The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-01
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
Henry Clay and John observation-disclosures
and Refutation of inaccuracies.


reliability of the statements. respectively. of TIM
venerable and distinguished Mr.. James o. Har
rison on Henry Clay" in the Century for De
cember, 1886. page 1s2, and of the accomplished
historians, Messrs. Nicolay and Hay, in the
Century for January, 1887, page $685. wherein
they characterize with deserved severity Mr.
Tyler's objectionable betrayal of the WhiG
party. by which he had been elected yics-presi
dent.
Mr. Green asserts, with all holiness, that the
Wing party had mo platform, and none was in
tended or implied" that "the Wings did no,
nominate Harrison and Tyler" that 1.-The Harris
burg convention which nominated these candi-
dates, Dec. z. 1885, was known at the time to be
joint convention of Wings and Democrats, in
which the Democrats accepted Harrison, while
the Wings accepted Tyler" and that ''the case
was one of pure political bargain, In which each
side took it's chances
Now, let us turn from Mr.. Green's fctions-
they are naught eIse-and deal with the facts In
the case
The Wing party did have a s.platform" which
was both 'intended and implied, and which en-
braced tbriefy stately the following prominent
measures of public policy, namely: A national
bank; a tariff on foreign i'm portation. both for
revenue and protection of home productions and
industries; distribution of the proceeds from
the sales of the public lands among the several
States; a system of internal improvements by
the general government. in the interest of the
whole country
The Whie party did nominate Harrison and
Tyler, and the Harrisburg convention which
nominated them. in 1889, was not known at the
time to be joint convention of Wings and
Democrats, III which the Democrats accepted
Harrison, while the Wings accepted Tyler; but
it was known as a Wing convention from top to
bottom, through and through. All the dele
gates, without an exception, were sent thereto
as Wings by Wing constituencies, John Tyler
hAs~ rs H. has ho1 f5rro
before severed his relations with the Democrats
and joined the Wings. Moreover. he was an
enthusiastic advocate of Henry Clay for the
presidency, against all corners, and this cir
cumstance alone made him a delegate to the
convention. Well knowing and glorying in the
fact that Mr.. Clay was the foremost champion
in all the Union of national bank and the other
leading measures of the party, he voted seven
times in the convention before the nom1na-
tion of Harrison was effected casting every bal
lot for the Great Commoner." Henry Clay!
Being thus defeated in this disinterested and
all-absorbng ambition of his Utmost soul, poor
Tyler's heart was broken! He wept! just why
he abandoned himself to such extreme sorrow
was not quite plain to the dull public at the
time; but in the light of subsequent events it
became apparent that he then and there gave
up all hope of ever Witnessing the crea-
ton of another United States bank Had
he lived till now, he might see thousand such
banks; but he died in 1862 while member of
the Confederate Congress-, and engaged in the
congenial endeavor to legisate the national
Union and government out of existence! Let it
be repeated here that his professions of SUI
preme devotion to Mr. Clays political fortunes
gave him seat in the Harrisburg convention.
Aud let it be added fact, which mono may
deny, that his advocacy. and votes. and sobs.
and tears in the convention, IN the same behalf,
gave him the vice-presidential nomination. In
a word, through the potentiality of the name
and character of Henry Clay-and by the act of
God in the death of Harrison--this man became
President of the United States.
General Harrison, in the course of the presi-
Dental campaign of lS40 delivered in Indiana
what soon became known throughout the coun-
try as his miami speech, In which, referring
to United States bank. he said in substance,
that formerly ne had entertained some doubt as
to constitutionality, but in view of the almost
uninterrupted concurrence of the legislative,
executive and judicial branches of the govern
ment in it's favor, he regarded the question
settled authoritatively; and if he should be
elected President, and the peoples representa-
tives in Congress should pass an act to charter
such bank, he would feel bound to make it law
by his approval, which. without doubt, the hero
ic old patriot would have done had he lived till
the time arrived for action. Before. at the
time, and after the election. Tyler professed to
be in full accord with Harrison's views and posi-
ton on the bank question, as set forth in his
Miami speech, as well as on all other questions
of public policy embraced in the creed of the
Wing party. Mr.. Green comedies this when he
says: Harrison and Tyler were agreed as
the state in which affairs were when they were
elected"
1t is known to all who are fairly we'll informed
in relation to the memorable canvass of 1910,
that the Wing party, through its newspaper
press. its public speakers. and its multitudlnous
gatherings of the people, proclaimed. main
tanned and enforced its doctrines in every town
and school district in the United States. while
the Democratic party, by precisely the same
antagoniZed the bank, tariff,
distribution internal improvements, etc. The
outcome OF the great contest was overwhelm-
ing victory for the Wings, Harrison receiving
234 electoral votes, and Van Buren, 60. It was
in this wise. and after the consummaton of this
sweeping political revolution, that 1.-THE Demo-
Gratis accepted Harrison" The will of the ma
tiop, expressed in mandatory terms, and with
wonderful unanimity, compelled the Democrats
to accept him. But he never accepted them,
When inaugurated President on the 4th OF
March, 104l, he announced as his constitutional
advisers, or Cabinet, Daniel Webster, OF Massa-
chusetts, Secretary of State; Thomas Ewing, of
Ohio, Secretary of the Treasury; John Bell, of
Tennessee, Secretary of War; George E. Badger,
lis Granger, of New York, Postmaster general;
John j. Crittenden, of Kentucky, Attorney-een-
oral All these were Wings. as also. were his
of the government
Very soon after his installation in Office, the
President issued call to the members of Con-
,ress Twenty seventy to convene at the Cap
tol. in extra session, day named. But,
Has! when the summons was responded to by
he assembling of Congress. the good Harrison
hen regarded as 'honest John Tyler was HIM
elf President of the United States. He enjoyed
he confidence OF the Wings. and the people at
aree, in a high degree. Did be preserve and
etain it. destroy and forfeit it, Certain it rs.
le was bound by every consid-
ration of personal honor and public duty
o cooperate with Congress in carrying into
fleet the great objects which their common
American people-had or
aned, in electing them. Congress embarked
n the required legislation with promptitude and
idelty to the country, and, in due time, having
natured and passed a bill to charter bank OF
he United States. presented it to the President
or his action thereon. He vetoed it. Then
congress, with all painstakne and forbearance,
vent about it and carried through another bill of
Ike import, and with like result-he vetoed it.
lso!
At this late day it would be impossible to
onvey to the public mind anything like an adj
quate impression of the profound sense of dis
ppointment chaerin. and indignation produced
q Congress and everywhere else, by these per-
dious acts of bad faith. ingratituds, and above
II, disregard of sacred obligations to the Nation.
n the part of this man, whom Mr. Green affects
D defend and eulogize. The Whig members of |