The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-03-05


Since the beginning Of the Govern
ment the Vice Precedent has had the
least to do with the administration 10
which he belongs. Many of our Vice
Presidents have been able men. but few
OF them have made any stir while In
Office, while number have been dia-
metrically opposed to their chiefs.
Thomas Jefferson, as Vice President
under Adams, was the leader OF the OPP
position, and after tile first few days OF
his term Adams counseled with him in
nothing. Aaron Burr aud Jefferson
during the next term were at logger
heads, and it was due to Jefferson that
Burr was finally prosecuted for g. eason.
1t is hardly possible that John Quincy
Adams and Calhoun had much in COM
mon, and we all know how the latter
fel. out with Andrew jackson as Vice
President during the next administra-
ton. Van Buren, and Jackson got
along very well, but it was only because
President jackson was king and Van
Buren, merely factotum. 1t was another
case of @me, too" only more so, and
Van Buren,, a. q reward for his submis-
sion, was made Jackson's successor
Van Buren's Vice President was
Richard M. johnson, of Ken
tucky, the first Vice President selected
west of the Alleghenies, and, though
he was the man who killed Tecunseh,
his name is now almost forgotten. John
Tyler, the next Vice President, was q
cipher as long as Harrison lived, and
Harrison's Cabinet tried to control him
after Harrison's death. Fillmore had
little influence while Zach Taylor was
alive, and the troubles of Andrew John
son after the death of Lincoln show
that his influence was small during the
life of Old Abe. SO far as can learn
we have never had q Vice President
who has ruled the President or direct
ed the administration. Even the
ton while filling the Office, and John
G. Breckenridge, Buchanan's second ;
George M. Dallas, who reigned with
Polk; and William r. King, Vice Pres
ident with Pierce, go down to history
through other acts than those done
during their Vice Presidency. Mr..
King, by the way, died in Office. He
was the third Vice President who did SO.
The first was George Clinton, who had
been Vice President under Jefferson,
and was then serving under Madison.
The second who died was Elbridge
Gerry, a signer of the De laration of
Independence and the author of the
system of changing Legislative districts
for Congressional purposes, called after
his name "gerrymandering." The sixth
Vice President was Daniel ID. Tompkins,
of New York. He is one of our four
Vice Presidents who were twice elected,
and he held the place through the
whole of Monroe's administration.
Now every one remembers Monroe, but
how many can tell anything about
Tompkins? Still, in the decade be-
tween 1910 and 1920, he was far more OF
a man than Tom Hendricks is now. He
made great reputation as war Gov
ernor of New York, and at one time,
when the State put out 100000 of
bonds and there were no takers, he
personally Endorsed them and thus
made them good, for he was wealthy.
The other Vice Presidents who have
had two elections are John Adams,
George Clinton, and John c.. Calhoun.
OF the last Vice Presidents, Colfax,
Wilson and Wheeler, the world knows
how little prominence they had while
Grant was President. and under the
pacific reign of Rutherford b. Hayes.
Chester A. Arthur was little talked of
until Garfeld's death. and his relations
with the great Ohioan were not more
friendly than those at present said to
exist between Hendricks and Cleveland.
There have been, altogether, twenty
one Vice Presidents elected by the peo-
pie. OF these. four have died in Office,
three have risen to the Presidency by
election, four have become Presidents
by the death of the President, and
none of them have made regulations
which will outlast their century
Washington, letter.