The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-12

arisen from an exclusive attachment to Jack
son. The object is to break down this
vile combination which rules and dgrsdes
the United States"
Governor Aston wrote ir reply hat he
agreed with his father.in-law opinion, but
that he lacked the health aid spirits neces.
ssry to carry out the scheme. He was a
stricken man. His only sor had recently
died, and his wife had just ded at sea. He
died himself soon after, and this letter lay
among his papers Tor many years without
having produced any effect Mr.. Monroe was
nominated by the caucus and elected by the
people; then re-nominated and reelected; and
he enjoyed the most peaceful and, may add,
comfortable time in the presidency that any
man has ever had before or since
Colonel Burr speaks of the alleged combs
nation of Virginans as "vile." In this he
was utterly mistaken. We now know the
interior politics of those days, and We can
plainly see that the motives which governed
the men whom he denounced were high and
patriotic. The method of nominating by
caucus had indeed been outgrown in 1924,
and had become unpopular, but the statesmen
who adhesred to it did 50 for generous and
good reasons. Colonel Burr once said that
the best head in the United States was that
of Albert Gallatin. Besides good head, he
had something else which usually goes with it,
namely, good principles He has placed on
| record the reason why he endeavorsd to con-
tinue the caucus method, and to use it for the
nomination Of w, II. Crawford, of Georgia.
In 1924 he thus wrote to his old Swiss school,
mate, Jean Badollet:
During the twelve years that WAS in the
treasury was anxiously looking for some
man tiat could I'LL my place there, and in
the general direction of the national con-
cerni; for one, indeed, that cruld replace
Mr.. Jefferson, Mr. Madison and myself"
He thought that he had found this man, at
length, in the person of MIR. Crawford, who,
he said, "united to a powerful mind cor
rect judgment and An inlexible integrity"
For this reason, and for this alone, he pre-
ferred Crawford, and adhered to the system
of nominating by caucus Of members.
Probably that method would have suffced
once more if Mr. Crawford had not been
stricken with paralysis few months before
the meeting of the caucus.
In February, 1924, King Caucus was de.
throned. Republican members were as usual
invited to meet in the hall of the house, and
on this occasion, for the first time, the public
were admitted to the gallery. But only six
ty-six members attended, and, although they
nominated Crawford and Gallstin, the party
did not accept the nominations; and, the
people not succeeding in electing president,
the choice devolved on the house of repre-
sentatives which chose John Quincy Adams.
We hear no more of King Caucus after
1924. Andrew Jackson was nominated,
first, by the legislature of Tennessee, and,
afterwards, by other legislatures or legisla.
tive caucuses. He was borne on y wave of
popularity into the presidency, to the last
ing discontinue of all men who were sup
posed to be in the line of advancement.
The next step was the national convention.
At first it was only device for carrying out
the will of General jackson, who had made
up his mind that he would be succeeded in
the presidential chair by Martin Van Buren,.
To accomplish that purpose he consented to
serve second term, with Van Buren, tor
vice-president. For his own denomination,
the old machinery of legislative csucuses was
employed again, and for the last time. MIR.
Van Buren, could not have been nominated
in that way, for the requisite number of
compliant legislatures could not have been
found. To meet this difficulty Major Will
liam B. Lewis, Jackson's neighbor, friend
and chief manager, who lived in the white
house during the generals presidency, sug-
gested the plan of a national convention.
The Kitchen Cabinet took it up, and on
the 2lst of May, 1882, Democratic conyen-
ton of three hundred and twenty.six dele
gates met at the city of Baltimore.
This convention was "Machine," pure and
simple. 1t was composed almost wholly OF
men directly under the influence or ontrol
of the administration. 1t was not expected
to perform one spontaneous action; for even
chairman was chosen for it beforehand;
Judge Overton, of Tennessee, who, however,
was prevented from presiding by sickness.
1t was a wonderfully harmonious convention,
and its business was promptly transacted
Upon coming to ballot for . candidate fol
the second Cfic Mr.. Van Buren, received
260 votes; P. P. Barbour, of Virginia, 40
Richard NJ. johnson, Kentucky, 26. The
convention adjourned without issuing any
address to the people.
From that time to the present, candidates
for the presidency and vice-presdency hay
been nominated by national conventions
The plan has its advantages, and still appear
to answer the purpose toerably well. Ii
time, it will be outgrown, and Will be super
seeded by better. Finally, doubtless, ever,
voter will have an opportunity to indicat
his first choice; a nominating convention vii
consist of the entire party, and no one vii
shire hall"