The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-09-03
MEN WHO DECLINED.
OPTICIANS WHO REFUSED TO BE
PRESIDENT OF Th1UNsTEO STATES.

PRESIDENT OF TH1UNiTEO STATES.
klas Wright, u Sew York senator. Re-
fused Both Presidency and Vice Presi-
dency In ls44-The Cases OF Washing.
ton and jefferson.
Every nov and then somebody rises
10 remark oracularly that no man ever
declined the presidency OF the United
States. This is a mistake. 1t is we'll
known that two presidents, Washington
and jefferson. refused to be candidates
for a third term. but it is probably not
SO we'll known that two American states
men Of great ability and famous in
their day actually refused the presiden-
cy itself. And this. too, when it was
within their reach, and not, as in the
ease of Mr.. Whitney and some others
who would put away the crown, u mere
possibility.
In 1914 Martin Van Buren, was the
popular Democratic candidate for the
nomination of that year. He was not
altogether acceptable to the south be-
cause of his known opposition to the an
~nexation of Texas, but when the Demo-
cratic convention assembled at Balti-
more III May it was found that Van Bu-
rem had a clear majority Of the delega-
ton over all other candidates. But the
t%wo-thirds rule, which even her had
become Il Democratic tradition, having
first been adopted in 1882, doomed him
to defeat. and the politicians cast around
| for an available candidate in Van Blu
ren's place.
They at once pitched upon Silas
Wright, Il senator from New York, who
was himself an ardent supporter of Van
Buren,. If Senator Wright had said the
word, or had ven been silent, he could
have had the nomination, but he utterly
and absolutely refused to permit his
name to go before the convention. In
writing to a friend who was a member
Of the convention he said, IF it were
proper I could tell you, with the most
perfect truth, that l have neve been
vain enough to dream Of the office OF
president in connection with my own
name, and were not MI. Van Buren, the
candidate of our state I should find just
as little difficulty as I now do in telling
you that l am not and cannot, under
any circumstances, be a candidate before
your convention for that office"
This letter, read to the convention,
was final, and the next thing done was tc
nominate James K. Polk. Then, il
spite Of every protest, Wright was nomi
mated for the vice presidency. This hon
or he peremptorily declined. and the
national committee placed George NJ.
Dallas name ON the ticket instead OF
his. History records that Polk and Dial
las were elected, as Wright would un
doubtedly have been had he suffered hi.
name to have been used by the conven
ton. In fact, Wright elected the ticket
for he resigned his seat in the senate
for the express purpose of accepting the
nomination for the governorship Of New
York, canvassed that state post thor
oughly and carried it for himself ant
the national ticket. So here we have thu
example Of a mainland he was a very
great man-who refused both the presi
dency and the vice presidency.
Almost a similar state Of affairs &C
Cured i'll 1881 General Cass, it viii
be remembered, had been defeated By
General Taylor in 1S4S, and he was thu
most prominent candidate for the Demo
cratic nomination in 1852. In the con
vention, however, he could not com
mand the two-thirds vote. and the man
ayers commenced to cast about for al
available substitute. The Virginians Sc
their eyes on Daniel S. Dickinson o
New York, at that time a senator, a
Wright had been before him. On tn
thirty-fourth ballot the Virginia dele
CATION cast their votes for Dickinson
and he, being a member of the conven
ton, at once arose and in q strain O
eloquence seldom heard on such an oc
casion forbade the use of his name. II
had come there. he said, instructed t.
vote for General Cass and to procure hi
nomination, and no temptation coul'
induce him to depart from that course
His splendid self abnegation did no
secure the nomination of General Cass
for on the next ballot the Virginian
voted for Franklin Pierce and he wa
nominated. A few months later he We.
elected by an overwhelming vote, carry
ing all the states hut feury There ar
moral lessons for s~tasesGaen in thes
historic instances and much food TO
reflection. Curiously enough, both thes
self denying men were New York poll
ticians. Chicago Times Herald.