The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-14
TO Be PRESIDENT
Politicians Who Declined to Be-
come Chief Executive.
Silas Wright, New York Senator.
Refused Both Presidency and
Vice Presidency in 1874. The
Gases of Washington and
JsTerson.

Every now ana then somebody rises
TO remark oracularly that no man over
declined the presidency of the United
States. This is mistake. II is well
known thar two presidents. Washington
and Jefferson. refused to be candidates
for third term. but it is probably not
so well known that two American states
meS of great ability and famous Ill
their day actually refused the prcsidcn-
cy itself And this, too, wien it was
within their reach, aud not. ns in tho
rase of Mr.. Whitney and some others
who would put away the crown, mere
possibility.
III 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
hexation Of Texas, but when the Demo
cratic convention assembled ut Balti-
more i'll May il was found that Van Blu
rem had clear majority of the delega-
ton over all other candidates. But the
two thirds rule, which oven then had
become Democratic tradition. having
first been adopted III 1882, doomed him
TO defeat, and tho politicians cast around
Ior an available candidate in Van Blu
ren's place,
They at once pitched upon Silas
Wright, senator from New York, who
was himself an ardent supporter of Van
Buren,. If Senator Wright had suid the
word. or had even been silent, he could
have had the nomination, but he utterly
and absolutely refused to permit his
nano to go before the convention. In
writing to "a friend who was n member
OF the convention he said, IF it were
proper l could tell you, with tho most
perfect truth, that l have never been
vain enough to dream of tho Office Of
president IN connection with my own
name, and wero not Mr.. Van Buren, the
candidate OF our state | should find lust
AS little difficulty ms now do in telling
You that | am not aud cannot, under
any circumstances, he n candidate before
your convention for that office -
This letter, read TO the convention.
was final, and the next thing done was to
nominate James X. Polk Then, in
spite OF every protest, Wright was nomi-
mated for the vice presidency. This hon.
or ho pereinptorily declined and tho
national committee placed George NJ.
Dallas name on the ticket instead of
his. History records that Polk and Dali
las We're elected as Wright would I'M
doubtedly have been had he suffered his
name to have been used by the convcn-
ton. In fact, Wright elected the ticket.
Tor he resigned his seat in the senate
Tor the express purpose of accepting the
nomination for the governorship of New
York, canvassed that state most thor
oughly and carried it for himself and
the national ticket. So here we have the
example OF man-and he was very
great man-who refused both the presi-
dency and the vice presidency.
Almost similar state of affairs &C
cnrrcd III 1852. General Cass, it will
be remembered, had been defeated by
General Taylor in lS4S, and he WAS the
most prominent candidate for tho Demo
cratic nomination i'll 1852 In the con
vention, however, he could not com
mahd tha two-thirds vote, and the man
ayers commenced 10 cast about for an
available substitute. The Virginians set
their eyes on Daniel S Dickinson of
New York. at that time Il senator. as
Wright had been before him. On the
thlrty-fourth ballot the Virginia dele
CATION cast their votes for Dickinson.
and he. being a momber Of tho conven-
flon, at enoe arose and in q strain of
efoquence seldom heard on such an oc-
casion forbade the use of his name. He
had come there, he said, instructed to
vote for General Cass and TO procure his
nomination, and no temptation could
induce him TO depart from that course.
BIS splendid self abnegation did not
secure tho nomination Of General Cass.
for ON tho next ballot the virginians
voted for Franklin Pierce and he was
nominated. A few months later he was
elected BY an overwhelming vote, carry
Ing all the states but four. There are
moral lessons for statesmen in these
historic instances and much food for
reflection. Ouriously enough, both these
SELF denying men were New York poll
tiodans. Chicago Times Herald.