The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-15

hbdOl anu 10 NllH VII oWh Vop -
name on the ninth ballot, drove their knives
into Caes and Buchanan by casting New
York's thirty-fve votes for James X. Polk
Of Tennessee. who Immediately thereafter
received tho necessary two-thirds. Polk!
Great God, what a nomination. wrote
Gov. Letoher Of Kentucky to Buchanan.
To make the compromise complete the
convention by reclamation nominated Silas
Wright for Vice. President. Wright, however,
who had recently declined q nomination to
the Supreme Court Of the United States
and who after Van Buren's defeat had
refused the use Of his OWE name for the
Presidency. did moo choose, he said, 'to ride
behind q black pony A third ballot re-
suited In the selection OF George N. Dallas
Of Pennsylvania.
Van Buren's defeat practically closed his
career. His failure to secure a reelection
in 1910 had loft his leadership unimpaired,
but with the loss Of the nomination IN 1874
went prestige and power, which he was
never to regain. Mr.. Alexander has found
evidences that Van Buren's defeat, though
1t shocked such fervent friends Of his as
Wright. Butler and Dickinson, did not
break the heart OF the Democratic party
In New York. Contemporary writer's inti-
mate that after his election to the Presi-
denoy his once cordial and familiar manner
had changed to sitter and more formal
ways. Then, again, Van Buren's rule had
beer long. His good pleasure had sent
men to Congress; his good pleasure had
made them postmasters, legislators and
Cabinet officers. In all departments Of
the Government, both State and national,
his influence had been For
years his friends, sharing the glory and the
profits Of his continued triumphs, had
been filing other ambitious men with envy
and jealousy, until Van Buren's overthrow
seemed necessary to their success
1t may be true, as our author believes.
that Martin Van Buren, was entirely sincere
when he assured an enthusiastic Pennsyl-
vania admirer who had early pronounced
for him as q candidate in 1s4s that, what
ever aspirations he may have had in the
past, he now had no desire to be President.
Nevertheless, his friends avenged him,
and It was by the use Of his name at the
head Of the Barnburner ticket that they
beat Lewis Cass in the State OF New York
and thus deprived the Democratic party
Of the Presidency. Who were the Barn
burners. and why were they thus called2
Those New York Democrats who, like
Preston King, supported the Wilmot Proviso,
which aimed TO exclude slavery from terri
tory obtained from Mexico, were called
Barnburners, being likened to the farmer
who burned his barn to get rid Of the rats.
Those New York Democrats, OF the other
hand, who had accepted Internationally
the annexation of Texas n who opposed
the Wilmot Proviso were called Hunkers.
After Van Buren's defeat in 1874 one Of his
near friends, w. L. Marcy, became a con-
spicpous Hunker and entered Folks .Cabi-
net, while Wright, Butler and John Van
Buren,, the ex-President's son, Joined the
Barnburners. Our author reminds us that
John Van Buren, was by no means the
typical son Of a President Of the United
States. "He did not rely upon the influence
or prestige Of his father. He was able 70
stand alone" He vas a lawyer Of great
distinction, and for ten years a marked
figure in political circles. 1t was out of
resentment for his fathers defeat at Balti-
more In 1914 that John Van Buren, subse-
ouently proclaimed his opposition to the
extension OF slavery and strove to make an
anti slavery party dominant In the State
OF New York, II not in the nation. After
the compromise measures Of 1850 checked
the Free Soil movement he fell back into
the ranks OF the Hunkers. aiding the cleo
ton of Franklin Pierce to the Presidency
and sustaining the pro-slavery Administra-
ton of Buchanan. Mr.. Alexander recalls
that In after years John Van Buren, used to
explain his connection with the Barn.
burner revolt by telling the story Of a boy
who was vigorously removing an over
turned load Of hay at the roadside. Noticing
his wild and rapid pitching, a passerby
incurred the cause OF his haste. The boy,
wiping the perspiration from his brow
as he pointed to the pile Of hay, replied:
Stranger, dads under there!'"
Whatever may have been his motives,
there Ia no doubt that from the autumn Of
ls47 until 1850 John Van Buren, was the
most brilliant crusader who sought to stay
the aggr~essivenese Of slavery, or, as Henry
Wilson called him at the time, -the bright
particular star Of the revolt" The Demo-
cratic national convention which met at
Baltimore in May. is4s, strove to heal the
sohism in New York by oonoeding half q
vote each to the members Of the opposing
bunker and Bernburner delegations FROM
that State. The proposed compromise
failed to satisfy either faction, however.
and the Barnburners, returning home, held
at Utica in June a convention nominating
Martin Van Buren, for the Presidency. The
nomination was subsequently Endorsed by
the convention Of the Free Soil party held
at Buffalo, which put forward. Charles
Francis Adams for Vice-President. On the
face. Of things there was ground for the
ridioiie cast by Daniel Webster on the idea
OF -the leader Of the Free SIP oil party be-
oomlng the leader Of the Free Soil party
but Charles Sumner rejoinsd: 1t Is not
for .he Van Blu. IN Of 1858 that We are to
vote, but for the Van Buren, OF to-day
To give further Importance to the Free
Soil movement John P. Hale, who had been
made the NOMINEE Of the Abolitionists. was
withdrawn in favor Of Van Buren,. The
result OF the ensuing campaign, in which
John Van Buren, reached the height Of his
reputation, is well known. The Van Buren,
electors received 100 900 votes, the Cass
electors lll,ooo votes and the Taylor cleo
tors ais, 900. The returns for State offices
varied but slightly from these figures,
Hamilton Fish, the Wing candidate, being
~. 4l.s ~ eai - - 4 .