The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-15
Eight Failed OF a Second Nom
ination at the Hand of
Their Party.

wv JHEN President Taft contem-
NAI plates the history of second
w nominations and second
terms he must find food for
thought. Determined opposition to a
second term began and succeeded with
the first Adams, though the factlonal
enemies within his own party could not
prevent his denomination. So secret
was the Federalist caucus OF congress
that renominated Adams that no record
Of its history has been found. Hamil.
toms letter opposing the denomination,
made public against his will and as
campaign document of the Republic
ans, came too late to influence the
question Of nomination, but not too late
to help defeat the reelection of Adams.
Many believed and Josiah Quincy
charged from his seat in the house of
representatives that Madison obtained
his denomination only after he had
made terms with the war faction of his
own party. Eight years later the GU.
rious condition of parties made possi-
BILE not only the denomination. but the
ton. John Quincy Adams refused at
Clay's suggestion to use civil appoint
ments for the promotion Of his second
nomination, but got it all the same.
though he must have known that the
four years cry of bargain and sale"
set up by the Jackson men had made
his reelection nearly impossible.
Why Jackson Ran Again.
Jackson had recommended that the
president be restricted to single term
of perhaps six years, and Calhoun,
twice elected vice president, ardently
hoped to succeed when Jackson should
retire in 1888. Before 1888 came
round, however, Jackson had learned
that Calhoun was the man in Monroe's
cabinet who wished him Inundated for
his high handed conduct In the Semi
mole war. That was enough for Jack
son, and he determined to postpone in
definitely the ambitions OF Calhoun by
running for a second term and desig-
mating Van Buren, as his successor.
If Calhoun hoped aught as to the
presidency in 1882 his hopes were de-
stroyed by the attempt Of South Caro-
lima to nullify the tariff law. Jacksons
enemies tried long in advance Of the
election of 1882 to revive against him
the old charge in connection with the
Seminole war and the seizure of Flor
ida, and Jackson then for the first
time sprang upon the country his pro-
posal to Monroe to seize Florida and
make it ours within ninety days. Poor
Monroe, an impoverished and dying
man, was called upon to make affidavit
upon his deathbed at the house OF his
son-in-law in New York city, in the
summer Of 1881, that he had never in
dicated his assent to Jackson's pro-
posal. Historians are still puzzled as
to where the truth lay.
Van Buren's Failure.
Van Buren, was the third president
to be renominated and defeated. Jour
neying to Undertook after the panic
Of 1887 had somewhat abated, he was
so kindly received at many places en-
route that he had false hopes of re-
election. Calhoun, who was still camp
ed on his trail (as he had been when he
cast his vote against the confirmation
Of Van Burens nomination to a for
eign appointment, with the exclama-
ton "It will kill him dead, sir-kill
him dead! He'll never kick, sir-never
kck!O, had to wait until the Demo
cratic convention of 1874 to take an
! ample revenge upon the man who he
thought had done him out of Jackson's
favor.
The time Of one term presidents had