Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-09-28
PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGNS
By FREDERIC J. HASKlN
III. THE JACKSON-CLAY
RACE OF 1882
ASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 90.
M "Old Hickory" against "Har-

VXTAssaH755NGfToN. p. C., Sept; 20.
w c cS9nT 0f ths a Mssf n natona
the money power" the outs against
the ms, and all with the federal
offices at stake as sure prizes for the
the fiercest of American history up
to that time. For Andrew Jackson
had hardly arrived in the White
House on March 4, 1929, before he
| had fired a whole raft of Adams
office-holders and had replaced them
with loyal Jacksonites.
| ITO. the victors belong the spoils,"
said he, promulgating the doctrine
of rotation in Office and instituting
the political method of rewarding
It's effect was tremendous, and while
Jackson did not have the committee
form of party organization which
backs up an administration today, he
did have Martin Van Buren, in his
councils, and Van Buren, was as wise
in practical politics as was Napo-
leon in strategy.
This campaign of 1882 was the
first in which national nominating
conventions figured. The anti-Masons
Writ, who had been attorney gem
eral of the United States under Mon
roe and Adams, for president, and
Amos Ellmaker, of Pennsylvania for
vice president. The national Repub-
leans, already called the "Whigs'
IN ordinary conversation, nominated
Henry Clay, of Kentucky, for presi-
dent, and John. Sergeant, of Pennsyl-
Vanla, for vice president. The DEM
ocrats held convention, but did not
nominate a candidate for president
as jackson was the unanimous choice
of the, party. Martin Van Buren, was
named for vice president and the
famous tWo-thirds rule, which after
ward proved Van Buren's undoing
was adopted. The state of South
Carolina still chose it's electors by
the legislature, as it did until aft1.'
the civil war, and it had d party
all of it's. own, with John Flc,,, Of
Virginia, for president and Henry Lee,
OF Massachusetts, for wee president
Stormy So7--:ol
Jackson's administration had been
the stormiest ever emo and the
school we're in de-..,ir. He had
quarreled with the wee president,
John c. Calhoun, by preferring Van
Buren as Chief counsellor. He had
b1oken up his own cabinet and had
preclpltated the most violent social
war OF Washington's history by in
SiStlnS upon the acceptance of Mrs
Eaton, wife of mis- secretary of war.
by the o1tic - circles o. tie capital.
He had turned out all the old Office
h nc ara rad gwen. their places
cry proca uc.lt Of presidential behav-
lor. ant had transgressed every ira
dition Of statecraft.>
His &c test fight had been against
the Ban.i of the United States When
ne hrst became president he had
some '1eaDonuence with the bank
lns1stlE,, th>t the national govern
ment had some right to saw who
should be chosen officers of the bank.
10 this Ga m Nicholas Biddle, head
OF the bank, set up an absolute de-
MAI Then reports came in from all
over the country that the various
branches of the bank were discrimi-
hat-AS against JACKSON men in BUSH
ness religions, ana that the bank
W. pulIdlng up machine to over
had been chartered in 1916 for a pc
ROD of 20 years, and it must obtain
new lease of life from the govern
1nent during the administration of
th4I president to be elected in 1928.
o,i henry clay, mating jackson with
az MS soul, and firm in the belief
that the people. would not re-elect
such an uncouth monster to the high
oTIlce OF president, decided to force
me 1lghtlng,, 1t was by his advice
tnat the bill to recharter the bank
"S"o 1AAIA OouCOO anu passed DIV con-
g g1, during Jackson's first term.
Thomas H. Benton, senator from
Missouri, was fighting against the
recharter in the senate, declaring for
br1quet of "Old Bullion" But the
bank had friends in congress and
the bill extending it's charter was
passed.
swatting the Money Devil
jackson promptly vetoed it. That
veto was given in July, 1928, when
the presidential campaign was al
ready well in progress. In these
advanced and enlightened days the
president always sees to it that con-
gress has adjourned before the NOM
nations are made, so as to prevent
sg qda ea coming E up Said But te J9 Sad
swatted the Money Devil" and he
had. The campaign was on, and so
far as Jackson men were concerned,
there was but one issue-the duty of
saving Jackson from overthrow by
Clay, the idol of his followers, was
confident. that he could win on the
bank question. He was sure that
the people would not consent to q
ruthless overturntng of the financial
system of the country. Therefore
of party fealty. But there was a
settled conviction that Jackson was
right and the bank was wrong: The
old corruption and bargain" cry
but most Of the old issues were
The anti-Masons were strong in
the north, or had been in state cleo
tons, and Calhoun was leading the
anti-Jackson fight in his own. state,
where the doctrine of notification
was already being preached. The
end of the bank question and the
crisis in the notification business
were to come in Jackson's second ad-
not known. The fact that Clay. a
Mason, was conniving with the anti
Masons, and that Clay, the author
Of the american System" OF protec-
ton and the traiff of al .:hinatlons
VIZ in collision with Calhoun. the
Jackson's strength. "The Triple I'm
holy Alliance of Clayism, Nullifica-
ton and Anti-Masonry" was the way
the Jackson orators described the OPP
pt ltion.
The Day of Campaign Songs
On the other side every effort was
expanded to induce the people to
wake up to the dangers of the spol!s
system as introduced by Jackson. His
cabinet and his no less important
and much more notorious Kitchen
Cabinet" came in for their snare Oh
the fighting. The Wings sang:
King Andrew had five trusty
squires,
Whom he held his bid to do;
He also had three pilot fish
To give the sharks their cue.
There was Mart and Lou and
Jack and Lev
And Roger of fancy hue,
And Blair the cook, and Kendall
chief cook, 49,.
And Isaac, surnamed the true"
A bad song, maybe, but it told
about Martin Van Buren,, Louis Nc
Lane, John Branch, Levi Woodbury.