The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-10-02

F,om The -ltbtntic MonhV
''Le Roi est neort-IIrs lie Roi'" John
Tyler, having found that his position as
President gave him no voice in the
distribution of patronage, or in the pre-
paration of a political programme. had
retired in disgust to his estate in Prince
William county, Virginia, when Mr..
Fletcher Webster brought him Motif
cation, from the Secretary of State, to
hasten to Washington to assume the du-
ties OF President of the United States.
The Cabinet, after due consideration,
had arrived at .he conclusion that Mr..
Tyler should be officially styled "Nice-
President of the United States, acting
President but he very promptly deter
mined, on his arrival at Washington, that
he would enjoy all Of the dignities and
honors of the office which he had inher-
tied under the constitution. Chief JUS
tice fancy, of the Supreme Court of the
United States, was then absent, so he
summoned Chief Justice Cranch of the
Supreme Court of the District of Column
bia, to his parlorat Browns Indian Queen
Hotel and took the oath of office admin
istered to preceding Presidents. The
Cabinet officers were soon made to un-
derstand that he was the Chief Magis-
trate of the Republic, and the Wing mag
mates began to fear that their lease of
| i
ated. In conversation with Mr.. Nathan
Sargent, prominent Wing correspond
ent. soon after his arrival, Mr.. Tyler sig
niiicantly remarked: eff the Democrats
and myself ever come together, they
must come to me: | shall never 60 to
them" This showed that he regarded
his connection with the Wings as preca-
rious.
The extra session of Congress, which
had been convened by General Harrison
before his DEATH was not acceptable to
his successor, who saw that its legisla-
ton would be inspired and controlled by
Henry Clay. When the two Houses were
organized, he sent them brief message,
in which the national bank question was
dexterously handled with the caution
and ambiguity of a Talleyrand." Mr..
Clay lost no time i'll presenting his pro-
gramme for congressional action; and in
4 few days its first feature-the repeal Of
the sub-treasury act-was enacted. That
night. a thousand or more of the jubilant
Washington Wings marched i'll procession
from Capitol Hill to the White House,
with torches, music, transparencles, and
fire works, escorting 4 catafalque, on
which was a coffin labeled THE Sub
Treasury AS the procession moved
slowly along Pennsylvania Avenue, bon
fires were kindled at the intersecting
streets. many houses were Illuminated,
and that was general rejoicing. On the
arrival Of the procession at the Exccu-
tive Mansion, President Tyler came out
and made few remarks, while Mr.. Web
ster and the other members of the Cabi-
net bowed their thanks for the cheers
given them. The hilarious crowd of
mock mourners then repaired to the
house of Mrs. Brown, at the corner of
Seventh and ID streets, where Mr.. Clay
boarded, and received his grateful ac-
acknowledgements for the demonstration.
The next measure on Mr.. Clay's pro-
| eramme-the bill for the distribution of
the proceeds of the sales of the public
lands among the States-was also prompt
ly enacted and as promptly approved by
the President. Next came the bankrupt
act, which was passed and signed by Mr..
Tyler: but when bill creating Il national
bank was enacted and presented to him
for him approval, he returned it with
his veto. This created much discomfort
among the Wings, while the Democrats
were so rejoiced that considerable num-
Der of congressman belonging to that
party called at the Executive Mansion.
The President received them cordially,
and treated them to champagne, in which
toasts were drunk not very compliment
AIRY to the Wing party, or to its leader,
Mr.. Clay.
The Kentucky Senator saw that it was
of no use to temporize with his vicillat-
ing chieftain, who evidently desired to
become his own successor, and he deter
mined to force the Administration into
hostile attitude towards the Wings, while
he stepped to the front rs the recognized
Wing leader. Naughty and imperious,
Mr.. Clay was nevertheless so fascinating
in his manner when he chose to be that he
held unlimited control over nearly every
member of the party. He remembered
too that Tyler had been nominated for
Nicc-President in pursuance Of bargain
made by his (Clay's) friends, who had
Joined the Van Buren, members in elect
ing Mr.. Rives to the Senate. This bar
gain Mr.. Clay had hoped would secure
for him the support of the State of Nir-
ginia in the nominating convention, and
although Harrison received the nomina-
ton for President his friends were none
the less responsible for the nomination of
Tyler us Nice-President. He was conse-
quently very angry when he learned what
had taken place at the White House, and
he availed himselfof the first opportunity
to speak of the scene in the Senate, por-
traying the principal personages present
with adroit sarcasm.
Some Of his descriptions were life-like,
especially that of Mr.. Calhoun, "tall.
care-worn, with fevered brow, haggard
check and eye, intensely gazing, looking
as if he were disSecting the last and new
est abstraction which sprung from some
metaphysician's brain, and muttering to
himself, in half uttered words, This is
indeed a crisis - The best word por-
. trait, however, was that of Senator
Buchanan, whose manner and voice were
humorously initiated, as he was described
= while presenting his Democratic asso-
. eiates to the President Mr.. Buchanan
=, pleasantly retorted, describing in turn a
! caucus of disappointed Wing congress
men, who discussed whether it would be
best to make open war upon ''Captain
Tyler.' OF to resort to stratagem, and, in
p the elegant language of Mr. Bolts, ''head
him or die.
The mission to Great Britain had been
rendered by President Harrison to John
Sargent, distinguished Philadelphia
~ lawyer who had been the candidate for