The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-31
THE TRIBULATIONs OF VICE.
PRESIDENTS,

THE TRIBULATIONs OF VICE.
PRESIDENTS.
If the Hon. James Sherman, who some
of sound and disposing mind may re-
collect. was elected Vice President in
ready suffered censure and unpleas-
ant mention in his capacity as second
| in place, can learn from history that
he Is not the first vice-President who
has had troubles In fact, the Office of
| Vice-President is not only looked upon
with little appreciation in popular opin
Ion, but 1t has also brought to its &C.
cupants singular train of peculiar in
exceptions Some one has lately writ
ten an article to prove that all the
| Presidents have had trials of their
own and have suffered at some time or
spection of the lives OF the Vice-Presi
| dents reveals the fact that most of
I them encountered misfortune in one
form or another while they were in
the public eye.
| There was John Adams. the first of
Tour Vice Presidents. Not only was he
an unsuccessful candidate against
| Washington in the second presidential
election but when he sought a second
/ term in the Presidency, he was defeat
ed. His presidential administration
was not a happy one. and his name is
1 not luminous In American presidential
annals. Jefferson is next on the roll
and of all the Vice Presidents, he was
the most blest by fortune. Two full
/ terms in the Presidency came to him,
and he was successful in his political
life. Ill-starred Aaron Burr was the
| third Vice President, and of his dra-
matte and tragic career nothing need
be said. He went to his grave an UNI
popular man, bounded with the cry OF
/ traitor" George Clinton, next on the
list. is conspicuous for his obscurity.
so was Elbridge Gerry. who died in
office. The same thing might be said
about his successor d. D. Tompklns.
| The majestic features of John C. CAL
| houn are next on the canvas, but he
resigned from office while Vice Presi-
/, dent-the only such instance on record
in the history of the nation--and he
| was saddened for the remainder of his
! life because of the unfulflment of his
presidential ambition and his premoni-
ton that the war cloud was gathering.
Martin Van Buren,, the eighth Vice
| President, rose to the Presidency, but
twice afterward was denied another
term in that office Richard Malcolm
IJohnson succeeded him in the second
4 office, but left no especial civil fame
| to enttle him to the attention of the
historian. Then comes John Tyler, the
| first Vice President to be elevated BY
| the death of the President to the chief
magistracy An able man, he, never
1 theless, met with much unpopularity
and sought no second term in the Pres
idency.
The eleventh Vice-President, George
NJ. Dallas, is an almost forgotten po-
.llitical figure. Millard Fillmore, who
/ succeeded him. became President by
the death of Zachary Taylor, but was
| defeated for a second term. William
r. King died in Office. John C. Brock
4 inridge was brilliant statesman, yet
Lincoln wrested the Presidency from
/ his grasp when it seemed that, in the
4 order of things, Breckenridge should
have been elected. or Hannibal Ham
4 lin, Eice-President under Lincoln in
his first tcrH, it may be said that he
was the least conspicuous of all those
] in authority in the War Between the
4 States, In sharp contrast stands out
Andrew Johnson, lifted to the Presl-
dency by fate, only to be the sole
President in history who bears the
/ brand of impeachment a man villlfied
Eby his own party and always hopeless
OF a second presidential term.
Schuyler ColfnN the seventeenth Vice
President, was VIGOROUSLY involved in
| the Credit Mobilier scandal while in
office, and left a cloud on his name.
|
lipEFORE we talk