The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-02-11
vlcE-pnEslpENrs N HrsroRY.


Many of our Presidents have been
able men, but few of them have made any
stir while in Office, while number hays
been diametrically opposed to their chiefs.
Thomas Jefferson, as Vice President under
Adams, was the leader of the opposition,
and after the first few days of his term
Adams counseled with him in nothing.
Aaron Burr and Jefferson during the next
term were ut logger-heads, and it was due
to jefferson that Burr was finally prosecuted
for treason. 4 is hardly possible that John
Quincy Adams and Calhoun had much in
common, and we all know how the latter
fell out with Andrew jackson as Vice Presi-
dent during the next administration. Van
Buren, and Jackson got along very we'll, but
it was only because President jackson was
king and Van Buren, merely factotum. II
was another case of " me too" only more
so, and Van Buren,, as reward for bis sub
mission. was made Jackson's successor.
Van Buren's Vice President was Richard
M johnson, of Kentucky, the first Vice
President selected west of the Alleghenies,
and, though he was the man who killed
Tecumseh, his name ia now almost forgot
ten. John Tyler, the next yice-President
was cipher as long as Harrison lived. Fill
more had little influence while Zach Taylor
was alive, and the troubles of Andrew
johnson after the death of Lincoln show
that his influence was small during the life
of old Abe. Hs#
John G.. Breckenridge, Buchanan's sec
ond, George M. Dallas who reigned with
Polk, and William r. King, Vice President
with Pierce, go. down to history through
other acts rather than those done through
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 unde,
Jefferson and was then serving under Madi.
son. The second who died was Eldridge
Gerry, signer of the Declaration of Inde-
pendenee and the author of the system of
changing legislative districts for Congres-
sional purposes, called after his name,
Gerrymandering.
The sixth Vice President was Daniel d.
Tompkins, of New York. He is one Of the
four Vice Presidents who were twice elect.
I'D, and be held the place through the whole
of Monroes administration. Now, every
one remembers Monroe, but how many can
tell anything about Tompkins? Still, II
the decade between 1910 and 1920, he wal
far more Of q man than Mr.. Hendricks il
now. He made a great reputation as a wal
Governor of Now York, and at one time,
when the State put out $500, 900 of bonds,
and there were no takers, he personally en-.
dorsed them, and thus made them good, for
he was wealthy.
The other Vice Presidents who have had
two elections are John Adams, George Gin.
ton and John @. Calhoun. OF the last Vice.
Presidents, Oolfax, Wilson and Wheeler
the world knows how little prominence they
had while Grant was President and unde,
the pacific reign of Rutherford B. Hayes.
Chester A. Arthur was little talked OF until
Garfeld's death. There have been alto.
gether twenty-one Vice-Presidents elected
by the people. OF these four have died in
office, three lave risen to the Presidency by
election, four have become Presidents by the
death of the President, and mono of them
have made regulations which will outlast
their century.