Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-08
NO.. 81.


knew whether he had voted the Re-
publican or Democratic ticket.
The first regular national conven-
ton to nominate a candidate for the
presidency was held at Baltimore, in
1881. Prior to that year the candi-
dates were nominated in several ways.
The following are summaries Of
presidential nominations and elections
prior to 1881. The candidates who
were elected president are indicated
by a star:
1889 and 1793-sGeorge Washing
ton, chosen by common consent; no
nominations.
1796-"John Adams, Federalist
candidate, nominated by informal
caucus of congressman. Thomas JEFF
ferson. Democratic-Republican cam
didate, also nominated by caucus of
congressman.
1800-John Adams, Federalist, re-
nominated by congressional caucus.
Charles E. Pinckney, also Federalist,
named with the understanding he
should be candidate for vice-presi-
dent Democratic Republicans short
ened the name to Republican" and
nominated "Thomas Jefferson by con-
gressional caucus. Republicans also
named Aaron Burr. Jefferson and
Burr each received seventy-three
electoral votes, Adams slxty-five, and
Pinckney slxty-four. The contest had
to be decided by the house Of repre-
sentatives. AS a result Jefferson was
victorious. Burr, who was second,
became vice-president
1SO4-Charles C. Pinckney, Feder7
alist, was nominated by congression-
al caucus. %Thomas Jefferson, re-
nominated by Republican congress-
men.
1S0S-Charles C. Pinckney, Feder-
alist, nominated by congressman.
James Madison, Republican, nomi-
mated by congressional caucus.
| 1S12-George Clinton, Federalist,
nominated at New York by caucus of
seventy delegates from eleven states.
"James Madison. renominated by eau
Gus Of Republican congressman.
| l816-Rufus King, Federalist,
nominated by congressional caucus.
"James Monroe, Republican, nomina-
ted by congressional caucus.
| 182O-No formal nominations. The
period is called in our history the
"era of good feeling" OF the two
hundred and thirty-fve electoral
votes, "President Monroe received all
but one, which was cast for John
Quincy Adams.
| 1S24-Political parties had all gone
to pieces and there was no regular
party nomination. A few congress-
men got together in caucus and NOM
mated William H. Crawford. In var
ious ways, through state legislatures,
mass-meetings, and informal confer
ences, Henry Clay, 'John Quincy
Adams, and Andrew Jackson were
named and voted for. The campaign
was a personal contest among four
candidates. The result in electoral
votes was: Jackson, SO, Adams, "a;
Crawford, Al; Clay 81. No candidate
having a majority, the contest was
referred to the house Of representa-
tives at Washington, and John Quincy
Adams won.
| 1S2S-The Jacksonian Republicans
adopted the party name Democrat"
and by state legislature and common
consent nominated "Andrew Jackson.
The John Quincy Adams administra-
ton party called itself National Re-
publican" and, by resolutions Of
state legislatures and mass-meetings,
renominated President Adams.
Henry Clay and James G. Blaine
believed that the presidency could be
won only through luck, chance, fate,
and providence. Clay was beaten
for the nomination in 1889, and the
nominee, William Henry Harrison,
was elected. Clay won the nomina-
tion in 1914, but was beaten at the
election. Again in 1S4S, he was beat
en- for the nomination, and the NOM
inee, Zachary Taylor, was elected.
Blaine was the leading candidate
for the Republican nomination In
1876. His friends were sure that he
would be nominated. He got two
hundred and eighty-ive votes on the
first ballot; Rutherford B. Hayes got
sixty-one votes. For seven ballots
the seventh ballot he got three hun
dred and fifty one votes-only twen-
ty-eight short of the nomination. But
Hayes received three hundred and
eighty-four votes on the seventh bal
lot, five more than the necessary ma
jority, and was declared the nominee
and afterward elected.
In 1880 Blaine was beaten for the
nomination by Garfield, and Garfield
won the election. In 1884 Blaine
easily won the nomination, but was
beaten by Grover Cleveland.
After the Cincinnati convention Of
I1S76 Blaine said: II am the Henry
Clay of the Republican party. 1 can
never be PRESIDENT" He was a fa-
talist.
For twenty years Daniel Webster
sought the nomination and failed. The
| legislature of Massachusetts, presented
his name in 1886. That was the be-
ginning and end Of his first boom"
He had "booms" in 1910, 1914, 1S4S,
and the final one in 1852. He could
have been. nominated for vice-presi-
dent in 1S4S. He refused. He was
too proud to take second place. Had
he accepted the nomination for vice.
president, he would in all probability,
have become president, for President
Taylor died fifteen months after in
auguration.
Republicans call the national con-
vention of 1880 the greatest" in the
history of the party. They mean 1t
was the most dramatic.
| Ex-President Grant, who had serv-
ed from 1869 to 1877, was again
candidate in 1880. The leader of his
supporters was Senator Roscoe Conk-
| 1. n f1,n Rrof 10