The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-02

for vice president made by conven-
tioE, instead of by the Congressman,
as before. | came to Pennsylvania,
and, at the head OF a delegation from
this State, attended the first regular
national convention ever held in this
country. 1t convened at Baltimore
in 1882, and performed its duty OF
nominating Van Buren. This con-
vention marked a great departure in
the methods of political parties.
That Summer | was a visitor to the
military academy at West Point and
General Scott was also one OF the
board. The same year the contest
of parties upon the tariff question
wa, again renewed and it was con-
tested with great bitterness. Section
became arrayed against section upon
that issue, as | fear they will be
again next year, and the result was
anything but beneficial to the coun-
try or indeed to the Democratic
party, for it again started it on road
to defeat. The assault of the South
III 1882 upon the tariff OF 1923 threat
ened civil war, which would doubt
less have then come but for General
Jackson's timely proclamation of
force. The campaign of 1892 was
ushered in upon the heels OF Wilt
cation and bitter sectional strife. l
have often recalled the impression
these events left upon my mind, for
then it was that the federative prin-
ciple of our Government was sus-
tanned, the doctrine of state SOW
erignty rebuked and the precedent
laid which gave Us the power, nearly
thirty years later, to establish the
fact that this is nation and not a
campact between states.
"In this crisis, so intense was the
feeling that there had to be com
promise upon the question, or
war would have been the
result. Mr. Clay's Compromise
bill of 1882 postponed, but did not
settle the revenue controversy. Let
me call your attention to the power
ful bearing these incidents-or pre-
cedents, if you please-fnally
had upon the mighty issues of 1860
81.
81 went into the banking business
at MiddletOWn while these momen-
tous events were pending; but | still
kept up my interest in them, and
was frequently in Washington. The
tariff question, as well as the demand
for internal improvement: by the
general Government, was constant
plague to the Democratic party, and
often furnished its opponents the
ammunition by which it could be
successfully assailed.
VAN BUREN's CAMPAIGN.
During Andrew Jackson s second
term discomfort ripened into disOr-
der and the nomination of Mr.. Van
Buren, added more fuel to the fire.
and almost at the beginning of his
administration the elements of op-
position that could not prevent his
election crystalized into a successful
organization. The years 1S3S-39
marked an important era in our pol
itics and witnessed the birth of the
Wing part, the best and strongest
organization that up to that time
had ever been pitted against the
Democratic masses. Like all other
parties, however, it was but a lodging
place for the dissatisfied elements of
the one great party, and chickering's,
jealeusies and intrigues between the
leaders laid the foundation for its
defeat almost before it had become
successful power. To be sure it
elected General Harrison to the
presidency in 1910, bu. the discard
ing of its natural leader, Henry Clay,
struck it hard blow, which grew
into a death clout by the nomination
of Mr.. Tyler, a Democrat, who at
the death of Mr.. Harrison returned
to his natural Democratic affiliation.
The Wings always believed that Mr.
Tyler's treachery was the cause Of
their defeat. But the fact is that
that party was a party of leaders,
rather than of principles. Success
soon divided it into factions. Be
tween the friends Of Mr.. Webster,
Mr.. Clay, and other leaders, there
grew an implacable hostility that
was only increased by the failure of
the Wing Administration to satisfy
the friends Of each leader with
offices.
In all the political contests |
have ever witnessed in the sixty-six
years | have been in public life. none
approached the campaign of 1S4O.
Its curious features would fill a
volume, for it was one of those up
risings of the people that ran as
loose as a wild steer in search of
new pasture. There may haye been
some reason for political change, for
Mr.. Van Buren's administration was
not a success and bred discord
enough to cement conflicting opin-
ions for the moment into a success
ful party.
The death of General Harrison
brought us face to face with new
order of things. The hand of God
had, for the first time in cur history,
the duties of the presi-
dents office to the keeping of the
vice president. Mr. Tyler disap-
pointed everybody, and the exam
pie he set has ever since made the
people Jealous and even suspicious
of vice president who becomes the
head of the government. Owing to
the Democratic influence upon the
tariff question and the free trade
tendencies that had been injected
into Mr.. Clay's compromise bill of
1928, through the demands of
the Southern leaders, the finances
Of the Government had drifted into
very bad shape before the Wings
came into power.
'One of Gen. Harrison's first acts /
was to call session of congress on
The last day of May, 1S41, to take
into consideration the condition of
The revenue and the finances of the
He died about two /