The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-30

to Gen. Taylor.
The conventions OF 1852 were also
memorable events in our political his
tory. The Democratic National ConVen-
| tiOn assembled as usual at Baltimore,
on the 1st OF June. The prominent can.
didates were Cass, Buchanan, Douglas,
and Marcy. No nomination was made
until the forty-ninth ballot. On that
ballot Pierce was nominated, whose
name had not been mentioned till the
thirty-fith ballot, When he received fiji
teen votes; and ON the forty ninth he re-
ceiyed two hundred and eighty-two out
Of two hundred and eighty-eight, and
was nominated and elected. On the 10Th
OF the same month the'Whig National
Convention assembled at Baltimore.
This convention mad even more diff.
Guilty in making nomination than the
Democrats had. Scott, Fillmore and
Webster were the candidates. 1t re-
manned in session six days, and no less
than ffty-tnree ballotlngs were had;
and on the titty-third ballot Gen. Scott
received the nomination. In the plat
forms OF both the Wings and Democrats
of this year, the Fugitive Slave Law
was accepted and aGqulesced ins as
final setLlemenp Of the slavery Ques-
zion in the c0untry's politics, little lore
seeing that ten years later terrible
civil war would be raging over that
Question. This year, 1852, the Free
democratic National Convention was
neld at Pittsbulg, and nominated Hale
for the Presidency. AS usual, its plat
form was VolumInous, and extended to
twenty-five resolutions, the substance
of which was well summed up in the
tWenty-tirst resolve, in favor Of "Free
soil, free speech, free labor, and free
men,"
The National Conventions Of 1856,
though remarkable for their number,
were not remarkable for any important
events, except in the TACT that for the
first time in our history National Con-
vention OF either of the great parties
was held in the Mississippi Valley-the
Democratic, at Cincinnati, June 2, at
which Buchanan was nominated. This
convention exceeded all before known
in the longituuln0usness of its platform,
extended to one whereas and thirty-one
resolutions. 1t was III 1856 that the new
Republican party held its tirst National
Convention ut Philadelphia, June II,
and nominated Fremont for President.
In its published platform there appeared
| Tor the first time in any political plat
| form Il proposition tav0rlng Government
! aid in the construction of Il Pacific Rail-
| road: and the same was incorporated,
| four years later, in the Democratic plat
form OF 1860. Tne Wing party stil main
tanned its organization, though but lee
| bly,, held its National Convention at
Baltimore, and nominated Fillmore for
the Presidency. In the election Fill
more carried only one State, Maryland,
eight Electoral votes. The WING party
was now extinct. In addition 10 the
three owe mentioned, there was also
held in 1855 an "Amercan n Nationdl Con-
vention" at Philadelphia, whose cardi-
nal principle was, "Americans mustrule
America" 1t became commonly known
as the "Know-N Nothlng" party. 1t also
nominated the " hig nominee, Fillmore,
for President, With the result as above
stated.
The year 1860 was the most memorable
in our history Tor the character OF its
National Conventions. The Republican
Convention assembled at Chicago, in
May. Tne platform Of seventeen Gre
solves" was MADE and adopted before
nominating. The convention was in
session turee days. Seward, Chase and
Lincoln were the prominent candluRles;
necessary for nomination 233 votes.
First ballot-Seward, 173ia; Lincoln,
| iUZ; hase, 49. SECOND DalIoL-seWard,
1874; Lincoln, 1871. Third ballot-noW
the excitement, though amid profound
silence, became intense. Seward, l6O;
Lincoln, 23l]4: Lincoln lucked ~ yOtes
OF nomination.. Betore tue result was
declared, Carter, OF OhlO, announced
ane change Of four votes from Chase TO
Lincoln. ThereupOn that eXpectant
multitude sent Up a shout to wAlcu thur
der would have seemed silence. O.her
changes were maze, and Lincoln
received 354 votes, and was declared
nominated. The world knows what mo-
meutUus events grew out oil the WORK
Of this memorable convention.
The Democratic National Convention
Of the same year 1860 was Scarcely
less memorable. IL ass sembled on the
23d of April, AT Charleston. This Con-
yeutIon, like that at hicag0, proposed
| to adopt the platform before nominating
On tDls rock they spit. DI5c6ru on the
slavery plank INN diatety sprang up.
| Caleb Gushing presiuea; but his enI-
neut abilities In the chair could not pre-
serve order. TulbuIence bore sway.
| For six days the struggle was fierce ana
| the excitement intense. On the sixth
day Alabama seeded from the Conveu-
ton. Then Mississippi, Florida, South
| Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Georgia anu
Louisiana followed. The candidates
| were numerous, Douglas, Guthrie, Andy
Johnson, JEFF. DAVIS, Toucey and Pierce
| who received but one VoLe). Tue Con-
venlion balloted iifLy-seVen times, ana
no nomination. 1t mad been ten days IN
session. Finulng no results, an adjourn
ment was ordered to June Is AZ Baltl-
more. Inc seCeders also convened, and
adjourned to June IL at Richmond.
AT Baltimore the proceedings were
renewed, Gushing in the chair. Soon
Vi glula withdrew, then North Carolina,
Tennessee, California, part of Mary
land and part Of The KeuLucky delega.
tiOns. Gushing abruptly resigned The
chair and lett the convention. DaViu
Tod, oil ONO, Immediately assumed the
chalr as Vice President and ordered
call of the States. When Massachu-
setLs was called, Ben. Butler made tnat
memorable remark-"l Will not sit III a
convention wHere The African save
traue-which is piracy by the laws of my
country-is approylngly adyocate1V
and he with majority OF the Massachu-
setts delegation withdrew. Douglas
was finally nominated. Meanwhile the
seceders remained i'll session at Rich
mond awaiting results at Baltimore.
Gushing leaving Baltim ire, repaired to
Richmond aud became President of that
conventions, which on June 20, neml-
mated Breckenridge for President. And
SO The split in the Democratic party