Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-04-17


living five ex-Presidents of the
United States-Van- Buren,, Tyler,
Fillmore, Pierce and Buchanan.
Now the death of Benjamin Harri-
son leaves only one ex-President-
Grover Cleveland. Gen. Harrison
spent just eight years as an ex- -Presi-
dent.
When John Quincy Adams re-
tired from the Presidency after
serving as Senator, minister to Eng.
land and Secretary of State, it was
suggested that he become member
of the House of Representatives
He replied that to be chosen a
Selectman by the vote of the people
would be an honor, and for sixteen
years until the time of his death, he
represented his district in Congress-
He died with the harness on his
back, for his fatal illness attacked
him as he arose in the House to
address the Speaker.
Andrew Johnson was elected a
Senator from Tennessee sometime
after the end of his Presidential
term, but he lived to serve only a
few days of the special session of the
Senate.
Most of the Presidents have re-
tired to lives of comparative idle
ness. George Washington led the
life of a country gentleman on his
estate at Mount Vernon. He gave
certain amount of time to the reor-
ganization of the army when war
with France threatened, but he con-
tented himself with the management
of his plantation and the simple
amusements of a country life.
Martin Van Buren retired to his
country eeat in Columbia county, N.
Y, and became almost hermit.
There have been several instances
like this. The most recent was
Chester A. Arthur, who, like Van
Buren,, was disappointed at his
failure to achieve reelection and
secluded himself from all but his
intimate friends.
Buchanan was rccluse for seven
years after his return to private life.
He had been much abused toward
the close of his term and he sought
the quiet of absolute retirement as
soon as he returned to his home in
Lancaster, Pa. Pierce lived eighteen
years an ex-President. His home
was in New Hampshire, but he was
a Southern sympathizcr during the
war and 80 much out of sympathy
with his neighbors that he spent
many of his later years in travel
abroad.
John Adams was the first hermit
ex-President. He was twenty yc
years an ex-President, but he was
so disappointed at his defeat for re-
election that he secluded himself for
a quarter Of century, compiling
historic records, and he came out of
his hole only once, when, in 1920, he
acted as delegate to State conven-
ton. The fact that he retired did
not mean that he did not take an
active interest in public affairs.
Van Buren, yearned for another
term, but could not present himself
to the people of his party, because
he was opposed to the annexation OF
Texas. From his seclusion he wrote
letters which resulted in his nomina-
tion for President in 1848 on Free
Soil ticket, but he received no cleo
toral votes.
Rutherford b. Hayes took nc
active part in public affairs after his
retirement, but he had been SC
severely criticised that it would
have taken more than lifetime to
yindicate his record and make him
again Presidential possibility.
John Tyler was one of the active
ex-Presidents. Like Washington
he pursued the life of country
gentleman, but he aftcrward became
very much interested in the doctrine
of secession and took an active part
in all the events which led up to The
civil war.
Fillmore lived twenty-one year.
after his retirement. He was nomi
mated to succeed himself by TIL,
American party, but was not elected
He travelled great deal abroad ant
took o great interest in public affairs
Thomas Jefferson devoted himscl
to educational interests and foundc,
the University of Virginia after hi
retirement from the Presidency. III
personally supcrintended the cree
tion OF the university buildings.
! Monroe had his own ideas on tn