St. Landry democrat., 1891-01-17
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BY w. II. CLINE.
NJ kTIS VAN buren,,

The subject of this sketch was born
December 5, 1882 of Dutch ancestry. He
had only common school education,
but being bright and ambitious young
man. studied law and soon rose to emf
hence in his profession.
He soon turned his attention to poiotics,
and manifested a special talent in that
direction. Before he was thirty years of
age, he was elected State Senator, and
was afterwards elected to the United
States senate. aud became the ac-
know'edged leader of the Democratic
parry in the State of New York.
When Gen. Jackson was elected presi-
dent, he appointed Mr.. Van Buren, his
secretary Of State, in which position he
served until 1881 when he was nominated
Minister to Eng land, and in the interim
or the senate, assumed the duties of the
office. W ben the senate met IN December
! 1881, Mr.. Van Buren's nomination came
before the senate and was vigorously OPP
| posed by Calhoun, Clay and Webster, and
notwithstanding the president did all he
could to secure bis confirmation, he was
| rejected Gen. Jackson, who always stood
| by his friends, then used his powerful in
| tluence to secure Mr.. Van Buren's nom-
nation to the vice presidency, and sue
ceeded. In November 1882 Andrew
Jackson was elected president for his
second term, and Martin Wan Buren, took
his seat as presiding officer, over the SEN
| ate, which but little more than year
| before had refused to confirm his nomi-
nation as minister to England.
At the close of Gen. Jacksons admins
tration, Mr.. Van Buren, was elected to
the presidency, defeating Gen. w. Il.
| Harrison.
Soon after his Inauguration the great
| financial crash of 1887 occurred and
although the administration had nothing
to do with the causes which brought about
the great crash, it had to bear the blame:
the wing party took advantage of this, and
succeeded in making Mr. Van Buren, very
unpopular with the pe,Dle.
Michigan was admitted into the Union
during this administration, the Mormons
| were driven from Missouri, aud envelopes
were first invented and used in the United
States
As the time for the presidential election
drew near the two great parties marshalled
their forces for the contest. On the DEM
ocratic side there was only one candidate,
and that was President Van Buren,.
The wings nominated Gen. Harrison for
president.
One of the most exciting political cam
paigns followed that has ever occurred in
this nation. Gen. Harri&ons friends in
ssituted the clog cabin and hard cider"
campaign, in the interest of "Tippecanoe
and Tyler too" They also advertised
extensively that they woald pay six dollars
per barrel for -four in case Harrison was
elected, and three dollars in case Van
Buren, was elected. The result was that
Harrison was triumphantly eletced.
At the close of his term, Mr.. Van Buren,
retired to his native State; but did not re-
tire from politics.
He and his son John were still leaders
of the Democratic party, and Mr.. Van
Buren, still looked upon the presidency
with laughing eye He was candidate
fer the nomjdstion Of his party in 1914,
but was defeated.
He again appeared as candidate in
1e49, and was supported by that wing of
his party who wee opposed to the e1-
tension of slavery.
Being defeated in the convention by the
pro-slavery wing of the party, who nomi-
mated Gen. Lewis Cass, MIR Van Buren,
became the candidate of the free soil
party.
The result of the canvas was, that both
Mr.. Cass and Mr. Van Buren, were de-
feated and Gen. Taylor, the wing cand
date elected.
Mr.. Van Buren, was an accomplished
politician and great leader in his party,
but was not in true sense, great States
man.
He was successful in manipulating the
party machine, but not so successful in
guiding the destinies of a great nation.
AS man in private life, he was genial,
social and popular.
He resided at Undertook, New York,
and died July "a 1862.