The Democratic Republican Party in the 2d Jefferson Administration
Immediately after Jefferson's dramatic 1804 re-election, foreign relations began to dominate his presidency. Both England and France banned trade with any neutral power, and England took the additional step of seizing (or, as it was then called, "impressing") American seamen to serve on British naval ships. In 1806, Congress passed the Non-Importation Act which restricted the importation of certain British goods. The following year, on 6/22/1807, the British ship the H.M.S. Leopard attacked the U.S.S. Chesapeake and impressed four American seamen. Two weeks later, Jefferson ordered all British ships to leave American waters. The British replied by stating that they would increase their impressment of American seamen. Congress responded by passing the Embargo Act on 12/22/1807, which banned all trade with other nations.
Jefferson's second term was far more successsful on the domestic front. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark explored the vast Louisiana Territory in 1805 and 1806. When former VP Aaron Burr began a plot to establish a new country out of the southwest portion of the USA, an accomplice gave information to federal authorities; Burr was arrested and tried for treason. Burr's legal team, which included Henry Clay, won the initial case, and Burr jumped bail and fled to Europe before the second trial began. In the midterm elections, the DRP maintained its massive congressional gains of the 1804-1805 cycle, gaining an additional seat in the Senate and House.
Pre-Caucus Maneuvering
As the year 1808 dawned, the newspaper the Washington Expositor reported (1/2/1808) that three names of men had been mentioned for the presidency: SOS James Madison, former Gov. James Monroe, and VP George Clinton. Men mentioned for VP included Henry Dearborn, John Langdon, Levi Lincoln, Nathaniel Macon, John Milledge, and Samuel Smith.
As the national caucus neared, partisans of the presidential candidates met with undecided members of Congress. The New-York Gazette & General Advertiser reported on 1/15/1808 that the caucus would result in two nominations: James Madison for President with Henry Dearborn for VP, and James Monroe for President with John Q. Adams for VP. The article may have been intended to raise the specter of a division in the party which would result in dire consequences.
U.S. Senator Stephen R. Bradley handed each DRP member of Congress a note on 1/19/1808, calling a national caucus on 1/23/1808. He was known to support Madison for President, and a supporter of VP Clinton prepared a notice with nearly identical wording asking DRP members of Congress not to attend the Caucus. The wording of these notices was printed in the newspaper the American Citizen on 1/27/1808.
Two days before the Caucus, the Virginia legislature decided to instruct its delegation how to vote. The meeting was disruptive, and ended up dividing into two meetings: one with 120 members who recommended James Madison and one with 57 members which recommended James Monroe. As the slate of Presidential Electors had already been selected, the two groups examined the slate and replaced those who supported the other candidate. Richmond Inquirer, 1/30/1808.
The DRP Caucus of 1808
The 3d DR Caucus assembled in the U.S. Senate chamber in Washington DC at 6:30 p.m. on 1/23/1808. There were 89 members present, about 60% of the DR members of Congress. Only one member from New York attended. The minutes of the Caucus were reported in the New York Commercial Advertiser on 2/1/1808.
Chairman: Stephen R. Bradley VT
Secretary: Richard M. Johnson KY
Supporters of Madison had firm control over the Caucus, and most Clinton and Monroe supporters boycotted it.
After appointing the officers, the Caucus turned its attention to the nomination of a candidate for President. John Milledge and Joseph B. Varnum were appointed tellers. Each member cast a paper ballot. James Madison was nominated for President with 83 of the 89 votes.
The Caucus next turned its attention to the VP balloting. George Clinton was re-nominated for VP with 79 votes to 15 for others. The scattering included five for John Langdon, three for Henry Dearborn, and one for J.Q. Adams.
Wilson C. Nicholas offered a resolution that a commitee of correspondence be chosen, in case either candidate should choose not to run on the ticket. One attendee from each state was appointed to the committee.
2d DR Caucus (1804)
4th DR Caucus (1812)
Popular Vote of 1808
Electoral Vote of 1808
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