The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-03
AND TYLER TOO"
r,ho Io.t VIRGINIA. President.

,rooro NV earliest recollections is TO
be,,c becn taken by my father into the
,,roeonce of his political idol, Henry
cav To have felt the hand of mat au-
o,,et statesman laid upon my curly locks
ana IN have been told afterward mat the
oracuIar lirs had pronounced my head 10
be one Of promise. THAT BOY ne s"'e,
.,oupht 10 make a fine Boston player II
no ives The occasion was dinner par
tv. given TO Mr.. clay by Colonel william
n Johnson tho Napoleon OF the turI
himself a WING leader Of great po2ulaI-
wand influence; and il was after a IONS
sitting over such MADEIRA as lay an"
Webster loved that several proud pa
ronts introduced their children, much as
the scions of some religious househola
MIGHT have been brought before a great
nrclate TO receive his blessing. Many
wears afterward, when | had oHcndtu NY
father nv giving uttcrance 10 an opinion
a. va.ience with the Whig-Fedorallsm'
which was his creed ne reverted 10 the
above circumstance, as If the laying on OF
hands by the nigh priest OF mat doctrine
should have preserved his son from such
a lapse into horesy.
This incideut is mentioned as indicating
the impression of Mr.. Tyler, when was
likely TO have imbibed from the politcdl
atmosphere which surrounded my YOUTH
Tba household drew its facts ana oplh-
ions from such organs as the Richmond
Wbig the National lntelligencer, from
(,oorga u Prentice and Parson Brown
lov,. and seen through such mediums Johh
T,lcr appeared to be traitor IMAM
whom a greater never betrayed interests
intrusted to his keeping. Party leelihs
ran higher, | think, in those days IMAM
at present: harsher epithets were appheu
"a nolitical antagOnists; ana there was
esnecfal rancor in the period IoiloWlhs
Mr. Tvler's administrauon-ior II hdu
1vitnessed The utter demolition or Il great
,'aiiticoI combination, and the final over
throw of that magnetic leader WHOSE an
tition was its own destroyer ana whose
,nbridled resentment of personal deleat
i,oreIIed him TO ruin where he could not
rule. After the election OF POLK the his
Marty had no national existence, the eleO
lion If TaviOr four years thereafter was
a mera rallying of the opposition TO
states rights and to slavery, preparing
the way for the Republican party anu
after 1910 Mr.. Clay descended from ms
high estate of leadership ana uepdseu
his mighty talents 10 the petty objects OF
personal revenge. The tongue when IN
evbortine to love of country ana oDedl-
onco tn the Constitution, could reach such
lofty eloouence as compelled the tribute
of bis enemies, descended TO the coarse
abuse of opponents and rivals TO head
off that ----- traitor, Tyler ana 10 get
oven with that tricky Yankee, webster
became the two ideas which dictated anu
a,,,ided his course TO look upon MIN at
~ different periods of his career even
through the clear eyes that history gives
1ooves one in doubt whether ne were
dor,i-rod or demagogue Certainly there
80 heights and depths in his character
which justified Humphrey Marsnall
Saanition of him, as "a sublime black
Guard" But to the Virginia Wings, 10
whom / owed birth and early trainihg'
he was the one perfect man IN every at
tribute of greatness; and Johh Iyler was
his anti-type.
Some years later when the age OIL an
,nouiring mind and some indepehuehee
of opinion had come 10 me, L spent Ihany
eeks each year at BFahuoh' OI' 49, -
,.,yer onposite and near TO Sherwood or
80 +he country home of Mr.. Tyler. zen
,,aars had now passed since ne retlreu
go, tho presidency after the stormles'
fo,,r years ever experienced by an IN
o,,n,hcnt of the chair. In the sessions Oh
| CONGRESS- which witnessed his repeater
| disapproval of the bank measures IN
| troduced by Mr.. Clay and his adnetehts
| he had lost following among the men WI.
| contributed to his election unul put one
| senator and four members OF the House
| of Represert atiVcs accorded open supper
| "a his policy. Clay boasted Ike Marcel,
! Ins OF having "a Senate at his heels
| ana IN the House the Presidents faith
| fui few were contemptuousiyknown as
| "rhe corporars Guard" At one critica
iuncture Of his administration every
i member OF his Cabinet save one ttht
exception being Daniel Webster has
resigned as rebuke TO the actor
Of their chief. The charges agains
him OF having proved false 10 hi:
pledges and OF having betrayed ~
marty had evoked no answer save In tn
firm and admirable messages III when ~
announced an infiexible opposition 10 tn'
dictates of Congress. the Veruic'
against HIM seemed irreyersible; ana 50
vociferous were his assailants anu >,
| thai friends and enemies were aiik
surprised at the triumphant vindica.,o,
which he gained In the defeat oi MI VA