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PROHIBITION OF SLAVERY IN THE TERRITO-
ries: Letter of Martin Van Buren thereon......

PUGH, JAMES L., of Alabama, for Dissolu-

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Mr. Foote of Miss. moves a Committee of Thir-
teen; Mr. Clay reports from said Committee;
Mr. Jefferson Davis's Amendment..
Mr. Chase of Ohio moves a prohibition of Sla-
very; The Omnibus defeated as a whole, but
passed in separate bills; The Kansas-Nebraska
Struggle..
Mr. Atchison's remarks thereon; President
Pierce protests against the renewal of agita-
tion; Mr. Douglas's first Nebraska Report..

He amends his bill; Mr. Chase proposes to au-

thorize the people of Kansas to prohibit Sla-

very therein; Opposed by Messrs. Bell, Doug-

las, etc., and defeated..

81

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208

175

176

177

Yeas and Nays on adopting substitute.

Senate refuses to concur; Mr. English moves a

Conference Committee; Carried by the Speak-

er's casting vote; The English Compromise

bill...

Carried through both Houses; The Wyandot

Convention and Constitution.

Mr. Grow proposes, and the House votes to ad-
mit Kansas under the Wyandot Constitution;
Senate refuses to act on the bill....

SLAVE-TRADE ADVOCATED in Democratic

National Convention by Mr. Gaulden, of Georgia.

Also by Governor Adams, of S. C., in Message to

Legislature

SPENCER, AMBROSE, of New-York, Presi-

dent Whig National Convention, 1844

SPENCER, JOHN C., of New-York,

dent Anti-Masonic National Convention

STEVENSON, ANDREW, of Virginia, Presi-

dent Second Democratic National Convention....

Ditto, President National Democratic Conven-

tion, 1848....

STRANGE, ROBERT, of North Carolina, beaten

for Vice-President in Democratic Convention,

1852

SUMNER, CHARLES, of Massachusetts, de-

feated for Vice-President in Republican National

Convention, 1856.........

SUPREME COURT, Power and DUTIES OF-
Opinions of Thomas Jefferson..

Opinions of John Taylor of Caroline, Va., John
Randolph of Roanoke, Nathaniel Macon of
N. C., and John Bacon, of Massachusetts...
Opinions of John J. Crittenden, Nathaniel Macon,
James Barbour, Supreme Court of Georgia,
Legislature of Georgia, Supreme Court of Penn-
sylvania, and Court of Appeals of Virginia....
Opinions of Mahlon Dickerson, Richard M. John-
son, Gen. Andrew Jackson, and Daniel Web-
ster.......

123

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WIRT, WILLIAM, of Maryland, Anti-Ma-

sonic candidate for President, 1832

WILKINS, WILLIAM, of Pennsylvania, sup-
ported by Pennsylvania for Vice-President, 1882..

WISCONSIN declares for Free Territory,

through Legislative Resolves...

WOODBURY, LEVI, of New-Hampshire, beaten
for President in Democratic Convention, 1848
WRIGHT, SILAS, of New-York, nominated
for Vice-President by Democratic National Con-
vention of 1844, but declined..

YANCEY, WILLIAM L., of Alabama, offers

a "non-interference" resolve in Democratic Con-

vention, 1848

......

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....

A POLITICAL TEXT-BOOK FOR 1860.

NATIONAL CAUCUSES, CONVENTIONS, AND

PLATFORMS.

NATIONAL Conventions for the nomination of a potent influence over such questions, being, candidates are of comparatively recent origin. on this occasion, unable to agree as to which of In the earlier political history of the United her favored sons should have the preference.. States, under the Federal Constitution, candi-Ninety-four of the 136 Republican members of dates for President and Vice-President were Congress attended this caucus, and declared nominated by congressional and legislative their preference of Mr. Madison, who receivedi caucuses. Washington was elected as first 83 votes, the remaining 11 being divided be-President under the Constitution, and reëlected tween Mr. Monroe and George Clinton. The for a second term by a unanimous, or nearly Opposition supported Mr. Pinckney; but Mr. unanimous, concurrence of the American people; Madison was elected by a large majority. but an opposition party gradually grew up in Congress, which became formidable during his second term, and which ultimately crystalized into what was then called the Republican party. John Adams, of Massachusetts, was prominent among the leading Federalists, while Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, was preëminently the author and oracle of the Republican party, and, by common consent, they were the opposing candidates for the Presidency, on Washington's retirement in 1796-7.

