The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-07-15
The Two-Thirds Rule.

A brief history of the two-tmrds
rule may be of some interest. Itwas
first adopted IN 1882 at the convention
In Baltimore held to nominate o eandi-
date for Vice President. Gen. jackson
had already been put In nomination fer
President, mot -byu Nrtiona Conven-
ton of delegates, but by the Demo-
Gratis of State Legislatures. With re-
spect to him the sentiment of the
party was confessedly so strong that no
convention was deemed necessary.
But there was diversity of opinion as
to the Vice Presidency, and New Hamp
shire had the honor to lead off for
solving the difficulty by O. propo-
sition for national convention,
which was really adopted. The
author of the rule was Romulus NJ.
Saunders, of North Carolina, on whose
motion the following resolution was
adopted: /" ReSotUed. That each State.
be entitled in the nomination to be
made of q, candidate for the Vice Presi-
dency to number of votes equal to the
number that they will be entitled to in
Electoral Colleges under the new ap-
portionment IN voting for President
and Vice President, and that two-thirds
of the whole number Of votes in the
convention shall be necessary to cons
stitute q choice.n Mr.. Van Buren, re-
ceived the nomination under this rsslee
In 1886, at the National Convention,
held sat Baltimore, he received a
unanimous nomination for the Presi-
dency, and was elected. In 1910 he
was again nominated, but was de-
feated at the polls by Gen. Harrison.
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 in
stance, the convention adopted the two
thirds rule by vote of 148 to 118. On
the first ballot Van Buren, received LAG
votes, a majority, but he was unable to
obtain the requisite two-thirds. His
friends then made an Intellectual effort to
repeal the rule. The result was his de-
feat, and the nomination of Mr.. Polk,
which. on the ninth ballot. was made
unanimous. At the Baltimore Conven-
ton of 1S4S this rule was again adopted,
and Mr.. Cass received the nomination
under it. In 1852 Mr.. Pierce was nomi-
mated under the same rule. In 1856. at
| Cincinnati, Mr.. Buchanan received the
nomination in like manner. In 1850
the Charleston Convention adopted the
same rule. Fifty-seven ballotings were
had and no choice was effected. Mr..
Douglas received 1911 votes, 202 being
requisite for choice. The convention
divided, and subsequently Mr.. Douglas
was nominated by one branch and Mr.,
Breckinridge by the other. In 1864, al
| Chicago, Gen. Mcclellan received 2024,
the remaining 2Si being for Mr.. Sey.
mour, of Connecticut. In 1868,
at New York, Mr.. Seymour,
of that State, received 317 OF
the twenty-second ballot, 212 being nee
essary for choice. At Baltimore, IL
1872, Mr.. Greeley received 686 out o.
732. At st. Louis, in 1876, 492 was the
number requisite for choice, and OF
the second ballot Mr.. Tilden received
525 on roll call, and his nomination
was then made unanimous. At this con
vention, on motion of Mr.. Webber, o
Michigan, the States we're requested t.
instruct their delegates to the next con
vention, whether it be desirable to con
tinue the two-thirds rule now In force
and that the request should be inserted
in the call as has been done. The usua
practice had been to agree upon th'
rules at the opening of the convention
This was done at st. Louis, on motion
of Judge Abbott. ."-Bostors Post