Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1894-11-02

succession after the presidents death.
Five have died In office. and Daniel ID.
Tompkins barely outlived his second term.
One resigned to become senator, and four
attained high honors in their states after
leaving the chair. AS rule, they have
been older than the presidents they served
with, and several have lived to very ad.
vanced age. Adams and jefferson, also
presidents, died at 90 and SO, Hamlin at
SO, Aaron Burr at so and Martin Van
Buren, at nearly the same age. John
Cabell Breckinridge was the youngest to
hold the office and died at 81. Daniel ID.
Tompkins died at 81 and Chester A. Arthur
at Sc, while all the others lived to fair
old age.
Another interesting fact is that the orig
inal idea, or it might be called the intent,
of the trainers of the constitution was soon
completely nullified. They were still in
fected with European notions and expect
ed the vice president to be rather the fa-
vorite candidate for the succession. Adams
did succeed his chief, and so did Jefferson,
but with the next man, Burr, the prece-
dent was broken, and only Martin Van
Buren has since been promoted in that
way. After Burr it seemed to be taken for
granted that the secretary of state was to
succeed his chief by what was called the
'.easy succession, but Andrew jackson
broke across that and many other prece-
dents, and SO the modern system was In
augurated
George Clinton and Elbridge Gerry,
fourth and fifth in the line, were truly
great men In their states for many years
before their election to the vice presidency,
and both died in that office, Clinton after
holding the place seven years and Gerry
before the close of his second year. Daniel
ID. Tompkins Of New York, seventh In the
line, was worried into temporary insanity
by charges of embezzlement, as he had got
his accounts confused as disbursing off
Ger in the Revolution, took to stimulants
for relief and died soon after quitting the
chair. John G. Calhoun had SO brilliant
q career as senator that his vice presidency
was but minor feature Of his greatness.
Van Buren survived to become Free Soil
candidate for the presidency, and his vice
president, Richard M. johnson, was also
great in other offices.
John Tyler was vice president exactly
one month, and his character Is still In dis
pute. George Miffiin Dallas, the next In
order, was great in every relation of life.
AS student he took the highest honors at
Princeton, as a lawyer he was remarkably
successful, as secretary to Albert Gallatin
when the latter was minister to Russia
he won high praise, and as assistant secre-
tary of the treasury he was very efficient.
He was, in turn, mayor Of New York city,
United States attorney for that district,
United States senator, attorney general Of
Pennsylvania and minister to Russia, and
filled every post with honor. AS vice presi-
dent he cast the deciding vote which made
the Polk Walker tariff of 1846 law, and
instead OF stepping down from the Office
he stepped up, and as minister to England
in 1861 conducted the most delicate me-
gotiations with success. Beginning his
career as diplomat during the second
war with Great Britain. he lived to see the
war for the Union an assured success.
OF all the 28 none has filled more offices
or filled any more acceptably. He was
equally successful as an author and happy
In private life, and nearly all his near reia-
tives attained to eminence His father
was noted as lawyer, editor and Judge and
secretary Of the treasury under President
Madison, his brother James reached a
high rank in the navy, and his brother
Charles became noted author in Eng
land, while other relatives attained emf |
nence in other lines. The family was one |
Of remarkable talents.
William r. King was put on the ticket |
with franklin Pierce because it was be- |
lieyed to be political necessity, though it |
was questioned If he would live through |
the campaign. He took the oath of office !
in bed, at his hotel in Cuba, a special act |
of congress having provided therefor, and |
died six weeks later. He had been man |
Of some eminence in Alabama, but almost |
an invalid during the last third of his !
life. Henry Wilson and Thomas A. Hen. /
bricks have since died in office. OF Brock |
inridge, johnson and Colfax the critics I
are still disputing. Mr.. Morton is 10 years
old, and SO the politicians need not worry /
about his future. His great success has
been as a New York banker, and as ,ninis- /
ter to France in 1876.
]. II. BEAprR.