Year: 1874

Did jackson Mediate a Third Term


The surprising statement of Senator Brown
low to reporter of the HERALD in the inter-
view published yesterday deserves to be refuted
and exploded, since, if believed, it will en-
courage the third term parasites of General
/ Grant Mr.. Brownlow's statement, made as
he asserts, on the authority of the late john
Bell, cannot possibly be true. 1t is not always
easy to prove a negative but it so happens in
this case that an overwhelmingly conclusive
demonstration can be given that President
jackson never contemplated nor thought OF
third term. Everybody who is at all acquainted
with the politics of that period knows that
General Jackson had hardly been inaugurated
second time before he indicated his purpose
to support Martin Van Buren for the next
election. This was SO well understood
that Mr.. Clay private Correspondence, p.
362) In letter, written Gin May, 1885, less
than three months after the Inauguration, al
luded to Van Buren, as General Jackson's
designated successor" In the following
August MIR. Clay (Private Correspondence, p.
'369) used this language respecting Jackson
Zone thing was wanted to complete the
public degradation, and that was that he
should name his successor. This he has
done, and there is much reason to believe
that the people will ratify his nomination. "
Nothing could be easier than to accumulate
proofs that jackson labored steadily to make
Van Buren, the democratic candidate for 1886,
until he secured that object by his nomna-
tion at so early period as the middle of his
own second term. This historical fact is
inconsistent with the, idea that jack
son ever had any thought of a third
term. If Grant had caused it to be under
stood Immediately after his second Inaugural
ton that he wished Conkiing elected as his
successor, if he had pushed his tavorte with
such vigor as to have got the National Repub-
lican Convention assembled last May for the
nomination Of Conkhng, no man in his senses
could have believed that Grant had cast for
hidden eyes on third election. Van Buren
was nominated in May, 1885, by a national
convention which jackson had fastened and
which his supporters had packed to make the
nomination unanimous. If Grant had caused
q packed convention to assemble last May to
nominate o successor whom he had designated
Immediately alter his entrance on his second
term all the third term talk would be su-
premely silly and foolish.


General Jackson's motive in precipitating
party action for Van Buren, was as we'll un-
derstood at the time as the fact. His purpose
was to head off and crush Calhoun, with whom
he had had bitter quarrel in 1884, whom he
hated with oil the intensity of his impetuous
nature and whom he had threatened to hang
in the notification excitement of 1888. He
feared that Calhoun would get the Southern
democratic vote, and for that reason he began
to push Van Buren and get the party COM
mitted to him from the moment of his own
second Inauguration. Mr.. Clay, alluding to
Calhoun, in 1885, said, speaking of the demo-
cratic nomination: -''The contest will be be-
tween him and Van Buren, But Jack
son put his favorite in the field so early that
there was no room for contest at all.
1t is preposterous to say that while he was
thus exerting all his influence to forestall CAL
houn and get the party irretrievably commit
ted to Van Buren years in advance Of the cleo
ton, jackson desired a third term. II he had
had such wish John Bell was the last man
in the country to know it. Bell was promi-
nent whig, of whom Jackson would no more
have made confdant on such subject than
Grant would of Senator Thurm n.


1t was Jackson's settled conviction that the
constitution ought to be so amended as to
give the election Of the President directly to
the people and forbid reelection. He sent
eight annual messages to Congress, and in
every message OF the eight he pressed his
standing recommendation for change Of this
part Of the constitution. The following passage
from the first message of his second term is o
succinct expression Of his views on this SUBJ
ject:-"I would also call your attention to the
views have heretofore expressed OF the pro-
priety of amending the constitution in rela-
ton to the mode of electing the President and
Vice President of the United States. Regard
ing it as all-important to the future quiet and
harmony Of the people that every interme-
date agency in the election of these officers
should be removed, and that their eligibility
should be limited to one term of either four or
six years, l cannot too earnestly invite your
consideration of the subject" The most un-
fortunate authority that could have been cited
to countenance the third term folly is that
of Andrew Jackson.


Another Police Outrage.


The proper way to punish policemen who