The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-05-05

| political as well as in the personal rela-
tions of the distinguished leaders who
! had figured so prominently in the excit-
ing movements of the previous four
years. Mr.. Clay had again been beaten
and the poli;:c:. f-ui between him and
| the President had increased in bitterness,
assuming constantly thereafter personal
dislike and antipathy. Mr.. Van Buren
had succeeded Mr.. Calhoun to the Vice
Presidency, and was now to preside
over the Senate, in which the latter was
to be simply Senator; nor was this all
of the discontinue of the ambitious
South Carolinian. The strong ties of per-
sonal and political friendship that had
so long existed between him and Gener-
al Jackson had been suddenly and vio-
lently severed-never to be restored
again. 1t had been discovered to Gen
eral Jackson through the revelations of
William II. Crawford, of Georgia, who
had been a member of Mr.. Monroe's
Cabinet during the time that General
jackson had control of military affairs
in Florida, that instead of Mr. Calhoun
(also a member of Monroe's Cabinet)
having defended him against serious
charges brought up in Cabinet for tran
scending his powers and authority in
Florida, he was for strict investigation,
and for such punishment as the extra
ordinary circumstances demanded; and
that it was John Quincy Adams who
had on that critical occasion espoused his
cause and defended him against any
extreme proceedings on the part of the
Government
This discovery was a sad blow and
great surprise to General Jackson, for
he had been under the impression that
it was to Mr.. Calhoun that he was in
debted for such friendly aid and defense
at so critical period, and the discov-
cry to man of his temperament, hav-
ing an extreme senSativeness about every
thing that concerned his military fame,
naturally awakened no ordinary indig-
nation and resentment, a correspond
ence ensued between him and Mr.. Cal
houn, which had no effect whatever i'm
healing the breach in their friendship;
but, on the contrary, it only widened it,
and the General, getting mad, abruptly
closed the correspondence with the de-
predatory address of Caesar to Brutus,
"Et tn Brute"
This unfortunate severance of the old
ties of personal and political friendship
between the President and Mr.. Calhoun
was in every way disastrous and fatal to
the latter. Mr.. Van Buren, succeeded to
the place in the affections of the Presi-
dent that had but so lately been occupi-
ed by Mr.. Calhoun, and in consequence
Mr.. Van Buren was placed on the ticket
in 1882 for the Office of Vice President;
with the clearly defined will and pleas
ure of the old hero that he should sue
ceed him in the Presidency. This asser-
ton of the influence and power of Gen
eral Jackson, based on his unequaled
popularity with the people to nominate
his successor, and to have him chosen
by the people, will be fully sustained by
the history of the times-and that not
only did this great influence and the
power of his name extend to his imme-
date successor, but will apply also to the
nomination and election of Mr.. Polk in
1874.
These sudden and overwhelming re-
verses in Mr.. Calhoun's political and
personal fortunes made him well-nigh a
longer in tie line of ''safe precedents,"
and that the aspiring son of New York
had stepped in and jostled him from his
ambitious path, where but short while
before he seemed so secure for the high
prize in view, and that there remained
no possible hope for him to regain his
former happy footing, he in an evil hour
resorted to his celebrated qualification
doctrine.
There Las scarcely been in the coun-
tSy greater excitement than that which
arose from the discussions in the Senate
on the tariff question during the session
of 1S32-'33 South Carolina, under
the lead of her hithertofore popular
and distinguished sou, Mr.. Calhoun,
had assumed the fearful attitude of an
CRY and almost Ee.iserent opposition to
the execution OF the revenue laws, and
/ at no time probably had there been
graver apprehensions for the future of
the country than existed then. 1t was
but the dark, gloomy omen and fore
| runner of what was to follow aiterward
| in 1861. and the dread and dismay which
then oppressed the hearts of all patriots
simply foreshadowed the horrors that
came upon our land from 1861 to '65.
General Jackson issued his famous
proclamation warning the people of
| South Carolina against any 6isafection
| to the Govern ,.--.iit, or any attempt to
res,St she Que execution of laws made
/ by the high authority of Congress, and
followed this great address by sending
troops to Charleston under the command
| of General Scott to guarantee and en-
force, if need waa, the execution OF the
revenue laws
/ During this eminentiy critical period
threatening the national peace, Mr.. Cal
houn arose in his place in the Senate
and made the following alarming decla-
ration that South Carolina was in bat
tie array" ready to resist the execution
of the iniquitous revenue laws for the
collection of revenue under an unjust
and unconstitutional tariff. Such was
the dread and fearful impression made
| on the minds of Senators and the crowd
| ed audience that for a while the feeling
was intensely oppressive and painful,
for it was known that General jackson
was intently watching every movement
on the part OF the political leaders OF
South Carolina, aud that had there been
! an overt act in the way of resistance,
going so far as TO the shedding of blood
after such speech, there was no know
ing what dire results would have hap
pened from the stsTa determination of
( the gree: and patriotic Chief then at the
head OF public affairs, who it Was we'll
known would never compromise In any
| - r. a.. ,-;otatfon of the law. IF his