Mr. Adams was then chosen President, while Mr. Jefferson, having the largest electoral vote next to Mr. A., became Vice-President.

Toward the close of Mr. Madison's earlier term, he was nominated for reëlection by a Congressional Caucus held at Washington, in May, 1812. In September of the same year, a convention of the Opposition, representing eleven States, was held in the city of NewYork, which nominated De Witt Clinton, of New-York, for President. He was also put in nomination by the Republican Legislature of New-York. The ensuing canvass resulted in the reëlection of Mr. Madison, who received 128 electoral votes to 89 for De Witt Clinton.

In 1816, the Republican Congressional Caucus nominated James Monroe, who received, in the caucus, 65 votes to 54 for Wm. H. Crawford, of Georgia. The Opposition, or Federalists, named Rufus King, of New-York, who received only 34 electoral votes out of 217. There was no opposition to the reëlection of Mr. Monroe in 1820, a single (Republican) vote being cast against him, and for John Quincy Adams.

The first Congressional Caucus to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President, is said to have been held in Philadelphia in the year 1800, and to have nominated Mr. Jefferson for the first office, and Aaron Burr for the second. These candidates were elected after a desperate struggle, beating John Adams and Charles C. Pinckney, of South Carolina. In In 1824, the Republican party could not be 1804, Mr. Jefferson was reelected President, induced to abide by the decision of a Congres with George Clinton, of New-York, for Vice, sional Caucus. A large majority of the Repubencountering but slight opposition: Messrs.lican members formally refused to participate Charles C. Pinckney and Rufus King, the op-in such a gathering, or be governed by its deci posing candidates, receiving only 14 out of 176 Electoral Votes. We have been unable to find any record as to the manner of their nomination. In January, 1808, when Mr. Jefferson's second term was about to close, a Republican Congressional Caucus was held at Washington, to decide as to the relative claims of Madison and Monroe for the succession, the Legislature of Virginia, which had been said to exert

sion; still, a Caucus was called and attended by the friends of Mr. Crawford alone. Of the 261 members of Congress at this time, 216 were Democrats or Republicans, yet only 66 responded to their names at roll-call, 64 of whom voted for Mr. Crawford as the Republican nominee for President. This nomination was very extensively repudiated throughout the country, and three competing Republican candidates

were brought into the field through legislative | New-York, presided over the deliberations of the and other machinery-viz., Andrew Jackson, Convention, and the nominees received each Henry Clay, and John Quincy Adams. The re- 108 votes. The candidates accepted the nomi. sult of this famous "scrub race" for the Presi-nation and received the electoral vote of Verdency was, that no one was elected by the mont only. The Convention did not enunciate people, Gen. Jackson receiving 99 electoral any distinct platform of principles, but apvotes, Mr. Adams $4, Mr. Crawford 41, and Mr. pointed a committee to issue an Address to the Clay 37. The election then devolved on the people. In due time, the address was published. House of Representatives, where Mr. Adams It is quite as prolix and verbose as modern powas chosen, receiving the votes of 13 States, litical addresses; and, after stating at great against 7 for Gen. Jackson, and 4 for Mr. Craw-length the necessary qualifications for the ford. This was the end of "King Caucus." Chief of a great and free people, and presentGen. Jackson was immediately thereafter put ing a searching criticism on the institution of in nomination for the ensuing term by the Le-free-masonry in its moral and political bearings, gislature of Tennessee, having only Mr. Adams somewhat intensified from the excitement for an opponent in 1828, when he was elected caused by the (then recent) alleged murder of by a decided majority, receiving 178 Electoral William Morgan, for having revealed the secrets Votes to 83 for Mr. Adams. Mr. John C. Cal- of the Masonic Order, the Address comes to the houn, who had at first aspired to the Presidency, conclusion that, since the institution had bein 1824, withdrew at an early stage from the come a political engine, political agencies must canvass, and was thereupon chosen Vice-Presi- be used to avert its baneful effects-in other dent by a very large electoral majority-Mr. Albert Gallatin, of Pennsylvania, (the caucus candidate on the Crawford ticket,) being his only serious competitor. In 1828, Mr. Calhoun was the candidate for Vice-President on the Jackson ticket, and of course reëlected. It was currently stated that the concentration of the Crawford and Calhoun strength on this ticket was mainly effected by Messrs. Martin Van Buren and Churchill C. Cambreleng, of NewYork, during a southern tour made by them in 1827. In 1828, Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania, was the candidate for Vice-President on the Adams ticket.

words, "that an enlightened exercise of the right of suffrage is the constitutional and equitable mode adopted by the Anti-Masons is necessary to remove the evil they suffer, and produce the reforms they seek."

