House votes to admit Kansas as a Free State... Mr. Douglas reports a bill to pacify Kansas..... 107 VAN BUREN, MARTIN, of New-York, nomi- Foster's, Wilson's and Seward's; Passage of Douglas's bill..... 108 Mr. Geo. G. Dunn's bill to reorganize Kansas.. President Pierce's last Message on Kansas... President Buchanan on the Lecompton Constitu- Mr. Douglas's speech against Lecompton....... Action on Lecompton in Kansas. Mr. Buchanan's special Lecompton Message.... Provisions of Lecompton Constitution respecting The Lecompton bill; Passed in the Senate, but defeated in the House; The Crittenden-Mont- 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 Carried through both Houses; The Wyandot 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 SPENCER, AMBROSE, of New-York, Presi- dent Whig National Convention, 1844 SPENCER, JOHN C., of New-York, Presi- dent Anti-Masonic National Convention STEVENSON, ANDREW, of Virginia, Presi- dent Second Democratic National Convention.. Ditto, President National Democratic Conven- STRANGE, ROBERT, of North Carolina, beaten SUMNER, CHARLES, of Massachusetts, de- feated for Vice-President in Republican National SUPREME COURT, POWER AND DUTIES OF- Opinions of John Taylor of Caroline, Va., John Opinions of John J. Crittenden, Nathaniel Macon, Nominated for reëlection as President, 1840.... Defeated for President in 1840. Defeated in Democratic National Convention, Nominated for President by Buffalo Convention, On Slavery in the Territories, letter to Water- VOTE IN WHIG NATIONAL CONVENTION, 1852, on Resolve approving Compromise Measures 121 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 Held at Philadelphia, Penn., 1848, WHITE, HUGH L., of Tennessee, unsuccess- WILMOT, DAVID, of Pennsylvania, defeated for Vice-President in Republican Convention, 1856 Temporary Chairman of Republican National WILSON, Gen. HENRY, of Massachusetts, President of Free Democratic National Conven- 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... Legislaturend Georgia Supreme of virginen 176 WRIGHT, SILAS, of New-York, nominated A POLITICAL TEXT-BOOK FOR 1860. NATIONAL CAUCUSES, CONVENTIONS, AND PLATFORMS. 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, candidates for President and Vice-President were nominated by congressional and legislative caucuses. Washington was elected 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 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. 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 1804, Mr. Jefferson was reëlected President, with George Clinton, of New-York, for Vice, encountering but slight opposition: Messrs. Charles C. Pinckney and Rufus King, the opposing 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 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 declaredi their preference of Mr. Madison, who receivedi 83 votes, the remaining 11 being divided be-tween 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 New-York, 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 receivea 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. In 1824, the Republican party could not be induced to abide by the decision of a Congressional Caucus. A large majority of the Republican members formally refused to participate in such a gathering, or be governed by its decision; 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 o and other machinery-viz., Andrew Jackson, Convention, and the nominees received Henry Clay, and John Quincy Adams. The re- 108 votes. The candidates accepted the n sult of this famous "scrub race" for the Presi- nation and received the electoral vote of dency was, that no one was elected by the mont only. The Convention did not enun people, Gen. Jackson receiving 99 electoral any distinct platform of principles, but votes, Mr. Adams $4, Mr. Crawford 41, and Mr. pointed a committee to issue an Address to Clay 37. The election then devolved on the people. In due time, the address was publis House of Representatives, where Mr. Adams It is quite as prolix and verbose as modern was chosen, receiving the votes of 13 States, litical addresses; and, after stating at g against 7 for Gen. Jackson, and 4 for Mr. Craw-length the necessary qualifications for ford. This was the end of "King Caucus." Chief of a great and free people, and pres Gen. Jackson was immediately thereafter put ing a searching criticism on the institution in nomination for the ensuing term by the Le-free-masonry in its moral and political beari gislature of Tennessee, having only Mr. Adams somewhat intensified from the exciten for an opponent in 1828, when he was elected caused by the (then recent) alleged murde by a decided majority, receiving 178 Electoral William Morgan, for having revealed the sec Votes to 83 for Mr. Adams. Mr. John C. Cal- of the Masonic Order, the Address comes to houn, who had at first aspired to the Presidency, conclusion that, since the institution had in 1824, withdrew at an early stage from the come a political engine, political agencies n canvass, and was thereupon chosen Vice-Presi- be used to avert its baneful effects in o dent by a very large electoral majority-Mr. words, "that an enlightened exercise of Albert Gallatin, of Pennsylvania, (the caucus right of suffrage is the constitutional candidate on the Crawford ticket,) being