followers his
wish that the Democratic nominations should
be made by u national convention, but that his
successor IN the executive chair should be the
Yice-president Mr.. Van Buren,. There was
great opposition 20 Mr.. Van Buren, in the
Democratic ranks and his opponents were re-
solved not to go into the convention, but TO
concentrate their support on another candi-
date. As has been seem the Legislatures OF
nominations for the Presidency for some years.
Indeed, after the cessation of the Congression-
al caucus system. this had generally been the
method by which candidates had first been
brought before the country, though afterward
sometimes formally named by the national
conventions. This method was now adopted
alike by the opponents and by the friends OF
MIR. Van Buren-by his opponents AZ substi-
tnte for convention, and by his friends IN
order to strengthen the decision OF the Demo-
cratic convention when il met.
Early in the year 1885 the Tennessee Legis-
lature nominated Hugh l.. White, one Of the
Senators FROM that State, pure and venerable
man. He WAS the chief of those who had
broken away from Gen. Jackson, and opposed
the succession of Van Buren, and this nomina-
ton was confirmed by the Alabama Legislature
and the Tennessee delegation In Congress.
Mississippi nominated Van Buren,. Meanwhile
the Wings, who had AS vet held no national
conventions, had not been idle. They hoped
to profit by the discussions in the Democratic
ranks /; and early in the year a large Wing
public meeting at Harrisburg, Pa, placed
Gen. William Henry Harrison in nomination.
Then Wing caucus in Ohio presented the
name of John Mclean of that State /; and the
Wings Of the Massachusetts Legislature put
their Titan, Daniel Webster into the field.
Such was the State of the campaign when
the Democratic convention, 600 at ong assem-
bled at Baltimore III May. 1t was not an in
teresting convention, for i. included only the
devoted adherents of Gen. Jackson, and its
work had been already laid out for it at the
White-house. On the first ballot MIR.
Van Buren, was unanimously nominated
for President. brief struggle en-
sued on the vice-presidency, which was
claimed by the Virginia delegation for
William @. Rives But Col. Richard NJ. john
son was nominated, in accordance with Gen.
Jackson's wish.
The course Of events during Van Buren's
Presidency was such as to cause people TO look
forward with keen interest not only to the cleo
ton, but TO tho nominating conventions OF
1910. The bright prospects before the Wings
brought several rivals TO the front III candidates
for their nomination F; for the first time the two
giants Of that party, Webster and Clay, were
face TO face az sntagoni5ts. 1t was seen that
it would be at last necessary for this party,
which had hitherto looked upon national con-
ventions as q Democratic device, to adopt this
system OF choosing candidate, or else submit
to defeat in consequence of rival Legislative
nominations. The first convention, however,
held in view OF the election of 1910 was that Of
the Abolitionists, who met at Warsaw In No
vember, 1882 and selected James q. Birney
Of Michigan, and Francis J. Lemovne, OF Penn
sylvania, as their candidates for President and
Yice-president.
Then came the first and memorable Wing
national convention, which assembled at Har-
| risburg in December 1889. 1t was a remark
| able body. comprising an unusual number OF
distinguished men, and full OF party zeal /;
| there seemed to be consciousness i'll the
breasts of all that they were about to choose
| tho next President, the first Wing occupant Of
tho chair Its proceedings were awaited with
the keenest anxiety at New York and at wash
| ington. The friends Of the gallant and elo-
quent Clay were especially sanguine and al
though it seemed probable when the conven-
ton gathered that there would be some con-
test Clay and his friends thought the result
assured. Clay had just made stirring speech
at Buffalo, beseoching his party TO take hs
name out OF the way il it presented the least
obstacle in the way of unsrimity. The conven-
ton met, 400 delegates being present. Gov.
Barbour, of Virginia presided, and IN his open
| ing speech he announced as the Wing creed,
lone Presidential term, the integrity of pub
| lie servants, the safety OF the public money,
and the general good Of the people," The or
| ganiZation effected, the convention proceeded,
amidst intense excitement, to take an informal
ballot. This resulted in small plurality for
| Henry Clay. The politicians who opposed his
SONS and anti-tarin Wings would not support
| him, now began TO work like beavers among
the delegates. Besides Mr.. Clay, the candi-
dates voted for were Gems. Scott and Harrison.
A few votes were cast for Mr.. Webster, but his
friends held him back in the hope that
| TIE Otner CaDuluatcS WOulu XIII chcn Otner
eff and make a way fer him. The first formal
ballot showed Mr.. Clay still slightly leading !;
the next proved that he was weakening
Twenty-four ballots were taking, when Gen.
| Scott having been killed of, and Webster's
friends having at last cast their whole strength
| against Clay and III favor OF Gen. Harrison, the
''he.o of Hppecanoe" wa nominated. The
last ballot stood, for Harrison, 14S for Clay
30 and for Scott, 16.
| This event was most bitter blow to Henry
| Clay When he heard OF his defeat, he gave
way to ungoverned rage, declared his friends
| fathless and worthless, complained that he was
always nominated when there was no chance
aud always deserted whom there was, and swore
that he would bid adieu forever TO public life in
which there was neither gratitude nor honor
| Happily for his pGrtg and his own fame, this
determination was but mOmentary, and gave
way when the excitement OF defeat had passed
| The Democratic National convention met at
Baltimore in May, 1919, and Gov. William Car
roll OF Maryland, was made its President.
Twenty-one States were represented in it.
| This body assembled under very dscouraging
circumstances, for the temper of the country
had already betrayed itself enthusiastically
favorable 70 tue Wing ticket. President Van
Buren, was, however, after some opposition, re-
nominated by resolution-a mode which had
not before been adopted. 1t was this conven-
ton which first framed platform" of party
| l. L. II.