The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-08-24

WASHINGTON, d. G.,
August 9th, 1871.
OUR PRESIDENTS.

Ofthe eighteen Presidents of the
United States three were born in
February, three in March, four in
April, one each in May, July and Oc
tober, three in November and two in
December.
Only four of the eighteen Lad any
middle name and none had more
than one middle name.
The sur-names of nine Of the
eighteen terminate with tho letter
IN" We have one George, three
Johns, one Thomas. four James, two
Andrews, one Martin, one William
one Zachary, one MiIlard, one Frank
lin one Abraham and one Ulysses.
Seven were born in Virginia, two
in Massachusetts,, two in New York,
two in North Carolina, one in New
Hampshire, one in South Carolina
one in Pennsylvania, one in Ken
lucky and one in Ohio.
We have had twelve Democratic,
four Whig and two Republican Pres
idents. Eleven of these were resi-
dents Of the Southern aud seven Of
the Northern States at the time OF
their election to the Chief Magistpa-
cy.
One died in January, one in Febru-
ary, two in April, -four in june, tour in
July, one in Oct, ami two in Decem-
bcr. Fifteen have passed to that un-
discovered country leaving Fillmore,
johnson and Grant living, the latter,
however, being the only one left who
was elected directly by the people
fillmore became President by the
death of Taylor and Johnson by rea-
son of tho assassination of Mr.. Lin.
coin. Three of the Presidents died
on the fourth of July and two oi
them the Same yoar-lS26.
Five served eight years each, name
ly: Washington, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe and jackson. Four Of these
these were born in Virginia giving
thirty-two years to the "Old Domin
iou,n besides five years and four
months tor Harri. on. Tyler and
Taylor, making thirty-seven years
and tour months for Virginia so com.
monty called "Tho Mother OF Presi
dents"
On the third day OF next April il
will be eighty-twoye years eince George
Washington was first inaugurateC
President and nearly half that time
Virginia has filled that chair. "And
yet the south is not happy"
The most Incorporate of all the
Presidents were Pierce and johnson
Pierce however was an accomplished
gentlen an, possessed great suavity
of manner and WAS an fat with tn
ladies'. He was a Chesterfield after
the style of Geo. Washington Jone,
aud Augustus Cpscr Dodge. Buch
anan with all his faults was one o
the ablest of them oil while Filmor
We his antipodc. The latter will b
remembered chiefly for his havin,
signed the Fugitive Slave Act Q
1850. Folks administration is chief
ly remembered as one which wa
devoted to the extension of slaver'
by means of the war with Mexico
Ii is said that Van Buren, died ricl
q thing which cannot be said OF imam
OF the Presidents. As evidences &
sclt-made men it is probable tina
Lincoln and Washington were th
tiuest specimens OF them all. MI
Lincoln's kindness of heart-even i
war--has never been excelled.-
While some OF those who have bee
called to tho Executive Chair wer
, mcn ot marked ability others were o
, binary mon. Some ofthe ablest wh
) were in their lime aspirants To III
! position and failed TO reach tho 20,
!, OF their ambition were Burr Hami
/ ton, Marcy, Clay, Corwin, Chas
/ Webster, Seward, Douglas, Choa,
1 Calhoun aud othors. PoToMAe.