Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-01
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
VIII-Growth of Sectional Division.
By FREDERIC ]. IIASKIN.

After Jackson in 1920 had promulgated
the doctrine of rotation in office ana mao
instituted the practice Of rewarding po-
litical activity with public Office. the po-
litical campaigns began more and more
to take on the aspect of struggles for
Office and to lose their relation to actuai
issues. Then, too, the extension OF the
suffrage and the lure Of Office operated
to make political committees necessary
and political machines possible.
During the Jackson regime the founda-
tons were laid for the present system
Of American party politics-a system de-
pending more upon prejudice than pr1n-
ciple. more upon party name than party
platform. That the political party divi-
sions of the time did not fairly represent
the division of sentiment among the peo-
pie upon the pressing questions of ma
tional polity was tacitly recognized by
the leaders of both democratic and WING
parties. The personality of Jackson be-
came the only issue upon which demo-
Gratis could unite or wings solidify. AS
Jackson men or anti-Jackson men the
people cast their votes, chose their elect
the legislatures, sent men to the Senate.
Three times in succession Andrew Jack
son received a plurality of the popular
vote for President-a record equaled only
by Grover Cleveland in our history Twice
he was elected by overwhelming MAORI
ties, and when he retired he was sue
ceeded by Martin Van Buren,, whom he
practically had appointed his successor.
In every congressional campaign between
1926 and 1898 the democrats were VIC
torious. But, notwithstanding the fact
that jackson and Van Buren, invented the
national political organization, established
rational conventions and national COM
mittees, and made party loyalty the chief
test of fitness for public service. party
lines did not then possess the power to
hold individuals which they have gained
since the civil war.
Although both houses of Congress were
safely democratic during both of Jackson 8
a d m Illustrations,
1nSurgent Senators there always was
Harassed Jackson. her Of insureent
presidential will. 1t was not until he had
retired and his successor, Van Buren,,
was in the White House, that the Jackson
men were able to control the Senate and
expunge from the journal the resolution
of censure passed when Jackson with
drew the deposits from the Bank OF the
United States. These insurgent demo
Gratis worked with the whig opposition
and made Jackson's administration one
long and bitter fight For one reason and
another the people supported Old Hickory
and not one of the three great giants
who led the opposition was able to real
ize his ambition to be President. Clay
and Webster were wings, Calhoun was
a democrat. The three did not agree
upon anything except hatred Of Jackson
Yet powerful as they were when togeth-
er. they were no match for Jackson.
On the proposition TO grant new char
triumvirate stood together. while Jack
sons opposition was championed IN the
Senate by "Old Bullion Benton of Mis-
souri,. who had once shot Jackson In q
street fight in Nashville. When the Con-
gress passed the tariff Of denominations, "
in 1928, it was by virtue of combina-
ton Of Clay and Webster wings with
Pennsylvania democrats. Pennsylvania
was Jackson's strongest state, and ne
would not break with the powerful in
fuences behind the protective tariff
South Carolina was foremost in the wal
against the tariff.
X
John c. Calhoun was elected Vice Pres
ident with Jackson, but Calhoun resigned
and was sent
Notification Born back to the Sen.
in Calhoun's Brain. lead in the tarin
war. He preached not the doctrine OF
disunion, which had been heard many
times in the Senate. both from
democratic and federalist sources,
but the doctrine Of notification
1t was asserted that a state had a right
to nullify a federal law so far as it's en-
forcement within the borders OF that state
was concerned. This doctrine was born
in the sophistical brain Of Calhoun, but
it had other defenders. One of them was
Robert Young Hayne. senator from South
Carolina. His speech now Is forgotten
except as it is preserved in the name OF
the most famous speech ever delivered in
the United States Senate-Webster's reply
to Hayne. II that speech Webster ex-
pounded the Constitution as a nationalist
and laid the foundation for the conviction
that was later to save the Union, even
at the expense of terrific sectional war
That debate, be it remembered. was not
upon slavery. but upon the tariff.
Henry Clay, with his genius for com
promises, came forward with a new
compromise tariff passed in 1882. which
was destined to save Jackson and to
confound Clay. In the election of that
year Jackson defeated Clay for the presi-
dency by 219 to 40 in the electoral col
lege. II votes being cast for John Floyd
of Virginia by South Carolina, and Z for
William Writ. the candidate Of the anti
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