The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-12
THE SECOND PLACE.
History and Importance Of the Vice
Presidency.
How Death May Affect the Destiny
Of the Country.
REMARKABLE HISTORICAL INSTANCEs.
REMARKABLE HISTORICAL INSTANCES.
What Became Of Eighteen
Vice Presidents.
Electoral Vote for Vice President
from 1899 to 1873.

Tho HERALD has many recent occasions called
attention TO the Importance OF having the right man
dominated Tor Vice President. Thus far the higher
office has engrossed attention almost exclusively, and
few people appear to have given thought to the fact
that what has happened may at any moment happen
again; that tho accident OF DEATH which overy man
il every liable may snatch away the hand the
people shall place at the helm and dcvove the and
safety OF the ship State upon the second officer True
there is little that the last event OF that nature
tho cowardly assassination Of Prcsdcnt-wilI again
occur; but the grim spectre that stalks among u.s.
cordns to the DEGREES Of nature, knows difference
between the White House and the howell Nearly
forty years ago the old whig party their FIRST and
only President naururated. Thirty days aitcrward
Nhc they were yet drunken with the VINE ofvictory
Heath arrested tho revclry, and the nation saw for
he 1rs time unexpected vacancy in It's highest Of
Ice. Nine years later with less suddcnness General
Taylor left his place the Vice President What hap
pcncd at Washington Good Friday April H. 1865 is
too painful to dwell upon
Besides the impressive force of these lessons there
are the manifest propriey and duty Of naming pure
and as strong man for the second as for the first
place. 1t is due to the nominee for President II is
duo to tho people, and demanded for the strength
ening OF the ticket Be the people will scrutnize
names this year they have before. They will
require OF both parties OF high and pure character
and recognized ability. There are such mon now be-
fore the country, but all after the Presidency-not
one seems to think OF the second Office, much less
manifest willingness to accept it. The republicans
might shake the two B's-Blaine and Bristow-up in
hat, and draw to see which should be President and
which take the second place; but tho VINO came
out last would fatty refuse to run though the Vice
Presidency is quito good enough for either OF them.
And SO Of Of would-be candidates in both
parties; it is am Cesar aM nulus, and tho Vice
Presidency actually COOS abegging.
In order to shed light upon this Office and In the
hope OF attracting attention great importance in
many directions, We present herewith of
concerning tho who have been Vice Presidents,
the votes they received, who Of them became chief
executives and other matters concerning the position
and its occupants that fail TO be of present in.
terest
THE FOURTH OF MARCH
How came this out-of-thc- day be our politca,
New Year? 1t is not generally known that the origin
Of this arbitrary dating Of the political year aud fixing
tho time for tho termination of the Official life of
Senators and Representatives and the Inauguration Of
Presidents the of accident rather than design
In the days OF the Congress of the Confederation
after the adoption of the constitution by States
the requisite number to make it the organic law-tnat
Congress made laws to provide for the organza-
ton Of the new government Tho constitution
itself prescribed tho first Monday in December
IS tho time for the assembling Of Congress-
sunless that body shall by law appoint a different
day. but there Is nothing in the constitution about
the ath or March the time when Congress should
end Senators so out Of oicc and Presidents be inau
guratcd In the Twelfth amendment adopted after an
OF Congress had fixed the 4th of March, that period
is referred to- but with tho sole object OF putting
end at that date TO struggle in tho House Tor tho
three weeks for the work there election
by the people The Congress OF the Confederation,
eleven States only being represented first fixed
upon the first Wednesday IN January tho time Tor
choosing Presidential electors, the first Wednesday in
February Tor the electors and the first Wcdnes
day in March as the time for putting The new govern
mcnt ~ operation This action was taken september
Is 11SS II happened that the first Wednesday
March, 1883. the 4th day of the month Congress
should have met but did not get together until tho
middle oil April, and Washington was not naugurated
the 4th of March, but on the 30th Of April the
neps of old Federal Hall, in Wall street. facing Broad.
this city, where the SUP Treasury now stands. he
subsequent adherence to The 4t Of March ot the rst
Wednesday, has no better authority than THIS act OF
the Continental Congress, intended to be temporary
and Tor the special purpose only oil starting The regular
government, which had and has perfect authority 10
Tx the beginning OF Its year as II sees III.
FATE vlcE PRESIDENTS
Eighteen different have been chosen Vice Prcsi-
dents For the lrst our elections II was the practice
give Office the having the largest VOTE
prtsuming that vote 10 be majority OF all the elect
ors. Under this rule John adams was chosen tor
both OF washngton's terms, and at the third election
was made President Jefferson served during Adams
only term ana succeeded to the higher Office. Alter
that tho required specify in their bal
lots their preferences Tor President and Vice,
counting Burr as the last got tie
office by coming second IN the race, fifteen men have
filled the place, only single one OF whom svor reached
the Presidency; that Martin Van buren,, borne on
the mighty shoulders OF Old Hickory. So the Vice
Presidency is not much to brag OF point for pro-
motion.
OF the fifteen Vice Presidents under consideration
four died while in olice-vz, George Clinton, who
served under Jefferson and Madison; EIbridge Gerry
during Madson's irst term; William X. King, elected
with Pierce was Ill in Cuba, sworn IN by our Consul at
Havana pursuance Of special act Of Congress and
died the day after reaching his home IN Alabama,
never having entered upon his office and lastly Henry
WILSON, the last Vice President elected.
Of the eleven left three occupied the highest Office
through the accident OF death. President Harrison
was inauguraicd March 4, 1884, and died April AUST
month aiicrward. John Tyler, Of the firm Of TIP
lccanoe aud Tyler too, became President and easily
succeeded in playing tho mischief with tho
party that elected him. HIS name gives US
apostasy. General Taylor took Office March
1912 and dlcd In July OF the next year leaving the
place 10 Willard Fillmore, an easy, inefficient man,
IRON whom nothing was expected and nothing came
The assassination OF President Lincoln put bull in
shop, and very lively bull at that; but the his
.specal notice Lastly Henry Wilson, on whom great
ropes wore placed who seemed almost sure of at
east a good chance for the succession. was taken
iway.
THIS leaves eight Vices 20 be traced. The FIRST is
Aaron Burr the OF Hamilton, bold restless
scheiniug rainm many dcmagogue But Tor that fatal
duel there ~ no reason 20 suppose mat Burr could
have been kept out OF washngtons chair Daniel D.
Tompkins was Governor OF New York, powerful
1ammany brave member OF Congress- &c lie was
one OF the young men selected, WITH a hundred
or more, BY Tammany In the Fifth ward Of
this city to BIO nouseowncr, so rs 10
be- qualified to vote when only properly owners could
vote Tor State Senator's That house OF 100 owners
gave Tammany the ward and her point Tompkins died
at advanced age Long Island. John Y. Calhoun
what might have happened II Adams had died OF the
hcry little naval officer had put bullet through Presi-
dent Jackson Is something 10 think Of But Jackson
lived to strange the great Nuder, and put secession
back hall a century. Next have Richard VI. john
son, OF Kentucky, who was broadly charged, during
the canvass of 1885, with practising msccgenaton aud
having abused his Office. He nominated for
a second term, but kentucky whiskey was no match
for hard cider, and nc went down wnh Van Buren, IN
the hurricane. George 81 Dallas Minister Great
Britain, and filled other honorable POSITIONS dying at
his home IN Philadelphia. believe. John C..
Breckenridge went with the Soulh-so much for him.
last Of the eight is schuyler Coliax whose political
yslcm paralyzcd By contact with The Credit Mob
Ter, and who is now known chiefly lecturer on
emperance