The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-20
THE TWO-THIRDS RULE.
Its Origin as stated by One who Participated
In the Events oil the Time,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. Gen.
Pryor's statement Of the origin and history Of
the two-thirds rule, In yesterdays SUN, Ia quite
correct In so far as regards principal facts. Hts
suppositon that the rule was ad opted in order
to guard the party against a possible nomins-
ton, in convention, OF a Democratic cand late
for the Presidency by delegates from anthem
ocratc states. Is wholly erroneous. The true
cause and origin Of the rule this From the
foundation OF the Federal G oyernment up to the
assembling OF the Democratic National Conven-
ton OF lsS2 It had been the practise OF the party
In all the Northern States to nominate lite can O.
didates for elective Offices, with the exception
Of Presidential electors, by conventions Of dele
gates selected by the people in primary meet
inss, while in all the Southern States II was the
general practise for candidates for office to
nominate themselves or TO consent 20 run
upon the Informal request Of their friends.
Indeed, so strong was tho feeling there against
nominations by conventions, that when II was
proposed by toe Democrats OF the North, In Is 2.
that national convention be cal ed for the pur-
pose of seiecting candidates for President and
Nice-President, the proposi ion was, at first,
/ strongly opposed by the Leading men OF
the South upon two grounds -nrst. be-
cause such course would be contrary
| cples in regard to the selection OF candidates
for Office; aud, secondly, for the reason as stat
ed by them. that nasmucn a. the Southern OF
slaveholcing states would have 10 the proposed
convention only about one-third Of the dele
| gates sent there, a ctuuluate Tor the Presidency
| might he selected by majority Of the conven-
| ZION then, or AZ some future time, who was ob-
noxious TO them. The latter objection was
| urged with great force ana pertinacity, and II
was only upon the understanding and promise
| OF the leading Northern men that rule should
| be adopted which would Insure protection to
the constitutional rights Of tue Southern st ates
| that the Democracy Of those States finally con-
| scented to, and dld send delegates To- the Con-
vcntiuu. pom the meeting Of the Convent IN
| Mr.. Saunders Of North Carolina, IN order to
| carry into effect the understanding adverted to.
| Introduced the two thirds rule, and Il was
theteupon adopted.
II Is true, as Gen. Pryor saws, that the rule was
adopted by the first Democratic National Con
ventlOn ever heidi aS a fundament Il principle of
the Democratic constitution. But AS outrHnk
| him some twenty wears In active politic.l ex-
perience. lie may safely rely upon my memory
OF events In which l myself participated, and
accept as true the facts ABOVE stated IN regard
to the cause and reason OF the rule IN quos ton.
Assuming, then, We may, that the two
thirds rule was adopted fOrty-f four years age,
upon tho demand and At the instance Of the
Democrats Of the Southern States, for ihc pro-
lection of their constitutional rights, and for no
other cause or purpose, II may well be asked,
now that slavery and abotionists have passed
away toRe her, what reason now exists Tor til .
continuance Of that ruler
Originally II was adopted from necessity, and
then WAS, and hib ever since remained, case,
sui geneTts never having been parnllelled, or tol-
lowed IN one single instance, in either conven-
nant TO that vital principle OF Democracy whiCh
declares that the will Of the majority shall
govern; and, except for the necessity Of the
case arising from then existing facts aud fears,
II could never nave been adopted.
JUNE, 70, 1876. joins NJ. BARBOUR.