The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-24
The ViCe.PreSidenCV
(By Savoyard.)

| (By Savoyard)
! We love to say, and perhaps it is patri-
otc to believe. that the office of Presi-
dent of the United States is the most ex-
allied political station in the world,
though there is something more than Il
slight admixture of insolence and can't in
our method of making the publication
we do it so much like a parvenue.
There was a time when the office OF
Vice President was considered as second
to the office of President. and second to
nothing else. That was when such men
as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John
G. Calhoun, Martin Van Buren,, John G.
Breckenridge and others of our great men
held it an honor to be the Vice President
of the United States of America. But times
change and mems ambitions change with
them The office of Vice President is no
longer second place except in form. 1t
has become less desirable station than
the Speakership at the south end OF the
Capitol and there is not a leading Sen
ator who would willingly be drafted to
the purely ornamental work of the second
place in the public service. Indeed, our
ambitious statesmen would prefer to it
the office of Secretary of State, Secretary
of Treasury, Ambassador to England or
Governor of New York.
Nor is that all, or the worst. 1t has
come to be that many of our leading
statesmen consider it in the nature Of an
affront--at least they resent ito be
mentioned for the place of the first Adams
and the only jefferson. Would Allison
take it? Would Spooner, or Hanna, or
Foraker, or Fairchild, or Aldrich, or Frye,
or Lodge? 1t has come to be regarded
as a sort of political exile for certain OF
our obstrupulous" statesmen who cut
capers and shines to the embarrassment
and annoyance of their betters. Hence they
want Governor Cummins to take it. Hence
they forced Governor Roosevelt to take 1t.
In that elder, and mayhay better, day,
the office of Vice President was a step
ping stone to the higher station OF Presl-
dent Vice President Adams succeeded
President Washington; Vice President
jefferson succeeded President Adams;
Vice President Van Buren, succeeded
President Jackson Old George Clinton
tlOu&nI
but Aaron Burr had dissolved that COM
bination, and the twelfth amendment to
the Federal Constitution had operated as
decree Of divorce. so that when the
Virginia dynasty held the scepter 1901
1925. the way to the White House lay
through the State Department-thu JET
ferson. Madison. and Monroe were all
succeeded by their Secretaries of State.
That it was which prompted Clay to be
Secretary of State in the Cabinet of the
younger Adams, but Calhoun sought the
White House by the old road-the last
man to attain it by that road, except
those who drew the prize in the lottery
of death-Tyler, Fillmore, johnson, Arthur
and Roosevelt.
And Calhoun would have found what he
sought had he and "Old Hickory not
had the falling out jackson had done
some things in Florida at which Monroe's
stood aghast, and Cal
houn expressed his disapproval. 1T cost
the great South Carolinian the Presidency
They drifted apart-Jackson and Calhoun
and there is a story that while Webster
was replying to -Hayne, Calhoun wrote
his resignation as Vice President with a
view to securing a seat in the Senate tol
reply to Webster, which he did in the
debate on the Foote resolutions.
Samuel ]. Tilden was probably as good
a Judge of men as our country has
produced, and Mr.. Tilden pronounced
Martin Van Buren, our greatest states
man, infinitely superior to Daniel Web
ster, whom he considered only splendid
1t is claimed for Van Buren,
that he was the actual creator of what
took the name of the Democratic party in
1928, and has been known as such ever
since. He was Governor of New York,
Senator in Congress. Secretary of State
Minister to England, Vice President OF
the United States, and President of the
United States He was always and every
where adroit-the man of talent and the
man of tact He knew men and never
made a mistake of choosing his instru-
ments. His command of his temper was
perfect and he maintained a good temper
even when the victim of Incorporate
abuse. Like Webster and Calhoun, he had
been on both sides of the tariff question,
beginning protectionist. He had also
been on both sides of the question of in
ternal improvements, beginning for such
appropriations. He was fortunate In Sc
curing the favor of Jackson, and fortu-
nate in the enemies he had made.
In 1881 Gen. Jackson appointed Van Blu
rem Minister to England at time when
Congress was in recess. He crossed the
waters and took upon himself his official
duties and in short time he was i'm
mensely popular; but the Wings, who
controlled the Senate rejected his nomi-
nation as Minister. and that made him
Vice President. He was not thought OF
for the office therefore, and now nobody
else was thought of In May 1882, ne was
nominated, and in November. 1882, he was
elected, and presided over the dehbera-
tions of the men who had Inundated him.
In 1886 he was elected President, but the
panic of 1897 came on. and the party In
power was held responsible for it. and IN
1910 the country went hellbent for Gov.
Kent" and Van Buren, was disastrously
beaten for reelection. In 1874 the two
third rule was made in the Democratic
convention, solely wit ha view to defeat
Van Buren's third nomination, which
1T did: but in 1S48 he had his revenge