Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-16
Tweniy.four vice-presidents.

| of the United states is practically in
significant person. 1t showed in a
striking manner that the talk about
manlike qualities has no justifica ton
in the history of that exalted office
Since the foundation of the republic
the presidency has been occupied
by men little, if any, less dis
tinguished than the presidents them
selves. OF the "A men who have held
later been president. Tyler, Fillmore
Johnson and Arthur succeeded to the
presidency through the death of their
chief and Adams, jefferson and Van
Buren, were elected subsequently to the
presidency.
Here is the list of our vice presidents
as given by the Sun. No American
should confess that any name in it is
not familiar for it contains no name
Adams, Thomas jefferson, Aaron Burr
George Clinton, Elbridge Gerry, Daniel
d. Tompkins, John c. Calhoun, Martin
Van Buren,. Richard NJ. Johnson, John
| Tyler, George NJ. Dallas, Willard Fill
more, William r. King, John c.
Breckinridge, Hannibal Hamlin. An
drew Johnson. Schuyler Colfax, Henry
| Wilson. William A. Wheeler, Chester A.
Arthur, Thomas A. Hendricks. Levi +.
| Morton, Adlai f. Stevenson, and
| Carrot A. Hobart.
| The careers of Adams, jefferson and
| Burr are familiar to everybody. George
| Clinton ought to be as well known, but
probably his is mere name to most
of this generation, though in his time
he was one Of the great political per
sonages of New York, of which he was
the first governor in 1777. and held the
office by successive elections until 1875,
and afterward, in 1901, was again
elected to the place. His political in
fiuence in that state was always COM
manding. Elbridge Gerry was famous
in the Revolutionary history of Massa-
| tincntal Congress associated with Han
| cock and the Adamses, was one of the
signers of the Declaration of hide
pendence. and as governor of Mass l.
chusetts, gave his name to the partisan
| districting of state, known as gerry
wandering \ notable figure in our
history was Elbridge Gerry.
| Daniel ID. Tompllins was a parsonage
in New York: a graduate of Columbia
| College, a distinguished lawyer of the
metropolis, a judge of the supreme
court. a governor of the state in sue
cessive terms from 1907 to 1917. and a
great political leader. He burdcned
/, himself with a load Of debt by most
honorably pledging his personal credit
10 sustain the government during the
War of 1912, the New York banks hay
| ing refused II lend money on United
! States treasury notes without his en-
dursemcnt. In 1871. before resigning
tho govcrnorship to take the vice-presi-
| dency, he sent a message to the Legls-
| lature recommending that n day be
fixed for the abolition of slavery in the
state and accordingly the assembly
! decreed that all slaves should be free
| after July 4. 1921 Tompkins was an
ADLER man than James Monroe, who
was elected President, but the North
ern Democrats We're not strong enough
to get the first place on the ticket.
There is no need to tell of John C.
Calhoun of South Carolina and Martin
Van Buren, of New York, for their his
tory is well known even to this 50 cas-
lily forgetfu generation; both are
among the most distinguished names in
American history. Richard Mentor
Johnson, vice-president when Martin
Van Buren, became president, in 1887,
served long in Congress, distinguished
himself greatly in the War of 1912, was
for several terms in the Senate and al
together was a man Of great note, high
courage and much ability. John Tyler
everybody knows about. George Nj.
Dallas was one of the most distin-
guished men in the history Of Penn
lsylvania politics, having been for many
years the rival Of James Buchanan as
leader of the Democratic party in that
lstate-a man of first-rate abilities. The
career of Willard Fillmore we do not
need to describe. save to say that he
had long been notable in the history of
the Wing party in New York. William
Rufus King of Alabama, vice-president
when Franklin Pierce was president,
had served in the Senate and as Minis
ter to France assisted in bringing
about the annexation of Texas without
European opposition. John Cabell
Breckenridge of Kentucky, vice presi-
dent when James buchanan was pres
ident, had served in the Mexican War
been in Congress and was distin-
gushed representative of southern
|