Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-23

WASHINGTON, d. c., July 10, 1879
hessrs. Editors The statement has frequently
been made, and Is still repeated now and then in
the most respectable quarters, that the presidency
has never been reached by the way Of the United
States senate. Such
POPULAR ERROR
should not be allowed to pass for truth, especially
when It can be 40 easily contradicted. In dozens
Of papers, during the past three or four years,
have we seen this msstatement, and at this time,
at the opening Of another presidential campaign,
II Is again made In numerous quarters When
the ambition OF Messrs Morton and Conkling for
the presidency was first announced the story was
at once started that the fact Of their senatorshp
was fatal to their aspirations, for the that
no senator Of the United States had ever reached
the chief magistracy; and when Mr.. Blaine passed
from one chamber Of the national legislature to
the other there was scarcely n newspaper In the
country that did not commiserate him upon his
voluntary sacrifice Of his towering ambition. It
was again and again declared that the senate
chamber was the graveyard Of aspiring politicians
and through Its portals never passed a tenant of
the White House. We have looked up the facts
OF this matter and find some interesting rebuttals
Of this error which are worthy OF detail
History furnishes us with several instances OF
senators becoming presidents. The first Of these
was Andrew jackson. He was elected senator
from Tennessee in 1923, and simultaneously was
nominated by the legislature OF that state for the
presidency. He was not at that time chosen to
the presidency. but took his seat in the senate,
serving about year, when, disheartened and dis
gusted with public lfe he retired TO privacy, TO
hs.a 81 A. III
election. Martin Van Buren, was chosen senator
from New York in 1921, and was reelected in
1927, when he resigned to accept the governor
ship Of New York. William Henry Harrison was
elected senator from Ohio in 1926, and served the
full term. He was appointed chairman OF the
committee on military affairs made vacant by the
withdrawal OF Jackson from the senate. In 1927
John Tyler succeeded John Randolph az senator
from Virginia, and was reelected in 1888. James
Buchanan was chosen senator from Pennsylvania
in 1888, and Is said to have been one of the most
brilliant members Of that body, despite the failure
OF his later life. When barely the requisite age
Franklin Pierce was elected in 1887 senator from
New Hampshire and resigned in 1872
1t will be seen that six Of the senators OF the
United States became its chief magistrate, one,
Tyler, by the death Of President Harrison while
none of them vaulted from the senate chamber to
the executive mansion. Andrew johnson fur
nishes the only instance OF person becoming
senator after having filled the office OF president
although John Quincy Adams became member
Of the house OF representatives after being presi
dent, and died while member Of that body.
| There have been
CONSPICUOUS FAILURES,
pf In fha a,fa
to reach the presidency; and the fact that neither
| Webster, Clay nor Calhoun all OF whom were sen
ators, at times members OF the cabinet and al
ways presidential aspirants, reached the goal
has helped to create the impression which is con
tinually and dogmatically emphasized The fact
too, that the later presidents, Lincoln, Grant and
Hayes were never senators has broadened and
| deepened the erroneous belief Fremont is also
another instance OF the failure OF senator to be
| come president He Is now quite likely to be
| come senator again, should the territory of Ar
izona, OF which he is at present governor b,
| admitted into the Union within the next few
years. He was in the city short time since
and, although something over sixty and bearing
the marks OF age, more especially in his hair and
beard which are white as snow, he has much Of
his old time vigor and energy Of purpose. Fail
ures in this overweening ambition among on
public men to mount the highest step Of the pc
| litical ladder are many, and success has Away,
been the exception rather than the rule. In
stances are numerous even In our own time, sucl
as Douglas, Seymour, Seward, Chase and Morton
Seymour still survives, and although his motto Il
"your candidate cannot be, he is undoubtedl,
willing and is still TALKED about in his own party
/ That auph n AZ n q IN
subject Of this letter should pass current year il
and year out, and rarely encounter contradiction
is evidence Of lamentable
IGNORANCE OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
The revolutionary period in the history of on
country seems to be the only one with whicl
there is any widespread familiarity OF American
politics and pubcists Of the first half OF the pre-
sent century little is known popularity; not be
cause there is not abundant literature, biographi
cal and historical, of that period, but because tn
attention OF youth is called to it only a. a con
Meeting link between the war Of the revolution
| and the war OF the rebellion. The attention O
the student who Is encouraged to read - Plutarch'
Live" and Gibbons Rome" is seldom eve
directed to the biography Of his own country
and American scholars, in whose mouths tn
history Of ancient Greece is as familiar as house
hold words, would accept without question the a.
serton that no senator OF the United States eve
became its chief magistrate. II 1t were not tn
fashion OF large number Of our instructors to rt
fer the student to the ancients for models OF wi,
dom and heroism, and to treat the men and tn
books OF our own nation as too commonplace 70
study, American biography might be read for it
facts, at least, II not for its interest 1t woul
familiar with the history Of their own country be
fore entering upon that Of antiquity.
| NOTES AND COMMENTS
Wednesday was the hottest day OF the seaso
here well throughout the country. Tn
thermometer ranged from one hundred degrees I
one hundred and five degrees during the after
noon and evening. There was not breath OF al
stirring, and at night the heat was terribly OF
pressive and sleep was out Of the question. On
felt as II being suffocated and parched aliv,
Clothing was unbearable and felt as II it had jus
4 come from the ironing table. A number of pei
sons were sunstruck, some fatally. Relief cam
the next day and since then we have had charm
! ing weather.
Judge S, j. W. Tabor, who has held the positio
Of fourth auditor OF the treasury for some sXtee
J years. voluntarily resigned on Thursday and hs
returned to his home in Iowa Judge Tabor wa
a native of Bradford, Vermont, a thorough gentle
man Of the old school, and popular and con
petent official
1t Is now stated authoritatvely that ex-Senato
Ramsey of Minnesota will he nominated as secre
tary of war a. soon As Secretary McCnry is col
iirmed as Judge Dillon's successor.
Mr. John 7. Ford having surrendered his leas
!