his equitable mode adopted by the Anti-Mason 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 necessary to remove the evil they suffer, produce the reforms they seek." the Crawford and Calhoun strength on this DEMOCRATIC OR JACKSON NATION 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. CONVENTION-1832. There was no open opposition in the Der cratic party to the nomination of Gen. Jack for a second term; but the party were not well satisfied with Mr. Calhoun, the Vice-Pr dent; so a Convention was called to meet Baltimore in May, 1832, to nominate a car date for the second office. Delegates appea The first political National Convention in this Maine, New-Hampshire, Vermont, Massach country of which we have any record was held setts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New-Yo at Philadelphia in September, 1830, styled the New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ma United States Anti-Masonic Convention. It was land, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolin composed of 96 delegates, representing the Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, T States of New-York, Massachusetts, Connecti- nessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. U. S. ANTI-MASONIC CONVENTION-1830. and took their seats from the States cut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, Maryland 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. Gen. Robert Lucas, of Ohio, presided, a the regular proceedings were commenced the passage of the following resolution: Resolved, That each State be entitled, in the nomin tion to be made for the Vice-Presidency, to a number votes equal to the number to which they will be entit in the electoral colleges, under the new apportionme in voting for President and Vice-President; and th two-thirds of the whole number of the votes in the Co vention shall be necessary to constitute a choice. This seems to have been the origin of th famous "two-thirds" rule which has prevail of late in Democratic National Conventions. The Convention proceeded to ballot for a ca didate for Vice-President, with the followin result: For Martin Van Buren: Connecticut, 8; Illinois, Ohio, 21; Tennessee, 15; North Carolina, 9; Georgia, 1 Louisiana, 5; Pennsylvania, 30; Maryland, 7; New Jersey, 8; Mississippi, Rhode Island, 4; Maine, 10 Massachusetts, 14; Delaware, 8; New-Hampshire, 7 New-York, 42; Vermont, 7; Alabama, 1-Total, 208. For Richard M. Johnson: Illinois, 2; Indiana, S 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 tha being fully represented. John C. Spencer, of two-thirds of all the votes cast, was declare Kentuckich15 Total, 26. For Philip P. Barbour: North Carolina, 6; Virginia 23; Maryland, 8; South Carolina, 11; Alabama, 6Total, 49. duly nominated as the candidate of the party for Vice-President. 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 aught 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, 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, 3; Maryland, 5; Kentucky, 15-Total, 49. For John Floyd, of Virginia: South Carolina, 11. 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. diate predecessor (J. Q. Adams) by Gen. Jackson in his Inaugural Address, and adds: 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 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 negativing the most important bills of this description which were presented to him by Congress, the President has shown that he is either a secret enemy to the system, or that he is willing to sacrifice the most important national objects in a vain attempt to conciliate the conflicting interests, or rather adverse party feeling and opinions of different sections of the country. Objection is taken to Gen. Jackson's war on the United States Bank, and the necessity and 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 Administration to protect them in their rights, acquired by treaty with the United States, 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: 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, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con-try; and that an abandonment of the policy at this necticut, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Resolved, That an adequate Protection to American Industry is indispensable to the prosperity of the counperiod would be attended with consequences ruinous to the best interests of the Nation. ments, sustained and supported by the General Governharmony, the strength and the permanency of the Republic. ment, is calculated to secure, in the highest degree, the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Resolved, That a uniform system of Internal Improve- Resolved, That the indiscriminate removal of public officers, for. a mere difference of political opinion, is a gross abuse of power; and that the doctrine lately boldly preached in the United States Senate, that " to the victors belong the spoils of the vanquished," is detriThe political history of the Union for the last three mental to the interest, corrupting to the morals, and years exhibits a series of measures plainly dictated in all dangerous to the liberties of the people of this countheir principal features by blind cupidity or vindictive try. 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 |