The Washington herald., 1908-09-02
JackSOn-CIay Race of 1S3

"Old Hickory against Harry OF the
West national conventions against na-
uonaI conventions. the ''pee-puI" against
the money power" the outs against the
ins. and all with the Federal Office al
stake IS sure prizes for the winners
made the campaign of lSS2 the hercest
OF American history Up TO that time For
Andrew jackson had hardly arrived in
the White House on March /. 1Szs. before
he had fred a whole raft Of Adams Of
.dcehClders and had replaced them with
loyal Jacksonville.
TO the victors belong the spoIls." said
Re, pronulgatDg the doctrine Of rotation
IN Office and insutut-E The political meth
90 OF rewarding partisan activity wiki a
public job. It's effect was tremendous.
and, while Jackson did not have the com
uitree form Of party organization which
backs Up the administration to-day, he
did have Martin Van Buren in his coun-
els. and Van Buren was as wise IN prac-
ucaI politics as was Napoleon in STRAIT
egy
This campaign Of 1S2 was the dfst IN
which national nominating conventions
figured The anti-Nasons held the first
and nominated William Writ. who had
been Attorney General Of the United
States under Monroe and Adams f0-
President. and Amos EIlmaker. OF Penn
syivauis. for Vice President The Ma
c51-aI Republicans. already called the
Wings" in ordinary conversation, uoEni-
mated Henry Clay. OF Kentucky, FOX Pres
ident, and John Sergeant OF Pennsylva-
ma. for Vice President The Democrats
held g convention, but did not nominate a
candidate for President as Jackson was
the unanimous choice Of The party. Mar
tin Van Buren was named for Vice Presi-
dent. and the famous rwO-thirds rule.
which afterward proved Van Buren's IN
doing, was adopted. The State OF South
Carolina still chose its electors BY the
legislature. as IL did until after the civil
way. and It had a party all Of its own,
with John Floyd, Of Virginia. for Presi-
dent and Henry Lee. OF Massachusetts.
for Vice President
Jacksor's administration had been the
st1rmiest ever known. and the conserva-
tive statesmen OF the old school were in
despair. He had quarreled with the Vice
L.
Van Buren as a CHIEF counselor He had
broken up his own Cabinet, and had pre-
cipitated the most violent social war Of
washington-s history by insisting upon
the acceptance Of Mrs Eaton. wife of
his Secretary Of War. BY The Official cir
cles Of the Capital He had turned out
all the old 0ffcehclders and had given
their places 70 his friends He had vi0-
lated every. precedent OF Presidential be
havior. and had Jransgressed every tradi-
ton Of statecraft-
His greatest fight had been against the
Bank OF the United States When he
first became President. ne had some cor
respondeuce with The bank. insisting that
the national government had some right
TO say who should be chosen officers Of
the bank To this claim. Nicholas BiddIe.
head OF the bank set up an absolute
denial Then reports came IN from all
over the country that the various
branches Of the bank were discriminating
against Jackson men in business rela-
tons and that the bank was building
up a machine 20 overthrow Jackson. This
Federal bank had been chartered IN 1sI5
for a period OF twenty years, and Il
must obtain q new lease OF life from the
government during the administration Of
that President TO be elected n lS2S
Henry Clay, hating Jackson with al
his soul and firm in the belief that the
people would not re-eIect such an IN
couth monster TO the high once Of Presi-
dent decided TO force the fighting. It
was by his advice that the bill 10 re-
charter the hank was introduced and
passed by Congress during Jackson's first
term Thomas H Benton. Senator from
Missouri. was fighting against the re
charter in the Senate. declaring for q gold
currency and gaining his so5riquet Of
-'Old Bullion But the bank had friends
in Congress and the bill extending its
charter was passed.
Jackson promptly vetoed It. That veto
was given in July. IS2S. when the Presi-
Dental campaign vas already well in
progress In these advanced and enlight-
ene5 days the President always sees 10
il that Congress has adjourned before
the nominations are made, 50 as 10 pre-
veut big questions coming up But Jack
son didn't care He said he had s7vatted
the Money Devil and he had. The cam
7aign was on. and so far as the Jack
son men were concerned. there was bur
one issUe-the duty Of saving jackson
from overthrow By the money monster.
Clay the idol Of his followers. was con
hdent that he could win on the bank
question He was sure that the people
would not consent 10 a ruthless over
turning Of the financial system Of the
country. Therefore. he made loyalty TO
the bank a test Of party fealty- But
there was a settled conviction that Jack
son was right and the bank was wrong
The old corruption and bargain cry
CT four years before was heard again.
but most Of the old issues were buried
in the new
The anu-Nasons were strong n the