Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-08

!
term He had sent a message to Con-
gress soon after becoming President rec
ommending that the President be
limited to one term of four or six years
That led many to the belief that he
would not stand for reelection. and
jackson did no more to assuage public
curiosity on the subject than Coolidge
did prior to his famous announcement
that he did not choose to run.
When those who understood that
Jackson's message was to be construed
as eliminating him from consideration
for a second term began to cast about
in 1880 for a successor. their eyes rested
upon Martin Van Buren, of New York
and John c. Calhoun of South Carolina.
! The great body of the dnmOcra"v.
however seemed unwilling that Old
! Hickory should end his presidential ca
reer with one term.
While speculation was at its highest
pitch Senator Grundy of Tennessee
delivered a speech in which he bade
| the country wait. He said he did not
speak with authority. although the dis
| claimer was not taken at its face value.
| Yet he thought it best that no one
should commit himself to any other
candidacy before hearing finally from
Jackson.
Not long afterward Pennsylvania
Democrats in the State Legislature
nominated him for second term, and
few weeks later the Democrats in
! the New York Legislature seconded the
i nomination. He thereupon wrote to
the Pennsylvanians that, although he
had hoped to be able to retire and spend
| his declining years in his Tennessee
| home, the call of the people had over
powered his personal inclinations and
| he could not refuse to serve them.
During his first administration, Van
Buren, resigned from the cabinet. say
! ing that he was a candidate for the
presidency after Jackson should retire,
and that therefore it became him TO
retire from the cabinet in order that
he could not be open to the charge of
using an official position to further his
own candidacy. Jackson replied de-
claring his appreciation of the fine
sentiment of his chief adviser and
practically putting his O. K. upon Van
Buren's ambition.
Meanwhile Clay was at his home at
Ashland. cherishing his grudge against
Jackson. and hoping to win in third
race with Old Hickory. He once in e
while ventured from his retirement long
enough to let the public know he was
still Harry of the West and ready tor
the fray.
Anti Masonic Party Appears.
While things we're happening with
Jackson and Clay there were other ac-
tivities in the political world The
alleged kidnapping and murder of
Morgan by the MaSons of western New
York for attempting to publish the
secrets of the order stirred up the peo-
pie, and brought into existence an anti
Masonic party-a party which proved
very strong in several State elections.
meeting of the anti-MaSons in Phila-
delphia in September, 1880, called
delegate convention to meet in Balti-
more a year hence. 1t hoped to nomi-
nate ticket that could unite all the
anti-Jackson forces. and to this end
had practically determined to support
Justice Mclean. formerly Postmaster
General under Jackson, who had been
sent to the Supreme Court
When Mclean saw that he could
not unite all the contending forces. ne
withdrew and the convention NOM
mated William Writ of Virginia, and
Amos Ellmaker of Pennsylvania. Writ
was in Baltimore and delivered his
speech of acceptance to the convention.
1t was as remarkable a scene as when
the Democratic Convention of 1904 re-
ceived the Parker gold telegram. Writ
assured the convention that he was
Mason and that the Masonic order of
which Washington and his compeers
had been members was not the sort OF
an organization they were picturing.
He stated, however, that If, with this
confession in their hands, they wanted
him to be their candidate he would ac-
cept. And they voted to accept him,
confession and all. John Marshall the
Chief Justice of the United States, was
also in Baltimore, and accepted an in
vitation to sit in the convention.
The Democrats met in Baltimore and
nominated Van Buren, for Vice President.
but held that Jackson was so much the
universal choice for first place that he
needed no nomination at their hands.
Jackson was particularly delighted to
have Van Buren, as his running mate,
for that would permit him to force
down the Threats of the Senate as its
presiding officer the man that body had
refused to confirm as Minister to
England.
United States Bank Issue.
Pennsylvania refused to stand for the
nomination of Van Buren,, asserting that
Pennsylvania was always forced to sit
below the salt when the capital Offices
of the country were passed around, and
nominated William wilkins as Jackson's
running mate. In Virginia, conven-
ton at Charlottesville put Philip Bar
bour up as candidate. The Republican
national convention also met at Balti-
more and it promptly nominated Clay.
with John Sergeant of Pennsylvania as
his running mate.
With the entries all in for the race
the jockeying began for position. Clay
wanted to make the United States Bank
the issue. The Democrats not only
were willing that it should be the para
mount issue but were glad to help Mr..
Clay bring it to the fore. Jackson pro-
nounced 1t case of the people against
the money power. The bank had a
l6-year charter. and this was to be
renewed that wear. Congress had passed
s3charter bill. but Jackson had vetoed
1t. End it failed to pass over his veto.
He announced that he had "swatted the
money devil" and he certainly had hit
the bank hard one.
Clay had little chance of winning
while espousing the cause OF the bank.
Inc further fact that he. Mason, was
connlving with the anti-Masons and
although the author of the tariff of
! nominations was in collision with CAL
noun, the leader of the nullifers. added
70 JackSon's strength. This broueh.
forth the cry of The Triple Unholv
Alliance Of Clsyism, Notification. and
! anti-Masonry."
! In making up the electoral tickets in
| the various States local conditions were
| somewhat consulted. In Pennsylvania
| the Democrats left Van Buren, off and
substituted the name of wilkins. Jack
! son leaders made no objection to this
In New York the anti-Masons and the
National Republicans created a fusion
ticket. and yet even fllsian could not
| keep the State from the jackson COL
umn. South Carolina, whose electors
! still were chosen by the Legislature. saw
| fit to throw its vote away as a proof of
its impatience with the tariff of abomi-