The Irish standard., 1908-06-13

when jackson was elected to his first
term. Not long after Jackson entered
Office, however, he discovered that CAL
houn, while secretary of war in Mon
roe's administration, had favored the
court -martialing Of Jackson for Jack
sons drastic work in the Florida war,
Calhoun's wife. too. was one of the
court circle who refused to recognize
the wife CPeggy'' O'NeilD of Secretary
Ct War Eaton, although Jackson stood
by Mrs. Eaton and made her accept
ance a political issue.
These divergenccs turned Jackson
against Calhoun and destroyed his
chances for the succession, although
the public did not know this at the
time. Van Buren, who was Jackson,s
first secretary Of state, won Jacksons
personal regard from the start, and
as he had no wife or daughter, and
was thus free to extend personal ia
vors to Mrs. Eaton. he conquered the
heart OF Ola Hickory, to the exclusion
of every other person. who had been
seeking his favor as a stepping stone
to the presidency. When jackson
wanted to get rid of Calhoun's friends
i'll the cabinet Van Buren, proposed
that there should be general resig-
nation of posts, so as to allow the pres
ident a chance to frame council out
OF the new, and thus be free from the
Objectionable persons in the original
council. Jackson agreed to the propo-
sftion, and he was the first to offer his
resignation.
At the moment the reasons for this
move were concealed from the public
but 1t got out soon afterward. During
a recess of the senate jackson appoint-
eG Van Buren minister to England,
but when the senate met it rejected
the selection, and Van Buren, was COM
PEELED to return. This was an unusual
proceeding, and the British govern
ment took notice of 1t, although it, of
course. refrained from saying anything
officially about it. Unusual courtesies
were extended to Van Buren, by Will
liam Nv. and the leading British Of
ficials between the news of his reiec-
tion and his departure from London,
The general public in the United
States, when it grasped the cause of
the rejection, condemned the senate
for it's action. The condemnation came
from Jackson's enemies as well as from
his friends Benton. Jackson's lead
ing spokesman in the senate, immedia-
tely after the adverse vote on Van
Buren's appointment, told Van Buren's
opponents. Gentlemen, you have
broken a minister, but have made a
vice president" This prophesy was
soon transmitted into history. A few
months later, when Jackson was nomi-
mated in 1852 for his second term, Van
Buren was placed on the ticket with
him. The country knew what this Sc
lection by Jackson meant. The coun-
try likewise knew that the man who
was in the second place on the ticket
of 1882 would be capable of very ac-
ceptably meeting the demands Of the
first Office If they were thrust upon
him. The ticket Of 1882 swept the
country, and the man who was in the
second place upon it held the first
place in the canvass of 1886, and also
won. In riding from the White House
to the Capitol on March 4, 1887. where
Van Buren was to take the oath of
Office as president, Jackson, the retir-
ihg official. was as proud as was the
companion in the carriage who was
about to enter Office.
The man who held the second place
on the Van Buren ticket in 1885, Col.
Richard NJ. Johnson. had so many
enemies in his party that he was not
nominated in 1870, when Van Buren
was put up for his second term. The
convention left that post vacant on the
ticket. AS the ticket was defeated.