The Washington herald., 1909-02-07

caused a motion to be introduced requir-
ing him 10 obtain a two-thirds vote Al
though the majority OF the delegates were
pledged to him. the support Of two-thlrds
could not be obtained. with the result that
James Knox Polk was nominated and
elected Van BUTen again entered the
political arena in ISIS. when he ran for
President on the -Free-Soilers ticket
new rival Of the regular Democratic
/ ticket, headed by Louis Cass- As a re-
suit OF this split Gen Zachary Taylor was
elected by the Wings
Van Buren retired TO his estate az Kin
derhoOk. y L. his birthplace he was
wealthy, and at his luxurious country
place. LindenWold, he entertained the So
cial and literary lions OF the age. lie
died al KinceThoor, July q. 1852
Mlllard Fillmore. the thirteenth Presl-
dent who was lifted 70 the White House
BY the death Of Zachary Taylor. made a
European tour two years after his term
expired. Despite his efforts 20 remain out
Of public view. he nevertheless became
| the recipient Of much attention. Oxford
offered him the degree Of ID. c. L, which
he respectfully declined. u was while
be was In Rome that he learned that ne
/ had been nominated for President on the
Native American ticket Defeated for
election. Mr.. Fillmore took this verdict
as final, and thereafter made no effort
70 re-enter politics. Having married Mrs.
Caroline Mcintosh. OF Albany. a woman
OF wealth, he retired 70 g home in Buff
falO- where IN his youth he had begun the
practice Of Law. He spent his first days
as a student
Avoided Formal Society.
Franklin Pierce, who followed Fillmore,
Travelled extensively abroad. but IN such
a quiet way that he avoided formal so
ciety 10 great dsgTee As he grew older
Pierce became more reserved. His life
had been sad6ened by the death OF his
[ two sons, and also OF his wife who died
a few years after ne left official life.
OF his few friends. Nathaniel Hew-
thorne enjoyed his closest confidence. and
wrote his biography. one OF the most
( graceful and convincing Of the New
7 England Wizards writings. The two
men were travelling together when the
author died, May 19. 1864 Another close
( friend Of Pierce was Ethan, his horse.
whom the former President used TO say
was more sympathetic than many Of his
l human friends. Once when travelling
alone in a buggy behind Ethan, Pierce
/ noticed a coming thunderstorm. and said.
/ Ethan. We must Jog along or the rain
/ VIII catch Us" Without another word OF
/ slap Of whip or rein. Ethan broke into
/ run, and Pierce always maintained that
I the horse understood what ne had said
I Pierce was the third youngest President.
/ Grant, second; Roosevelt. first
/ Washington, Ike Jefferson and Jackson.
could not withdraw from leadership IN
national affairs after giving UP the Presi-
/ oency. AS the result Of the treatment By
I France OF Pinckney. Marshall. and Gerry.
I whom President Adams sent as special
ENJOYS 10 negotiate a treaty. there arose
a cry Of war. Washington. when peti-
toned 10 act as commander. determined
70 make all necessary preparations This
I led 20 an unfortunate controversy be-
I tween Washington and Adams. which IN
/ creased the factiOnal strife that finally
resulted in the overthrow Of the Federal
party. Washington wanted Hamilton as
/ the ranking major general Adams IN
/ sisted upon Knox for this Office. but fin
/ ally submitted 10 WashingtOn's viii
Declines to Run Again.
/ Because of the bitter opposition 10
! Adams and the overwhelming split IN the
! Federal party. Washington was besought
/ 70 run for the Presidency a third time
/ He declined. believing that in the eiec-
| ton each party should fight for the prin-
/ cipIes involved, and in no way be biased
/ by the personality Of a candidate.
In the period Of less than three years
/ that he was an ex-President, Washington
l lived at Mount Vernon, where he sought
/ to devote his last days to his family and
/ his slaves He was fond OF plantation
| life. but had come TO feel that slavery
was wrong. Some time before hts with
drawal from the Presidency he had de-
/ cided never to buy another slave. and
/ frequently expressed the wish that slav-
/ cry might be abolished. He thought II
wisest, however, not to Iberate his own
( slaves, but 20 make them comfortable
and happy, which he did.
! His fOndness for plantation life really
( fastened his death. While going from
one part OF the estate to another during
a winter storm 10 see that all was well,
/ he caught sold and died the same day,