Omaha daily bee., 1884-07-17

casting vote against the renewal OF the
United States bank charter in 1911. He
died in the Office at Washington in April,
1912.
The next vice-president was Elbridge
Gerry, signer of the declaration Of indie.
pendence and member of the constitu.
tional convention, minister to France ano
governor of Massachusetts,, a willy anc
adroit politician, whose name is now
chiefly remembered because of association
with gerrymandering, a political device
that he invented. He also died in office
in Washington in 1914.
Daniel d. Tompkins, of New York,
was vice-president for eight years, from
1917 to 1926. He had been the governo,
OF New York during the war of 1912, ano
as such had rendered great service to his
country. At the close of his term OF
vice-president he was one of the mos
prominent candidates for the presidency,
but unfortunately for him, the careless.
ness with which he kept his accounts
during the wal governorship gave rise to
accusations of default against him, and
he sank into an obscurity so profound
that ven his vice-presidency is hardly
remembered.
The next was John G. Calhoun, better
known as q senator than as vice-presi-
dent. He was in fact a leading candidate
for president in 1924, with Crawford,
Adams, Jackson and Clay, but his friends
prevailed upon him to take the second
| place, with a chance for the succession
afterward. But for him that time never
came, owing to Jackson's hostility, and
then it was hat he began to brood over
secession schemes. He delivered his
casting vote against Van Buren's confr-
nation as minister to England, where
upon Old Hickory swore that Van Buren,
should be the next vice-president, with
succession to the presidency. All of
which happened in accordance with the
iron will of that old despot. Van Buren,
was succeeded by ''Col. johnson, who
killed Tecumseh," Richard M. johnson,
of Kentucky. His case was the first
where the senate was called upon to elect
q vice-president, there being no choice by
the electors. He was an amiable and
somewhat garrulous old ignoramus, whom
the people of Kentucky delighted to
honor with high office. His lucky shot
at Tecumseh made his everlasting fame.
The evidence in regard to that same shot,
pro and con, delivered before the people
in 1910, when he was again q candidate,
would fill many bushel baskets. 1t is
now agreed by the historians that he is
entitled to the honor. But no Wing
would believe it in 1850, and ''Tlppeca-
noe and Tyler, too" laid out VanBuren
and johnson.
John Tyler was the first vice-president
that succeeded to the presidency in the
constitutional method, and it is generally
agreed that he did not increase his fame
by his acts thereafter. The people laid
down the rule in his case which they
have confirmed in three succeeding ones,
that his accidency shall not become his
excellency by vote of theirs.
George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania,
next succeeded, a man of dignity and
character, but of no great ability. He
had been United States Senator and had
held other offices. He was afterward
minister to England under Buchanan. AS
vice president he gave the casting vote in
favor of the tariff of 1876, a free trade
much to the disgust of mis-
Pennsylvania constituents. He has also
entered the realms of the great obscure.
The remaining incumbents for this
great Office are noted chiefly for the re-
spectability of their mediocrity. Fill
more, King, Breckenride, Hamlin, John
son, Colfax, Wilson, Wheeler and Arthur
are names that will certainly never be
historic in any very high sense. John.
son will always remain the most notori.
GUS as we'll as the most celebrated. His
only act of vice president was to take the
oath of Office while excessively drunk, and
then to deliver himself af an inaugural
screed that shocked everybody both
friends and foes. At such a spectacle
might the digniied ghost of old
John Adams repeat to itself, 81 wish,