Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-06-22
iHarper's Magazin

kECBs0CHtk6AN O1A1l DAllO08s he
Old system.
lHarper's Magazine.l
Oar Presidents and Vice Presi.
dents were at first nominated by
caucuses composed OF the Senators
and nsnnbsrs OF the House OF Repre-
ssntativss belonging to each party.
This caucus system, although we
often see 10 decried by English wri-
ters and papers, was really derived
by our early politicians from Eng
land. II became the habit OF the
Parliamentary leaders of the Wings
and Tories, soon after the revolution
Of 1888, TO meet at taverns or club
houses In order TO provide Discipline
for the party ranks, to discuss and
decide on measures, and even on
special votes, and to designate the
personal OF new ministries. Many
an entertaining story of these con-
claves. which often partook OF a fes-
tive and literary as well as delibera-
tive character, has come down to us
In the writings OF Addison, Steele,
Harvey, and Horace WaIpole; and
although they were not known as
"caucuses," they were such in form
and In purpose.
Even before the Revolution,
American politics had taken dis
tinct party shape, and what were
virtually caucuses were held in the
quaint old inns OF Boston, New
York, and Philadelphia, on the part
both OF the Tories aud the patriots.
II was often decided in these confer
ences who should be sent to the
General Court, who should be made
colonel of militia, who should be
delegated to the Continental Con-
gress. At the "Green Dragon" in
Boston, notable conferences of the
caucus order were wont TO be held
In which Hancock, Adams, Otis, and
Warren were leading and inspiring
spirits. t@
For the first three Presidential
elections, however, there were no
nominating caucuses Of congressman
for the reason that the candidates
were very clearly designated by the
events Of the Revolutionary and
Notwithstanding period. y
1t was In the yenr 1900, when a
successor was 10 he chosen to Presi-
dent Adams, that the first caucus
recorded In our history was held.
II met at Philadelphia, was called
by the Republican opposition, and
comprised thirty-seven members OF
the Lower House and nine Senators.
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 congressman
used to frequent in the Quaker City,
and there seems to have been no
very sharp rivalry for the places on
the ticket. The CAUCUS was OF one
accord that Jefferson should be pre-
ssnted to the people for the Presi-
dency.
The eAneus in which there WAS. .
Jefferson was about 10 retire from
che Presidency. 1t was certain that
the norninee OF his party would be
elected. Virginia, that had already
furnished two out OF three Presi-
dents, supplied the rival candidates
to Republican caucus. One was
James Madison, who, having begun
az Federalist, had become a strong
political adherent OF Jefferson, and
was now Secretary Of State. The
other was Colonel Monroe, who had
been minister to France. Thecaucus
comprised ninety-four Senators and
members, and Madison was nomi-
mated by SO votes, George Clinton,
the then Vice-Prosident, receiving
a denomination for that Office.