The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-06-17
aelistellaueuas Artitles.
From tie Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Vice Presidents of the United States

With the Presidents of the United
States, with their characters and history,
almost every well-informed man is famil-
lar. but it is otherwise with the Vice Presi-
dents, the second officers of the Govern
ment There are few who can ever name
them in order in which they were elected.
A few reflections upon them may, there
fore, be both inter esting and instructive
The first two Vice Presidents, John
Adams and Thomas Jefferson, were both
afterwards Presidents. They were sign
ers of the Declaration of Independence,
on the committee that drafted it, and
were leaders of their respective parties.
The third Vice President, Aaron Burr,
is also great historical character, who,
in this connection, we may pass without
notice, save the remark that his selection
over the distinguished Revolutionary gen.
erals, statesmen, and orators, at the early
age of forty-one, attests the remarkable
talents of the man, and the impression
they made upon public opinion.
The fourth Vice President was George
Clinton, ofNew York. He held the office
for eight years, under tho second term of
Jefferson and of the first OF Madison, and
died in it, the first instance of death i'm
vadng the great positions Of the Govern
ment. He had been the Governor Of New
York for eighteen years, during all the
war of the Revolution, and for long time
before and after it. He was the great op-
ponent of the adoption Of the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and, by his in
fuence, came near defeating it in the New
York Convention. He was the uncle ofa
still moro celebrated man, De Witt Clin-
ton.
The fifth Vice President was Eldridgc
Gerry, OF Massachusetts, one Of the i'm
mortal fifty-sx who signed the Declara-
ton of Independence. MIR. Gerry was q
Democrat, who maintained the faith of
the party in the darkest hours in Federal
Massachusetts. He had been Demo
cratic Governor Of that State, and from
his name political nomenclature has arisen.
A Democratic Legislature, under his ad-
ministration, districted the State for Con-
gress. Of course they regarded political
lines even more than contiguity of terri
tory. Party advantage was the great
aim. The Fedcralists denounced the bill
as sgerrymander," and from that day
more than half century ago-the
phrase has always been applied to politi-
cal Congressional and legislative appor-
tionments. Mr.. Gerry, like his prcdeces-
sor, Mr. Clinton, died in Office, and was
buried in the Congressional Burying
Ground, in the first year of his term.
Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York, was
the sixth Vice President, twice elected,
holding the position through all the eight
year administra of James Monroe,
He acquired his reputation as war Gov
ernor 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 it's bonds for s4OO, 600 up
on the market there were no takers. 1t
was not until Governor Tompkins, who
was very wealthy man, endorsed them
personally that the capitalists stepped for
ward and took them. He was man OF
such popular and pleasing manners that
it was said that refusal from him was
more highly priced than an acceptance of
his great rival, De Witt Clinton. 1t is gen.
orally believed that the death Of Vice
President Tompkins was produced by an
immoderate indulgence in the use of spir-
ituous liquors.
The seventh Vice President was man
we'll known to US in middle life who have
taken any part in politics-John G. Cal
houn, of South Carolina, 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 con-
sidered the Federal heresies of Daniel
Webster in regard 10 the respective rights
of the States and the Federal Govern
ment. He was the reatapostle of State
rights, and when he arose to address the
Senate his salutation was not "Mr. Presi-
dent" but always Senators" lie con-
sidered the Senate a mere convocation OF
State ambassadors.
The eighth Vice President was Martin
Van Buren,, of New York, who W as after
ward elected President. He was very
successful man, who, by his Tallcyrand
address, occupied in succession every high
position in the Government-Governor,
United States Senator, Minister to Eng
land, Secretary of State, Vice President,
and President. OF all his friends there
were none in whom Andrew Jackson re-
posed SO much confidence.
Colonel Richard NJ. Johnson, OF Ken
lucky, was tho ninth person who filled
the Vice Presidential chair Until he was
chosen, in 1886, no Vice President had
ever been selected west Of the Allegheny
Mountains. lie was gallant soldier of
the war of 1872, and with his own hand,
as established by incontlovertible test-
mony, killed Tccumseh, the celebrated In
dian Chief, at the battle Of the Thames,
in 1913. He was then colonel of - Ken
lucky regiment. His civic distinction