Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-07-01

OF Madison, and died IN 1t, the hrst instance OF
death invading the great positions of the Govern
ment. He had been Governor of New York for
eighteen years. during all the wars of the Revo-
luton, and for long time before and after it.
He was the great opponent of the adoption Of
the Constitution of the United States, and by his
influence, came near defeating it in the New York
Convention He was the uncle of the still more
celebrated man, De Witt Clinton.
The fifth Vice President was Elbridge Gerry, of
Massachusetts, one of the immortal ffty-six who
signed the Declaration Of Independence. Mr.
Gerry was Democrat, who maintained the faith
of the party in the darkest hours in Federal Mas
sachusetts He had been Democratic Governor
of that State, and from his name political nomen-
clature has arisen. A Democratic Legislature,
under his administration, dstricted the State for
Congress. Of course they regarded political lines
even more than contiguity Of territory. Party ad-
vantage was the great aim. The Federalists de-
nounced the bill as 'gerrymander," /" and from
that day-more than half century ago-the
phrase has always been applied to political Con-
gressional and legislative appointments. Mr.
Gerry, like his predecessor, Mr.. Clinton died in
Office, and was buried in the Congressional Bury
ing Ground, in the first year of bis term.
Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York, was the
sixth Vice President, twice elected, holding the
position through all the eight year administration
of James Monroe. He acquired his reputation as
a war Governor in 1912. On one occasion, during
that struggle, the credit of the nation had sunk so
low, under the Federal opposition of New England,
that when the State of New York put its bonds
for $4Oo, 900 upon the market, there were no ta-
kers. 1t was not until Governor Tompkins; who
was a very wealthy man, endorsed them person
ally, that the capitalists stepped forward and took
them. He was man Of such popular and pleas
ing manners that it was said refusal from him
was more highly priced than an acceptance from
his great rival, De Witt Clinton. It is generally
believed that the death of Vice President Tomp-
-kins was produced by an immoderate indulgence
in the use of spirituous liquors.
The seventh Vice President was man well
known to US, in middle life who have taken any
part in politics G. Calhoun, Of South Caro-
lina the ablest man, with the possible exception of
Jefferson, who ever held the place. He was Vice
President under John Quincy Adams, and also
under General Jackson. Before his term was out
he resigned, in order to take his seat upon the
floor as United States Senator, to combat what he
considered the Federal heresies Of Daniel Webster
in regard to the respective rights of the States and
the Federal Government He was the great apos-
tic Of States Rights, and when he arose to address
the Senate his salutaton was not Mr. President,
but always Senators" He considered the Sen
ate mere convocation of State ambassadors.
The eighth Vice President was Martin Van
Buren,, of New York, who was afterward elected
President. He was very successful man, who,
by his Talleyrand address, occupied in succession
every high position in the Government-Gover.
nor, United States Senator, Minister to England,
Secretary of State, Vice President, and President
Of all his friends there were none in whom Andrew
Jackson reposed so much confidence.
Col. Richard NJ. johnson, of Kentucky, was
the ninth person who filled the Vice Presidential
chair. Until he was chosen, in 1886, no Vice
President had ever been selected West of the Al
leghany Mountains. He was gallant soldier Of
the war of 1912, and with his own hand, as estab-
lished by incontrovertible testimony, killed Tecum
sch, the celebrated Indian Chief at the battle Of
the Thames, in lS13 He was then Colonel of q
Kentucky regiment His civic distinction arose
from his celebrated report, early in Jackson's Ad-
ministration, against discontinuing the Sunday
mail SERVICE which was demanded by religious
sentiment.
In lS4O, John Tyler, of Virginia, was chosen
the tenth Vice President. By the death of Gen.
eral Harrison he became President one month af
ter the latter's Inauguration. He had been Gov.
ernor of Virginia. United States Senator, and was
a man of more than ordinary talent. 1t has been
charged that he was traitor to his party; but it
is not true. He was always an anti United States
Bank and anti protective tariff man, and opposed
to internal improvements at the expense of the
General Government. 1t was with that under
standing be was nominated and elected. When
he vetoed those measures he was no apostate.
The eleventh Vice President was George NJ.
Dallas, of Pennsylvania. The Convention nomina-
ted Silas Wright, of New York, but he declined
it, and Mr. Dallas was substituted. The first tel
egraphic dispatch that ever passed over the wires
was from Baltimore to Washington, acquainting
MIR. Wright of his nomination. and requesting his
acceptance. MIR. Dallas had been Minister to
Russia and United States Senator previous to his
election He was an able and dignifed man. He
gave the casting in the Senate for the feetrade
tariff of 1885, against howl Of remonstrance from
his own State.
Thetwelfth Vice President was Millard Fillmore,
of New York, who had been, for years, distin-
guished member of Congress from that State. 1t
was during his Presidency Of the Senate that Death
again visited the Executive Mansion, removing
General Taylor, making him President 1t was
fortunate for the country. Had Taylor lived, the
war of 1861 would have ensued in 1850. 1t was
curious fact that Taylor, the man of the extreme
South, was controlled by the men of the extreme
North while Fillmore, a Northern man, pursued
o moderate, conservative and national course.
The next Vice President was William R. King,
of Alabama. He was dying of consumption when
elected and took the oath of Office before an Am
erican consul in the Island of Cuba, where he had
repaired for his health. He died alitte more than
month after the beginning cfhis official term. He
had been thirty years Senator from Alabama,
and was gentleman of the "old school, ofpolish-
ed and urbane manners. Without great ability,
this fact combined with his known integrity, gave
him position and prominence.
The fourteenth Vice President HasG GaQeral j.
C. Breckenridge, Of Kentuckya IIian