DEMOCRATIC OR JACKSON NATIONAL
CONVENTION-1832.

There was no open opposition in the Democratic party to the nomination of Gen. Jackson for a second term; but the party were not so well satisfied with Mr. Calhoun, the Vice-President; so a Convention was called to meet at Baltimore in May, 1832, to nominate a candidate for the second office. Delegates appeared U. S. ANTI-MASONIC CONVENTION-1830. and took their seats from the States of The first political National Convention in this Maine, New-Hampshire, Vermont, Massachucountry of which we have any record was held setts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New-York, at Philadelphia in September, 1830, styled the New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, MaryUnited States Anti-Masonic Convention. It was land, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, composed of 96 delegates, representing the Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, TenStates of New-York, Massachusetts, Connecti-nessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. cut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, Maryland and the Territory of Michigan. Francis Granger of New-York presided; but no business was transacted beyond the adoption of the following

resolution:

Resolved, That it is recommended to the people of the United States, opposed to secret societies, to meet in convention on Monday the 26th day of September, 1881, at the city of Baltimore, by delegates equal in number to their representatives in both houses of Congress, to make nominations of suitable candidates for the office of President and Vice-President, to be supported at the next election, and for the transaction of such other business as the cause of Anti-Masonry may require.

Gen. Robert Lucas, of Ohio, presided, and the regular proceedings were commenced by the passage of the following resolution:

votes equal to the number to which they will be entitled

Resolved, That each State be entitled, in the nomination to be made for the Vice-Presidency, to a number of in the electoral colleges, under the new apportionment, in voting for President and Vice-President; and that two-thirds of the whole number of the votes in the Convention shall be necessary to constitute a choice.

This seems to have been the origin of the famous "two-thirds" rule which has prevailed of late in Democratic National Conventions.

The Convention proceeded to ballot for a candidate for Vice-President, with the following result:

For Martin Van Buren: Connecticut, 8; Illinois, 2; Ohio, 21; Tennessee, 15; North Carolina, 9; Georgia, 11; Louisiana, 5; Pennsylvania, 80; Maryland, 7; New Jersey, 8; Mississippi, 4; Rhode Island, 4; Maine, 10; Massachusetts, 14; Delaware, 3; New-Hampshire, 7; New-York, 42; Vermont, 7; Alabama, 1-Total, 208. For Richard M. Johnson: Illinois, 2; Indiana, 9; Kentucky, 15-Total, 26.

In compliance with the foregoing call, a National Anti-Masonic Convention was held at Baltimore, in September, 1831, which nominated William Wirt, of Maryland, for President, and Amos Ellmaker, of Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. The convention was attended by 112 delegates from the States of Maine, New-Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Delaware and Maryland only Total, 49. Massachusetts, New-York and Pennsylvania Mr. Van Buren, having received more than being fully represented. John C. Spencer, of two-thirds of all the votes cast, was declared

For Philip P. Barbour: North Carolina, 6; Virginia, 23; Maryland, 8; South Carolina, 11; Alabama, 6–

duly nominated as the candidate of the party | diate predecessor (J. Q. Adams) by Gen. Jackfor Vice-President. son in his Inaugural Address, and adds:

The Convention passed a resolution cordially concurring in the repeated nominations which Gen. Jackson had received in various parts of the country for reëlection as President.

Mr. Archer, of Virginia, from the committee appointed to prepare an address to the people, reported that

The committee, having interchanged opinions on the subject submitted to them, and agreeing fully in the principles and sentiments which they believe ought to be erabodied in an address of this description, if such an address were to be made, nevertheless deem it advisable under existing circumstances, to recommend the adoption of the following resolution : Resolved, That it be recommended to the several delegations in this Convention, in place of a General Address from this body to the people of the United States, to make such explanations by address, report, or otherwise, to their respective constituents, of the object, proceedings and result of the meeting, as they may deem expedient.

The result of this election was the choice of General Jackson, who received the electoral vote of the following States:

The indecorum of this denunciation was hardly less glaring than its essential injustice, and can only be paralleled by that of the subsequent denunciation of the same Administration, on the same authority, to a foreign government.

