A Political Text-book for 1860: Comprising a Brief View of Presidential ...

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 received caucuses. Washington was elected as first 83 votes, the remaining 11 being divided bePresident 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 Toward the close of Mr. Madison's earlier Congress, which became formidable during his term, he was nominated for reëlection by a second term, and which ultimately crystalized Congressional Caucus held at Washington, in into what was then called the Republican May, 1812. In September of the same year, a party. John Adams, of Massachusetts, was convention of the Opposition, representing prominent among the leading Federalists, while eleven States, was held in the city of NewThomas Jefferson, of Virginia, was preëmi- York, which nominated De Witt Clinton, of gently the author and oracle of the Republican New-York, for President. He was also put in party, and, by common consent, they were the nomination by the Republican Legislature of opposing candidates for the Presidency, on New-York. The ensuing canvass resulted in Washington's retirement in 1796–7.

the reëlection of Mr. Madison, who received Mr. Adams was then chosen President, while 128 electoral votes to 89 for De Witt Clinton. Mr. Jefferson, having the largest electoral vote In 1816, the Republican Congressional Caucus next to Mr. A., became Vice-President. nominated James Monroe, who received, in the

The first Congressional Caucus to nominate caucus, 65 votes to 54 for Wm. H. Crawford, candidates for President and Vice-President, is of Georgia. The Opposition, or Federalists, said to have been held in Philadelphia in the named Rufus King, of New-York, who receivea year 1800, and to have nominated Mr. Jeffer- only 34 electoral votes out of 217. There was. son for the first office, and Aaron Burr for the no opposition to the reëlection of Mr. Monroe second. These candidates were elected after a in 1820, a single (Republican) vote being cast desperate struggle, beating John Adams and against him, and for John Quincy Adams. Charles C. Pinckney, of South Carolina. In In 1824, the Republican party could not be 1804, Mr. Jefferson was reëlected President, i 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 deciposing candidates, receiving only 14 out of 176 sion; still, a Caucus was called and attended by Electoral Votes. We have been unable to find the friends of Mr. Crawford alone. Of the 261 any record as to the manner of their nomina- members of Congress at this time, 216 were tion. In January, 1808, when Mr. Jefferson's Democrats or Republicans, yet only 66 ressecond term was about to close, a Republican ponded to their names at roll-call, 64 of whom Congressional Caucus was held at Washington, voted for Mr. Crawford as the Republican nomijo decide as to the relative claims of Madison nee for President. This nomination was very

nd Monroe for the succession, the Legisla. extensively repudiated throughout the country, i ure of Virginia, which had been said to exert land three competing Republican candidates

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