The National tribune., 1900-11-29

en- to him high public Office. He had been
made Governor of Virginia 10y the death of
the Executive. He had become Senator
by the death of the Senator-elect, and now
death made him President. This was the
first time that through death the Vice
President became President under the
Constitution.
The Inauguration of Mr.. Tyler was IN
like any other that had preceded it. I'm
mediately after Gen. Harrison's death MIR.
Webster, Jr., Chief Clerk in the Depart
ment of State, with MIR. Beall, an officer
OF. the Senate set out for the residence of
Vice President Tyler in Virginia, bearing
TO him 4 message containing the news of
the Presidents death, signed Daniel Web
ster, Secretary of State; Thomas Ewing,
Secretary of the Treasury; John Bell, Sec
rotary of War; J. J. Crittenden, Attorney
General, and Francis Granger, POstmas-
terGeneral.
The Vice-President arrived in the city
of Washington at , O'Clock p. m, and took
lodgings at Browns Hotel, now the Metro
politan. Many men in official life paid
their respects to the Yice-President, and
the heads of the Departments were asked
10 continue in the places they occupied.
Eice-President Tyler took the following
oath before Judge William Cranch, Chief
Judge of the Circuit Court:
Il do solemnly swear that | will faith
fully execute the office of President of the
United States, and will, to the best of my
ability, preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States.'
This oath was administered in addition
to the one he had taken as Nicc-President,
in the case any doubt arose. The Inaugu-
raj address appeared three days later.
Mr.. Tyler voted for the censure of Jack
son on his conduct in Florida. He had
opposed the United States Bank, the pro-
tectiye policy and internal Improvements
by the National Government. lie had also
opposed the Administration of j. Q.
Adams and the tariff bill Of 1923. He
sympathized with the nullifiers of South
Carolina, and yet he had allowed his name
on the Wing ticket, and because he had
voted for Clays compromise bill and the
censuring of jackson for the removal of
the bank deposits the Wings had taken
him up. Although he retained Harrison's
Cabinet and promised much in his first
message, he aftcrward vetoed every bill
passed by a Wing Congress. This caused
an address to be sent to the people by
members Of Congress, asserting that those
who had brought the President into power
could no longer in any degree be held re-
sponsible for the administration of the
Executive branch of the Government
There was widespread dissensiOn. The
Cabinet one by one retired.
There was deficit in the Treasury of
S14,UO0,0OO. Never were the Golfers so
low, and the Government was without
credit at home and abroad. The revenue
was insufficient to defray expenses. A bill
was introduced increasing the tariff. The
tariff of 1888, reducing the duties gradual
ly for nike years to a fixed low rate, with
the distribution of the land revenue, had
depleted the Treasury. Two revenue bills
were passed in one month, and both vetoed
by the President.
A bill was finally passed raising the
revenue 20 per cent, which the President
signed.
Mr.. Clay, in 1912, resigned his seat in
the Senate, because he had been defeated
through intrigue, as he thought, for the
Presidency, against the wishes Of the
Wing party. He had seen his leading
measures vetoed by a President whom his
party had elected; all things worked to-
ward his withdrawal from public life, to
which he was so well fitted.
Whatever there was disappointing in
President Tyler's public life was largely
atoned for in his private and domestic
life. The levees ut the Presidents house
were in those days altemated by the
grand assemblies" which We're held in the
old theatcr, situated on the corner of 18th
and ID streets. This theatre was built in
1904. 1t burned down. but was rebuilt by
the elder Carusi in 1922, who named it the
City Assembly Rooms. At these rooms
gathered the fashionable and the gay OF
Washington society. They were the most
brilliant entertainments of the day.
Mrs. Robert Tyler and Miss Tyler ac.
eompanied the President to the White
House. The Presidents wifc's delicate
health forbade her arrival until settled
weather, and, in fact, she did not make
her appearance among guests until the
marriage OF their daughter, Elizabeth
which took place in the East Room Jan
81, 1912.
Mrs. Robert Tyler is described as very
beautiful woman, elegant and accom-,
pllshed, and was admirably fitted 70 pre-.
side at the White House functions She
has left many amusing descriptions of her
life at the White House. She was a most
graphic and ready letter writer In 1S4l
she wrote the following: What wonder
1u changes take place, my dearest NJ