Evening star., 1897-03-25
u HWVOV OHNVULT
Noted Men at the Old Indian Queen
Tavern in 1880.
JACKSON An D cALHoUN n
Toasts and Speeches Foreshadow-
ing the Rebellion.
THE BANQUET NEXT MONTH

of Thomas Jefferson recalls to democrats
the history Of a similar and noted occa-
sion on the same spot sixty-seven years
ago. There are those who find similar con-
ditions existing and who try to link the
past with the present. but others do not
find this the case. The intention. at least,
of the projectors of the coming event is to
make their celebration a noted one in the
politics of the country, 1t may not par
take Of the sensational or far-reaching
features which characterized the affair
in 1880, but it is the intention that it shall
not lack interest. In place of Andrex "
Jackson will now stand William j. Bryan,
the unsuccessful idol of his followers.
Jackson was then the idol of an invincible
following. One was President of the
United States. while the other is a citizen,
with merely an ambition to hold the DO
sition which Jackson held.
The Indian Queen.
In 1870 the Indian Queen Tavern stood
where the Metropolitan Hotel now Is. The
old tavern has been repeatedly described
in The Star. and this part Is now unneces-
sary. 1t was gathering place for the
distinguished men of that day. and of pre-
vious days. Calhoun. Clay. Webster Jack
son and all the big men of those days spen.
lots OF their time at the tavern and a
small to accommodate many regular board
ers, but the room where LIQUID refresh
ments were dispensed and the stock car
fled were large enough to serve the pur-
pose for all the statesmen who saw fit
TO bestoW patronage in that direction and
1t is needless to say these were many
During the first of the year 1880 the DEM
ocrats decided to make a regular event of
Jenerson's birthday. and the idea was
that 1t should be commemorated by a big
banquet each year The idea took shane
In proposition that the first banquet be
held at the Indian Queen Tavern on the 18th
OF April 1t was agreed that the banquet
should be a subscription affair The sub
scription list was left with the tavern
Keeper and was literally signed, the result
being that on the night set there were
about 80 persons present. including Pres
ident Jackson and Vice President John G.
Caihoun, ABOUT the number which will at
tend the coming banquet 1t is not known
who engineered the banquet John Roane
OF virginia was the president of the gath
ering, and there were numerous vice nresj
dents, Including George NJ. Bibb of New
YORK, Levi Woodbury. of New Hampshire
ana Felix Grundy of Tennessee
An AIl-Nirht Sitting.
There were twenty-four regular toasts.
which were responded to with warmth. In
addition there were about sixty volun+eer
toasts. going to show, that the gay old rel-
lows of those days didn't mind killing the
night hours 1t must have been near day
light when the last toast was given and
responded to. A peculiar thing Is that
PRESIDENT jackson was not among thosa
put down for regular toast. Neither was
Calhoun. These were the two great .e,dars
of that day. and did not hesitate to give nj
terance to their views that night These
same views. or rather those of Calhoun
persistently adhered to for thirty years ar
terward by disciples Of the same school.
led to the civil war.
jackson and Calhoun,
At the time of the BANQUET Jackson md
Calhoun were supposedly friends, but at
heart were enemies. Calhoun and his SYM
pathizers had then begun to guardedly but
surely put forward the new doctrine Of
nullifcation. The idea hadn't taken Sc
rious shape. but the doctrine was well de-
nned and had become obnoxious to the be-
nevers OF united country, as well as dear
to the hearts of those who held to the SOW
erelsnty Of the states in an enlarged form
1t Will be remembered that three years
later the ordinance Of nullifca ton was
passed IN South Carolina, the state refusing
to any longer render itself amenable to the
laws OF the United States. War against
the little state was threatened.
BentOn's Views.
Benton. the thirty years historian was
one Of the men who subscribed to the ban
quet He says that when he arrived at the
hotel he found men standing around in
clusters In the ante-room talking in the
most serious manner. He alleges that he
learned that this seriousness came from the
PRONUNCIATION OF the tWenty-four regular
toasts. He expresses the belief that these
saVored OF the doctrine of nuilification The
rear was expressed by good many that
the dinner was arranged to inaugurate the
nuliif1catfon doctrine in q semi-official way
a nhar Of
left before the banquet began. He says
that the men leaning to the doctrine of
nuilification were attempting to link JEFF
ferson's name with the doc trine They
claimed that he wrote the Kentucky reso-
lutions OF 1898. and that these resolutions
contained the word Qualification" used in
the sense in which 1t afterward became
familiar. Benton denies that Jefferson had
anything to do with writing these resol;-
lions and affirms that the South Carolina
school relied on Misrepresentation Of the
views or the great statesman and chief
executive.
Old HickOry's Forcible Speech.
1t Is probable that President Jackson ap-
pretended that there was a tinge of nulIi-
ication to the meeting and that he de-
termined. with characteristic courage. to
remain and meet the politicians of that
school on their own ground. He did re-
main. and proposed and responded to his
TOAST: Our Federal Union 1t must be pre-
served" Not only did "Old Hickory" say
that 1t must be preserved but he said
that It would be preserved, and threw out
a few hints which he followed several
years later in dealing with South Carolina
He electrified the country in, the speech he
made that night. He made known his po-
sit1on in such earnest and forcible words
that his admirers throughout the country
picked up heart to, more strongly oppose
the schemes of Calhoun.
Calhoan's Toast.
The toast Of Calhoun that night was:
THE Union. next tb cur liberty, the most
dear; may we all remember that it can
only be preserved by respecting the rights
OF the states andIb3s distributing equally
the benefits and burdens Of the Union" 1t
Is thus seen that Calhoun left an opening
to threaten dissolution of the Union
What he said that night has not been ire
served. but 1t wasdan answer to the senti-
ments OF jackson, who preceded him. 1t
expressed the vieHs of his school IN as
fearless manner IS jackson made known
MS. The two gr> men clashed. It has
never been charged to Calhoun, but Ben
ton expresses the tyeiiRf that at that time
ana on that occasion. athere was an actual
design to dissolve the Union.
What Jackson and Calhoun both said was
applauded by their respective followers,
ana the events OF the night were long re-
memoerec by those present, and will re-
main forever a part of the history Of this
country.