The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-11-24
From the Democratic Review.
LIFE OF JOHN TYLER.

Il has fallen to the LOT Of but few individuals TO exercise
90 p,tent influence the destinss Of their country,
as the subject Of this sketch But recently elevated to
the Office Of Vice President Of The naion post which
has heretofore been considered Of far less than secon-
dary importance to that Of the Chief Magistrate, Mr..
TYLER BY snlemn dlspensaton of Providence became
invested with the attributes Of Executive power, the
yery threshold Of his official The death Of
President Harrison, and his accession thereby to The
station of Chief Magsrate, events ofoo recent oc-
currence TO require more thar passing notice. The
limits assigned to this sketch will not permit an eabo-
rate review Of the earlier incidents of his fe and
shall therefore but briefly glance ever The Promi>
nenl features oh history, and proceed to the discus
sion of those great measures of public policy which
have been agitaed since his elevation to the Presden-
cy and over many Of which he has exercised 50 sads
iary a control.
John Tyler was born in Charles City County, Vr-
Rlna, on the 29th Of April, $780, and is now in the
fy-,hd year ofhis age. Ills father for considerable
period held the office Of Governor Of that Common
wealth. and enjoyed the friendship and esteem of the
distinguished statesmen Of his cay neghbor and IN
tma,e rs d of Thomas Jefferson, he possessed the un
reserved confidence ofthat eminent apostle of Democ>
racy. which con,nued uninterrupted to the close ofhs
existence The friendship of the father was continued
TO The son. and accordingly at Mr., Jeersons demise,
the subject our sketch called to deliver eu-
ogy on the departed patriot; task to the performance
Of which he brought the whole energies of cultivated
mind aud nm ardent admiration othe character of the
deceased statesman. The eulogy was delivered at
Rchmpnd and evinces deep seated conviction of the
importance of Mr. Jefersons polit cal principles, and
an enthusiastic appreciation oflhe eminent services he
rendered. to his country. Atlle early age oil twenty
one years. Mr. Tyler was elected to the Legislature Of
Virginia. and FIVE years thereafter was placed in Con-
gress. In 1926 he was elevated to the distinguished
staeno Governor of the State Of Virginia. the duties
Of which he discharged for about one year anG hail.
when the Legislature selected him to fill vacancy in
the seate Of the United States Having served in that
capacity during term he reelected, and ctn-
tinued 10 that Office until difference of opinion arose
between General Jackson and himself on some meas
ures Of public policy, when being Instructed BY The
Legislature of Virginia vote in their favor, be resigns
cd his seat and went into voluntary retirement In the
various stations thus briefly alluded to- Mr. Tyes tall
en,s and judgment called into frequent exercise
and his speeches and written addresses are marked by
forcibe and brilliant conceptions clothed in language
:. OF gEeat beauty. and purity. .'. r
Tic Whig Convention which assembled al Hsrrs-
burg in the State Of Pennsy selected him as their
candidate for Vice President to which Office he was O.
lected in The autumn of ls4O Up TO this period The in
fuence of Mr.. Tyer's views was necessarily limited to
comparatively circumscrbed sphere ofaction but the
demise Of General Harrison at once placed him OH an
eminelce where the exercise Of the legitimate fhncN
tions ofhs station involved The most momentous con-
sequences TO the we'll being of the whole nation.
Flushed with success the Whig party anticipated no
obstacle to the complete triumph OF those hvore
schemes, which, however veed from the public eye
during the presidential canvass were the less cherished
By the Federal phalanx throughout all the phases Of
their ever shifting career Rushing to the possession
ofplace and power with an appetite whetted by the
protacted struggle which had preceded victory, the
wire pullers lound themselves unexpectedly checked
by the decision and 6rmnsss of an individual elevated
by themselves. Aud here It becomes US 10 pause and
review the position of the Executive at this important
crisis '@ ..
Having for long period occupied stations of trust,
which rendered necessary the PRONUNCIATION of his SEN
timents the most grave and weghy subjects connec
ted with our political institutions, he found himself SUR
round ded by influences the hostile to his pre-con
ceived and fieqssnty declared principles, and left
the alternative ofabandoning the convictions Of long
life and asifying his character for consistency, Of
firmly maintaining his fidelity at tho cost Of encounter.
ing The embttered assaults of those who were nsru-
mental in his elevation. Foremost among those mpor-
tart Of national policy the question of esab~
lshing moneyed corporation by The General Govern
ment stood fofih broad massive, and overshadowng.
On nomerous occa asons--n the Senate of the United
States on the hus,ings in Vrginla-in communica-
tions 10 individuals and public bodies. and in casual g.
private conversations Mr.. Tyler had steadily denied
t constitutional right of Congress to charter such an
k1istiluol t.i.-
To ortify this settled conviction, the President found
that the evils which the famers of the Cons tituon had
with far seeing eye, anticipated from the existence of
such monopoly, were more Than verified by the bis
tsrng deve oPemens that were unoIded 10 the manage
n.snt oflhe United States Bank of Pennsylvania with
its admitted "odor Of nationality and he wisely deter
mined to stand by his principles without calculating the
cost or Inconvenience to hmSe personally. The re.
suit is before the country, and we intend briefly to
glance at the effects past present, and prospective,
which have followed aud may be expected to follow
from bis Official acts We are aware. indeed that Mr.
Tyler has been accused ofreaclery by large portion
Ofhis Wing allies but we find the burden Of testimony
decidedly opposed to such Conclusion Certain it is,