The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-26
TEE TW0.THlRDS RULE.
II Il tho Common LAW In Demo-
cratic National Conventions.
II Cannot Safely BE Abandoned in
1880.

ventions In former years. we have obtained
much valuable data. which are particularly
interesting at this time. In view OF the fact
that the delegates to be- sent TO the Cnen.
natl Convention are expected to boar with them
instructions from their constituents m to
whether II be desirable to continue the two
thirds rnle longer in force In Nationas Demo-
cratic Conventions.
Tho National Democratic Convention Of
1aaA met at Baltimore May 7a and after tho
election Of a chairman. Mr.. Romulus Al. Baun-
dere. Of North Carolina. rose and said. mas
much ~ he had been member of the oonvon.
tons Of 1897 and 1885. whose selections had met
with tho approving voice oi the people, no IA.
vored the adoption oi the rules Of said conven-
lions for the government ot the preasnt body.
Moears. Gave johnson. Clifford OF Maine. Col.
Quit Of Georgia. and HOPKINS Of Virginia. OBJ
iected. proposing that the convention should
be more completely organized. etc.
After some remarks ny Senator Robert J.
Walker. Of Mississippi. Mr.. Saunders withdrew
his motion. avowing his determination TO re-
new II NJ soon NJ the convention was organized.
Alter "a. an Espofnf o. 20" U9mm',t.s @ On Ofsa.n
to recommend officers OF the convention. and
then Mr.. Saunders renewed his motion.
nsy denerai under President jackson. the e.
pecial friend ef e1 President Van Buren, and
the war most advocate OF his nomination by tho
convention, in some explanatory remarks In
to await tho ac,ion Of the committee appointed
to seeS 9ssi I, III, further
penaion of tho resolution Of Mr. taunders. He
had bnt little to- say but wished to come to the
walker read from Tue record the establish d, ent
Of the rules In 1852 and 1885, ana also referred
the adoption Of the rules Ia 1870 He commended
on ss one Which was Identified With the frst forms
tion Of National Democratic Conventions Hs
was IN favor Of that rule being adhered to now.
out that the two-thltda rule would be an invn-
sion 81 the rights Of tho msjj,crity e the Demo.
70 be
rights Of that majority. And he warned gentle-
men that i 2 mere majority rnlv were 70 30
tend to tho utter disorsap isation Of the party.
After remarks by several other gentlemen.
Mr. Jewett OF Maine. offered . resolution TO
appoint q committee on rules for tho govern
ment of the convention.
end ss
Mr. Walker hoped Mr.. Saunders would with
taken @ on MI. Jewetls resolution. wv - =
Mr.. Aaunders desired to. obllge his friend
and said be msht DO 90 ns
.dS% then g ssss 1 the history q rules SdeDtsd
m hsm T sne
State SHOULD have the same number Of votes in
convention a. In tho electoral colleges: that
they might determine among themselves: and
two-thirds OF the convention to nominate
Mr. Butler moved to amend BY excepting SO
much OF the rules 49, required o two thirds vote,
and spoke at lensth. He considered himself
to hs q ne rse
ence to precedents. which ho considered as
Questions for more lawyers. etc He dig;
aSsss anpsaied 'nG 10 l,s advocates to know Il
any OF them believed twe.tbirds Of lhe con-
vention could BE- found H.. II favor Of my NY
the sake of the argument. and believing. as he
firmly did. that It was true, how did tho present
ease compare with that Of 1882 or that OF 1885?
to tey md Mr.. Walker and nr. saunders reierrine
to tho precedent Of 1850 The log cabin. hard
Gated % The % adoption 81 ihe twe-tbirds rule. which
must have the effect Of preventing any nomina-
Or q driving ,ne o The
by withdrawing his amendment
On the second days session MI. Brewster
moved to take up the Saunders proposition.
Mr. Tibbetta. of Kentucky. favored the two.
thirds rule He said he was instructed to sup
however. his nomination could not be- secured
under tho two thirds rule he was ready to sup.
port any other candidate to secure union aud
Gov Hubbard. OF New Hampshire. was op-
posed to the two.thirds rule. and hoped Mr..
| Saunders would withdraw his Amendment
| but Mr.. q. declined to do so.
Gov. Morton. OF Massachusetts. desired to
| have direct vote on the question pending. and
| was in favor Of the majority rule In making
MI. Walker took the floor and very earnestly
replied to the speech OF Mr.. Butler the day be-
| fore.
Mr.. Saunders's amendment. and said II any
gentleman could not get two. thirds OF the con.
vention his election could not be hoped for, and
the Whig candidate - Mr.. Clay = would be
elected.
MI. Dickinson did not believe the two. thirds
| rule In existence, and the very proposition to
establish 1t proved that 1t was not.
| Mr.. Medary. of Ohio. opposed the amend
ment, and after a fer few remarks BY Mr..
Kaiser, of Missouri. the question was loudly
called for.
a resolution was adopted that the vote be
taken by States. and the result was as follows:
States. Yeas NayelI States. Yeas. Nays
Maine ... Alabama
N Hamp IL =. Mississippi,
Massach'ttsI s Louisiana
Vermont Il Zen nes6ee IL
Rh. leland KENTUCKY IL :.
Oonneetic'l lOhio. -. 10
New York 80 lIIndi4nA. Ia