1848 Democratic National Convention
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2017) |
1848 presidential election | |
File:LewisCass-portrait.png | |
Convention | |
---|---|
Date(s) | May 22–25, 1848 |
City | Baltimore, Maryland[1] |
Venue | Universalist Church[1] |
Candidates | |
Presidential nominee | Lewis Cass[1] of Michigan |
Vice presidential nominee | William O. Butler[1] of Kentucky |
The 1848 Democratic National Convention, a presidential nominating convention of United States Democratic Party delegates representing all thirty states in the union at the time, met in Baltimore on May 22, 1848.[1]
The Democratic National Committee was established at this convention.[2]
Proceedings
Former Speaker of the House Andrew Stevenson of Virginia was made the president (chair) of the convention. After readopting the two-thirds rule for selecting the nominee, the assembly turned to the thorny problem of competing delegations representing different factions of the New York party.[1] The convention adopted a compromise (by a vote of 133 to 118) of splitting the thirty-six votes between the pro-Van Buren faction and the Hunkers that opposed them. Unsatisfied, the pro-Van Burenite Barnburners withdrew and the remaining New Yorkers refused to vote.
Presidential nomination
Presidential candidates
-
Former President
Martin Van Buren
from New York
The major competitors for the nomination were Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan, Secretary of State James Buchanan from Pennsylvania, and Supreme Court Justice Levi Woodbury from New Hampshire. On the first ballot Cass received a big lead with 125 of the 290 delegate votes with Buchanan and Woodbury trailing with 55 and 53 votes, respectively.[1] On the next two ballots Cass' total went up while the other candidates began to fall. With 179 votes out of 255 actually voting on the fourth ballot, the chair declared Cass the presidential nominee, having surpassed the two-thirds majority of 170 votes.
Ballots | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lewis Cass | 125 | 133 | 156 | 179 |
Levi Woodbury | 53 | 56 | 53 | 38 |
James Buchanan | 55 | 54 | 40 | 33 |
John C. Calhoun | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
William Jenkins Worth | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
George M. Dallas | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
William Orlando Butler | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Abstaining | 39 | 39 | 36 | 36 |
-
1st Presidential Ballot -
2nd Presidential Ballot -
3rd Presidential Ballot -
4th Presidential Ballot
Vice Presidential nomination
Vice Presidential candidates
-
Former Representative
William O. Butler
of Kentucky -
Former Governor
John A. Quitman
of Mississippi -
Former Senator
William R. King
of Alabama
Declined
Turning to the choice of a vice presidential running mate, the convention picked General William O. Butler of Kentucky[1] over General John A. Quitman of Mississippi, former Senator and Minister to France William R. King of Alabama, Secretary of the Navy John Y. Mason of Virginia, and Congressman James Iver McKay of North Carolina. Before it adjourned on May 25, this convention also appointed the first Democratic National Committee.[1]
1st | 2nd Before shifts |
2nd After shifts | |
---|---|---|---|
William Orlando Butler | 114 | 179 | 254 |
John A. Quitman | 74 | 62 | 0 |
William R. King | 26 | 8 | 0 |
John Y. Mason | 24 | 5 | 0 |
James Iver McKay | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Jefferson Davis | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Abstaining | 38 | 36 | 36 |
-
1st Presidential Ballot -
2nd Vice Presidential Ballot Before Shifts -
2nd Vice Presidential Ballot After Shifts
See also
- History of the Democratic Party (United States)
- 1848 Whig National Convention
- List of Democratic National Conventions
- U.S. presidential nomination convention
- United States presidential election, 1848
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Klunder, William (1996). Lewis Cass and the Politics of Moderation. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. pp. 184–186. Retrieved 9 April 2015 – via Questia.
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suggested) (help) - ^ Smith, Melissa M.; Williams, Glenda C.; Powell, Larry; Copeland, Gary A. (2010). Campaign Finance Reform: The Political Shell Game. Lexington Books. p. 13. ISBN 9780739145678.
- ^ Levin Hudson Coe, Tennessee Encyclopedia, August 7, 2018
External links
- Democratic Party Platform of 1848 at The American Presidency Project
Preceded by 1844 Baltimore, Maryland |
Democratic National Conventions | Succeeded by 1852 Baltimore, Maryland |