Our Presidents and how we make themMcClure, Alexander K. (Alexander Kelly)
History
Our Presidents and how we make them
McClure, Alexander K. (Alexander Kelly)
Presidents -- United States -- Election
General Jackson was first formally named for the Presidency by a
mass-meeting in Blount County, Tenn., early in 1823, and that was
followed up by various mass-meetings and local conventions in different
parts of the Union. Mr. Adams, although not in sympathy with the
Federalists, having earnestly supported the war with England against
the Federal sentiment of his State, was presented as a candidate by the
Legislature of Massachusetts, and it was seconded by most of the New
England States during the early part of the year 1824.
Clinton was nominated by local mass-meetings in New York and Ohio.
Calhoun was presented by the Legislature of South Carolina, and
Crawford by the Legislature of Virginia. It is worthy of note
that while Adams was the Premier of the administration, Crawford
was obviously the favorite candidate of President Monroe, as the
Legislature of Virginia recommended Crawford, and Virginia voted for
him at the election.
All of these candidates were opposed to the Congressional caucus
excepting Crawford, who had been the competitor of Monroe in the caucus
in 1816. His friends made earnest effort to get the prestige of a
caucus nomination, and 6 Senators and 5 Representatives from different
States called a caucus to meet on the 14th of February, 1824, “to
recommend candidates to the people of the United States for the office
of President and Vice-President.” That call was met by a card signed by
24 Republican Senators and members declaring that of the 261 Senators
and Representatives there were 81 who were opposed to the caucus. The
caucus was held, however, but only 66 members appeared, a majority of
whom were from 4 States, and 8 States were not represented at all.
A motion to adjourn to meet some weeks later was opposed by Mr. Van
Buren and rejected. A ballot was then had for President, when Crawford
received 64, Adams 2, Jackson 1, and Macon 1. Albert Gallatin, of
Pennsylvania, was also nominated for Vice-President.
The caucus nomination was certainly a hindrance rather than a help
to Crawford, as it concentrated his opponents to a very large
extent. The caucus system had become very odious, and with 5 of the
6 candidates openly hostile to the caucus, it placed Crawford at a
decided disadvantage. Gallatin, who was of foreign birth, was bitterly
assailed, and a month before the election he withdrew his name as a
candidate, but no attempt was made to give formal nomination to a
successor for him on the ticket.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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