Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09

for President of the United States was a
product of the national democratic con-
vention of 1874 This convention was
notable, not only because of this fact, but
because 1t was the only one in which the
traditional two-thirds rule operated to
defeat a candidate having a majority OF
the votes in the convention. 1t is also
notable because of its connection with the
first use Of the telegraph.
| Gen. Harrison had died after only a
month In the White House and had been
succeeded by John Tyler, nominal
whig. but In fact Calhoun democrat.
His quarrel with the whig leaders had
gone to the extent that he had reorgan-
lied his cabinet on a democratic basis
and John c. Calhoun was his Secretary
of State. The slavery question was be-
coming more and more acute and prac-
| tically everybody in the south. as well
as great many people in the north, de-
sired the annexation OF Texas. The
Texans had secured their independence
| from Mexico and were knocking at the
door of the American Union. asking for
admission as a state. Tyler was dis
tinctly in favor Of annexation.
The democrats had been practically
unanimous in the belief that Mr.. Van
| Buren, should be renominated, confident
that the whig victory of 1910 could not
be repeated, since the administration had
been such complete failure. The wings,
on the other hand. We're determined that
this time no consideration of practical
| politics should prevent the nomination of
their popular idol. Henry Clay. The abo-
| litionist sentiment in the north was grow
ing, and tn, democratic leaders were be-
ginning to fear division on the slavery
question. The wings. by the very consti-
tuition OF their party, had always to con-
slider this difficulty.
Although bitter political enemies. Clay
and Van Buren, were warm personal
friends. Mr.. Van
Texas Question Buren, visited Mr..
Was Discussed. at Ashland. KY,
and they discussed the Texas question.
They agreed that it was too hot to ham
die. and decided to eliminate it an
issue In the coming campaign by COM
mon agreement. The wing convention
was to be held in Baltimore May /. and
the democratic convention was to meet In
the same city May n.
In those days each of the political par
ties maintained official newspaper organs
at Washington. The National Intelligence
err represented the wings and the Wash
there appeared in the National Intelli-
gencer an open letter from Mr.. Clay say
In gthat he was opposed to the annexation
OF Texas without the consent of Mexico.
as it would mean war: In the Globe on
the very same day there was an open
letter from Mr.. Van Buren, saying that
ne was opposed to the annexation Of Tex
as without the consent of Mexico as 1t
would mean war. This remarkable COIN
cidence Of the simultaneous publication
0f idonfira1 vioWS nf tho lQ9d-
ing candidates for President caused q
tremendous sensation.
In the south the democrats were prac-
tically unanimous In demanding the an
nexation of Texas, not only because OF
the slavery question, but also because the
Texas pioneers and fighters who had won
their independence from Mexico were
mostly southern men, and the south could
gard for the memory Of Crockett; could
not but sympathiZe with the aspirations
of Houston. A majority Of the delegates
to the democratic convention already had
been instructed for Van Buren,. But in
the south an anti-Van Buren, movement
gained rapid Roadway.
Andrew Jackson, In retirement at the
Hermitage. was old. but had not lost his
cunning. He had
Jackson Favored made Van Buren,
nL IT, President Of the
ooAn AAoAoo' United States, but
Van Buren's collision with Clay on the
Texas question absolved odd Hickory"
from further support Of his New York
lieutenant. A letter published in the
Nashville Union May ID, and signed "A.
Jackson" when read in the light Of after
events, shows that the old general al
ready had definitely decided to defeat
Van Buren, and to nominate a dark
horse Of his own choosing. 1t Is probable
that not even Polk himself knew that
early that he had been selected.
The democratic convention met May 81.
The first telegraph line from Washington
to Baltimore had been finished the day
| before, but only a few experimental mes
sages had been sent over 1t. At the same
time there was in session In Baltimore
the General Conference Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. and the debates on
the celebrated case of Bishop Andrew,
which were to result in the separation Of
the northern and southern sections Of
the church. were in progress. The know
nothing" or native American movement
was under way in Pennsylvania, and Bal
tmore then was fearing repetition Of
the riots that had taken place in Phila-
delphia only few days before when, in
riotous battle between know moth
ings'' and Irish Catholics, eighty odd per-
sons were slain. The whole atmosphere
was surcharged with excitement and the
people were prepared for anything. On
the same day a convention of office
holders. styling itself the national demo-
cratic Tyler convention" was meeting in
Baltimore. nominating President Tyler as
the democratic candidate for President.
This movement soon persisted miserably.
Romulus NJ. Saunders, who had cham
pfoned the
Moved Adoption two thirds
of Two-Thirds Rule. v,ous " oan,par
ton. nominated Heindrck B. Wright of
Pennsylvania for temporary chairman.
Mr.. Wright having taken the chair Mr..
Saunders Immediately moved the adop-
ton Of the rules of the national conven-
lions Of 1882 and 1885. This meant moth
ing more nor less than the readoption of
the two-thirds rule. The opposition to
Van Buren, included many of the south
ern delegates who had been instructed to
vote for him. He would have the ma
jority on the first ballot, for these dele
gates must follow their instructions. But.
if the two-thirds rule could be enforced,
these same delegates could, after few
ballots. with good grace desert Van Buren,
and go to some other man. That this was
the whole purpose OF the Saunders mo-