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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, President Whig National Convention, 1844.. SPENCER, JOHN C., of New-York, Presi

dent Anti-Masonic National Convention

STEVENSON, ANDREW, of Virginia, President Second Democratic National Convention.... Ditto, President National Democratic Convention, 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...

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Mr. Geo. G. Dunn's bill to reorganize Kansas.. President Pierce's last Message on Kansas. Remarks of Messrs. Hale, Seward, Mason, Wilson and Pugh thereon.. President Buchanan on the Lecompton Constitution..

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Nominated for reëlection as President, 1840

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Nominated for President by Buffalo Convention, 184S

Mr. Douglas's speech against Lecompton. Action on Lecompton in Kansas..

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Mr. Buchanan's special Lecompton Message........ Provisions of Lecompton Constitution respecting Slavery.

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VOTE IN WHIG NATIONAL CONVENTION,

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The Lecompton bill; Passed in the Senate, but defeated in the House; The Crittenden-Montgomery substitute..

Yeas and Nays on adopting substitute.

121 122

1852, on Resolve approving Compromise Measures of 1850....

WARD, JOHN E., of Georgia, President of
the Democratic National Convention, 1856.......
WEBSTER, DANIEL, of Massachusetts, sup-
ported by Massachusetts for President, 1836.
Defeated for President in Whig Convention, 1848
Beaten for President in Whig Convention, 1852..
Memorial to Congress for Slavery Restriction
His view on the powers of Supreme Court.
Speech against Slavery Extension.

WELLER, Col. JOHN B., of California,

beaten for Vice-President in Democratic National Convention, 1852

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NATIONAL Conventions for the nomination of
candidates are of comparatively recent origin.
In the earlier political history of the United
States, under the Federal Constitution, candi-
dates for President and Vice-President were
nominated by congressional and legislative
caucuses. Washington was elected as
as first
President under the Constitution, and reëlected
for a second term by a unanimous, or nearly
unanimous, concurrence of the American people;
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 preëmi-
nently 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.

a potent influence over such questions, being, on this occasion, unable to agree as to which of her favored sons should have the preference. Ninety-four of the 136 Republican members of Congress attended this caucus, and declared their preference of Mr. Madison, who received 83 votes, the remaining 11 being divided between Mr. Monroe and George Clinton. The Opposition supported Mr. Pinckney; but Mr. Madison was elected by a large majority.

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 Congreswith 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 Ver-
dency 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 ap-
votes, Mr. Adams 84, 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 po-
was 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 present-
Gen. 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 be-
in 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. words, "that an enlightened exercise of the
Albert Gallatin, of Pennsylvania, (the caucus right of suffrage is the constitutional and
candidate on the Crawford ticket,) being his equitable mode adopted by the Anti-Masons is
only serious competitor. In 1828, Mr. Calhoun necessary to remove the evil they suffer, and
was the candidate for Vice-President on the produce the reforms they seek."
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 New-
York, 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.

U. S. ANTI-MASONIC CONVENTION-1830. The first political National Convention in this country of which we have any record was held at Philadelphia in September, 1830, styled the United States Anti-Masonic Convention. It was composed of 96 delegates, representing the States of New-York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, 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, 1831, 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.

DEMOCRATIC OR JACKSON NATIONAL
CONVENTION-1832.

There was no open opposition in the Demo-
cratic party to the nomination of Gen. Jackson
for a second term; but the party were not so
well satisfied with Mr. Calhoun, the Vice-Presi-
dent; so a Convention was called to meet at
Baltimore in May, 1832, to nominate a candi-
date for the second office. Delegates appeared
and took their seats from the States of
Maine, New-Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu-
setts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New-York,
New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary-
land, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ten-
nessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

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

Resolved, That each State be entitled, in the nomination to be made for the Vice-Presidency, to a number of votes equal to the number to which they will be entitled 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 can-
didate 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, 30; 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.

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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 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, 3; South Carolina, 11; Alabama, 6— Total, 49.

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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:

Maine. 10; New-Hampshire, 7; New-York, 42; NewJersey, 8; Pennsylvania, 30; Maryland, 3'; 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, 3; Maryland, 5; Kentucky,

15-Total, 49.

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

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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 CONVENTION1831.

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 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.

moval of all officers within the reach of the PreException is taken to the indiscriminate resident, 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, his character, or to consider him as a true and effective that it is impossible for any party to place confidence in 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 attack by the opponents of that measure; by admitting 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 the best interests of the Nation. period would be attended with consequences ruinous to

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

Resolved, That the indiscriminate removal of public officers, for a mere difference of political opinion, is a

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.

gross abuse of power; and that the doctrine lately boldly preached in the United States Senate, that "to the mental to the interest, corrupting to the morals, and victors belong the spoils of the vanquished," is detridangerous to the liberties of the people of this country.

