Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-24
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS
Nv. The Van Buren--Clay Race of 1882
BY FREDERICK J. HASKIN.

WASHINGTON. d. C.-Martin Van
Buren, was practically appointed by An
drew Jackson to succeed him in the
White House, but the appointment did
not take effect until after it had been
ratified by the people at an election
which marked the close of one Of the
most bitterly contested campaigns Of our
history. The reelection Of Jackson in
1882 upon the issue of his veto OF the
bill to recharter the Bank of the United
States had practically destroyed the Ma
tional Republican party. So in 1884 the
elements of opposition to Jackson or
ganized under the name of "Whig,
which, to some extent, had been the pop
ular appellation Of the National Repub-
ncans. Henry Clay was the heart ana
soul of the new party, but 1t could not
, unite even in opposition to Van Buren,.
In all the Northern States but Massa-
chusetts the wings supported William
Henry Harrison. In Massachusetts, Dan
tel Webster was the candidate. In the
South, except South Carolina, Senator
Hugh Lawson White of Tennessee was
leading the Jackson battles. South
Carolina was looking out for Itself, re
legislature ready to instruct eleet)rs TO
vote for anybody to defeat Jackson's man,
Van Buren,. If the anti-Van Buren, lead
ers had mana ged to get a majority OF
the electoral votes. they would have de-
serted their candidates to combine upon
Clay or some other leader, but that
scheme was never put into effect. Van
Buren, had clear majority of both npp-
ular and electoral votes and Andrew
Jackson's administration was once more
Endorsed.
The second Jackson administration had
been even more stormy than the hrst.
After Jackson was reelected the att-
tude of the opposition was rejected by
such papers as the Boston Courier, which
said: yet there is one comfort left'
God has promised that the days OF the
wicked shall be short; the wicked Is old
and feeble and he may die before ne can
be inaugurated. 1t Is the duty OF every
good Christian to pray to our Maker 10
have pity on US
South Carolina found out for certain
that Jackson was reelected by the MO
die of November 1882, and on Nov. 20
the famous Ordinance Of Nulllhcauon
was passed The Tariff OF Aoomina-
lions was largely the work OF Henry
Clay and had not much support from
Jackson. But Calhoun and the nulil-
fers, In lighting the tariff, declaring II
unconstitutional and null and void
were In the same political bed with
Clay so far as opposition to Jackson
was concerned.
The burning words Of Jackson's proc
lamation Of Dec. 10 was the nrst great
and broad denial OF the right or state
10 oppose It's single viii against the
aower OF the Federal Government, ana
1aekson's stand on that question saved
the Union. But the notification dues-
ton was one which affected only small
portion OF the people The bank ques-
ton was a nation wide Issue.
The bill TO recharter the bank had
been vetoed during the campaign OF
1923 and the voters had ratified the veto
The bank had exerted every possible CT
fort 10 elect Clay. IL did not take
jackson long to decide to use all his
power TO end the bank, without waiting
for its charter 10 expire in 1883 His
Secretary OF the Treasury, William !.
Duane. would not order the removal OF
the Government deposits in the bank
without authority from Congress. he
also refused TO resiga his position
whereupon he was removed ana BIS
portfolio given 10 Roger Il. Tansy OF
MARYLAND, who had been Attorney Gen
eral, fancy removed the deposits AuU'
in later years was rewarded By hp-
nointmept to be chief justice Of the
supreme Court.
strictly speaking. the deposits were
NOT removed from the bank Incoming
funds we're deposited in certain state
hanks. and the balance In the United
states Bank was gradually exhausted by
drafts for current expenses The selee-
ton OF certain State banks IS depoa-
tories gave rise to charges Of favoritism
and In the campaign Of 1885 much was
made Of "Jackson's Pets" as such banks
were known. But IN spite OF all these
radical things and the entire destFuc-
ton OF the financial system upon when
the country had been conducted every
bo5v prosperad The people were more
prcsperous than ever before. the Gov
ernment was IN better financial condition
than at any time. before or since, In It's
history. BY January. 1885, the national
debt was MI paid OF aud the country
had to face the question Of what to do
with the surplus revenues.
THEY DIVIDED
THE MONEY.
IL was finally decided % distribute II
among the States In proportion 10 their
representation ir Congress. The States
gave receipts for the money over S2s,O0o,-
600 In the aggregate. as II they Nvsre de-
posits, but everybody understood the