The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-05-07
.lea* e7l4e MONROE LOUISIANA, FRIDAY. MAY I, l6
THE Two-rHIRDs RULE.

THE Tw0-THIRDs RULE. 900
lFrom the Boston Post.l': IN 80
AS the convention at Cincinnati will
be called to take action on this subject,
a brief history of the rule may be oi
some interest. It was first adopted in
1882 at the convention In Baltimore
held to nominate q candidate for Vice
President. Gen. Jackson had already
not by National Convention Of dele
gates, but by the Democrats Of State
Legislatures. With respect to him the
sentiment of the party was confessed1y
so strong that no convention was deem
ed necessary. But there was Q diver
sity Of opinion as to the Vice Presi-
dency, and New Hampshire had the
honor TO lead off for solving the 'dim.
Guilty by q proposition for . National
Convention, which was readily adopted.
The author of the rule was Romu1us
M. Saunders, of North Carolina, on
whose motion the following resolution
was adopted: sResolved, That each
State be entitled in the nomination to
he made of candidate for the Vice
Presidency to a number Of votes equal
to the number that they will be entitled
to In the electoral colleges under the
new apportionment in voting for Pres.
ident and Vice President, and that two
thirds of the whole number of votes in
the convention shall be necessary to
constitute choice.' Mr.. Van Buren,
received the nomination under this
rule. In 1885, at the national conven-
tion held at Baltimore, he received a
unanimous nomination tor the Presi-
dency, and was elected. In 1910 he
was again nominated, but was again
defeated at the polls by Gen. Harris
son. In 1874 the friends OF Mr.. Van
Buren again urged his nomination,
but there was serious opposition to it.
Mr.. Saunders was present, and at his
instance, the convention adopted the
twO-thirds rule by vote Of 148 to 11S.
On the first ballot Van Buren, received
LAG votes, o majority, but he was un-
able to obtain the requisite, two-thirds..
His friends then made an edectual eff
to repeal the rule. The result was his,
defeat, and the nomination OF Mr..
Polk, which on the ninth ballot. was
convention of 1s4S this rule was, again
adopted, and Mr.. Cass received the
nomination under it. In 1852 Mr..
Pierce was nominated, under the same
rule. In 1856, at Cincinnati, Mr.. Blu
chanan received the nomination in
Nike manner. In 1860 the Charleston
convention adopted the same rule.
Fifty-seven ballottings were had and no
choice was affected. Mr.. Douglas re-
ceived Isl votes, 2O2 being requisite for
a choice. The convention divided and
Mr.. Douglas was nominat-
ed by one branch and Mr.. Breckenridge
by the other. In 1864, at Chicago,
Gen. Mcclellan received 2O24, the re-
naming twenty-eight and one-half
for Seymour of Connecticut. In 1868,
at New York, Mr.. Seymour of that
State, received 317 on the twenty. Sec
ond ballot, 202 being necessary for a
choice. At Baltimore, in 1872, Mr..
Greedy received $50 out of 1872. At st.
Louis, in 1876, 1872 was the number re-
quisite for choice, and on the second
ballot Mr.. Tilden received 525 on a.
roll call, and his nomination was then
made unanimous. At this convention,
on motion of Mr.. Webber of Michigan,
the States were requested to instruct
their delegates to the next convention,
whether it be desirable to continue the
two-thirds rule now in force, and that
the request should be inserted in the
call as has been done. The usual
practice had been to agree upon the
rules Mt the opening of the conven-
ton. This was done at st. Louis on
motion of Judge Abbott.