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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more to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President. The Hon. Andrew Stevenson, of Virginia, was chosen president, with half a dozen vice-presidents and four secretaries. rule was adopted that two-thirds of the whole number of votes should be necessary to make a nomination or to decide any question connected therewith. On the first ballot for President, Mr. Van Buren was nominated unanimously, receiving 265 votes. For Vice-President, Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, received 178, and William C. Rives, of Virginia, 87. Mr. Johnson, having received more than two-thirds of all the votes cast, was declared duly nominated as the candidate for Vice-President. This Convention adopted no platform.

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result was the triumphant election of Harrison and Tyler, Van Buren receiving the electoral vote of only seven States; viz:

New-Hampshire, 7; Virginia, 23; South Carolina, 11; Illinois, 5; Alabama, 7; Missouri, 4; and Arkansas, 8Total, 60.

South Carolina refused to vote for Richard M. Johnson for Vice-President, throwing away her 11 votes on Littleton W. Tazewell, of Virginia. Harrison and Tyler received the votes of the following States:

necticut, 8; 'Vermont, 7; New-York. 42; New-Jersey, 8: Maine, 10; Massachusetts, 14; Rhode Island, 4; ConPennsylvania, 30; Delaware, 3; Maryland, 10; North Carolina, 15; Georgia, 11; Kentucky, 15; Tennessee, 15; Ohio, 21; Louisiana, 5; Mississippi, 4; Indiana, 9; Michigan, 8-Total, 234.

ABOLITION CONVENTION,-1839.

Warsaw, N. Y., on the 13th of November, 1839, which adopted the following:

A Convention of Abolitionists was held at

Resolved, That, in our judgment, every consideration of duty and expediency which ought to control the action of Christian freemen, requires of the Abolitionists of the U. S. to organize a distinct and independent political party, embracing all the necessary means for nominating candidates for office and sustaining them by public suffrage.

Hugh L. White, of Tennessee was nominated The Convention then nominated for Presiby the Legislatures of Tennessee and Alabama, dent James G. Birney, of New York, and for as the Opposition or Anti-Jackson candidate; Vice-President Francis J. Lemoyne, of Pennwhile Mr. Webster was the favorite of the Oppo-sylvania. These gentlemen subsequently desition in Massachusetts, and Willie P. Mangum, clined the nomination. Nevertheless they of N. C. received the vote of S. C., 11. The received a total of 7,609 votes in various Free result of the contest of 1836 was the election States.

of Mr. Van Buren, who received the electoral votes of the States of

Maine, 10; New-Hampshire, 7; Rhode Island, 4; Connecticut, S; New York, 42; Pennsylvania, 30; Virginia, 23; North Carolina, 15; Louisiana, 5; Mississippi, 4; Illinois, 5; Alabama, 7; Missouri, 4; Arkansas, 3; Michi- | gan, 3-Total 170.

Gen. Harrison received the votes of Vermont, 7; New-Jersey, 8; Delaware, 3; Maryland, 10; Kentucky, 15; Ohio, 21; and Indiana, 9-Total, 73. Hugh L. White received the vote of Georgia, 11, and Tennessee, 15: total, 26. Mr. Webster received the vote of Massachusetts, 14.

WHIG NATIONAL CONVENTION,--1839. A Whig National Convention representing twenty-one States met at Harrisburg, Pa., Dec. 4, 1839. James Barbour, of Virginia, presided, and the result of the first ballot was the nomination of Gen. William H. Harrison, of Ohio, who received 148* votes to 90 for Henry Clay, and 16 for Gen. Winfield Scott. John Tyler, of Virginia, was unanimously nominated as the Whig candidate for Vice-President. The Convention adopted no platform of principles; but the party in conducting the memorable campaign of 1840, assailed the Administration of Mr. Van Buren for its general mismanagement of public affairs and its profligacy, and the

*Ballots were repeatedly taken in committee throughout two or three days; but as no candidate received a majority, it was only reported to the convention that the committee had not been able to agree on a candidate to be presented to the convention. Finally, the delegates from New-York and other States which had supported Gen. Scott, generally went over to Gen. Harrison, who thus received a majority, when the result was declared, as

above.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, 1840.

A Democratic National Convention met at Baltimore, May 5th, 1840, to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President. Delegates were present from the States of Maine, New-Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, and Arkansas. Gov. William Carroll, of Tennessee, presided, and the Convention, before proceeding to the nomination of candidates, adopted the following platform-viz.:

limited powers, derived solely from the Constitution, and 1. Resolved, That the Federal Government is one of the grants of power shown therein ought to be strictly construed by all the departments and agents of the government, and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers.

2. Resolved, That the Constitution does not confer upon the General Government the power to commence or carry on a general system of internal improvement. 3. Resolved, That the Constitution does not confer authority upon the Federal Government, directly or indirectly, to assume the debts of the several States, contracted for local internal improvements or other State purposes; nor would such assumption be just or expedient.

4. Resolved, That justice and sound policy forbid the Federal Government to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of another, or to cherish the interest of one portion to the injury of another portion of our common country--that every citizen and every section of the country has a right to demand and insist upon an equality of rights and privileges, and to complete and ample protection of persons and property from domestic violence or foreign aggression,

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