Exception is taken to the indiscriminate removal of all officers within the reach of the President, who were not attached to his person or party. As illustrative of the extent to which this political proscription was carried, it is stated that, within a month after the inauguration of General Jackson, more persons were removed from office than during the whole 40 years that had previously elapsed since the adoption of the Constitution. Fault is also found with the Administration in its conduct of our foreign affairs. Again the Address says:

On the great subjects of internal policy, the course of the President has been so inconsistent and vacillating, that it is impossible for any party to place confidence in his character, or to consider him as a true and effective friend. By avowing his approbation of a judicious tariff, at the same time recommending to Congress precisely the same policy which had been adopted as the best plan of

Maine. 10; New-Hampshire, 7; New-York, 42; New-attack by the opponents of that measure; by admitting
Jersey, 8; Pennsylvania, 80; Maryland, 8'; Virginia,
23; North Carolina, 15; Georgia, 11; Tennessee, 15;
Ohio, 21; Louisiana, 5; Mississippi, 4; Indiana, 9;
Illinois, 5; Alabama, 7; Missouri, 4-Total, 219.
For Mr. Clay Massachusetts, 14; Rhode Island, 4;
Connecticut, 8; Delaware, 8; Maryland, 5; Kentucky,
15-Total, 49.

For John Floyd, of Virginia: South Carolina, 11.
For William Wirt, of Maryland: Vermont, 7.

Mr. Van Buren received only 189 votes for Vice-President, Pennsylvania, which cast her vote for Jackson, having voted for William

Wilkins of that State for Vice-President.

John Sergeant, for Vice-President, received the same vote as Mr. Clay for President. South Carolina voted for Henry Lee of Massachusetts,

for Vice-President.

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION— 1831.

The National Republicans met in convention at Baltimore, Dec. 12, 1831. Seventeen States and the District of Columbia were represented by 157 delegates, who cast a unanimous vote for Henry Clay, of Kentucky, for President, and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. James Barbour, of Virginia, presided, and the States represented were: Maine, NewHampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana and Indiana. The Convention adopted no formal platform of principles, but issued an Address, mainly devoted to a criticism on the Administration of Gen. Jackson, asserting, among other things, that

the constitutionality and expediency of Internal Improvements of a National character, and at the same moment which were presented to him by Congress, the President negativing the most important bills of this description has shown that he is either a secret enemy to the system, tional objects in a vain attempt to conciliate the conflictor that he is willing to sacrifice the most important naing interests, or rather adverse party feeling and opinions of different sections of the country.

the United States Bank, and the necessity and Objection is taken to Gen. Jackson's war on usefulness of that institution are argued at considerable length. The outrageous and inhuman treatment of the Cherokee Indians by the State of Georgia, and the failure of the National Adacquired by treaty with the United States, ministration to protect them in their rights, is also the subject of animadversion in the the Address.

A resolve was adopted, recommending to the young men of the National Republican Party to hold a Convention in the city of Washington on the following May.

Such a Convention was accordingly held at the Capital on the 11th of May, 1832, over which William Cost Johnson, of Maryland, presided, and at which the following, among other resolves, were adopted:

Resolved, That an adequate Protection to American Industry is indispensable to the prosperity of the country; and that an abandonment of the policy at this period would be attended with consequences ruinous to the best interests of the Nation.

Resolved, That a uniform system of Internal Improvements, sustained and supported by the General Governharmony, the strength and the permanency of the Rement, is calculated to secure, in the highest degree, the public.

Resolved, That the indiscriminate removal of public gross abuse of power; and that the doctrine lately officers, for. a mere difference of political opinion, is a boldly preached in the United States Senate, that "to the victors belong the spoils of the vanquished," is detrimental to the interest, corrupting to the morals, and dangerous to the liberties of the people of this country.

The political history of the Union for the last three years exhibits a series of measures plainly dictated in all their principal features by blind cupidity or vindictive party spirit, marked throughout by a disregard of good policy, justice, and every high and generous sentiment, and, terminating in a dissolution of the Cabinet under DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, circumstances more discreditable than any of the kind to be met with in the annals of the civilized world.

The address alludes to the charge of incapa

1835.

In May, 1835, a National Convention repre

city and corruption leveled against his imme-senting twenty-one States, assembled at Balti

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