Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1885 — THE SECOND OFFICE. [ARTICLE]

THE SECOND OFFICE.

Our Vice President* in History. Since the beginning of the Government the Vice Preaident has had the least to do with the administration to which he belongs. Many of our Vice Presidents have been able men, but few of them have made any. stir while in office, while a number have been diametrically opposed to their chiefs. Thomas "Jefferson, as Vice President under Adams, was the leader of the opposition, and after the first few days of his term Adams counseled with him in nothing. Aaron Burr and Jefferson during the next term were at loggerheads, and it was due to Jefferson that Burr was finally prosecuted fort.eason. It is hardly possible that John Quincy Adams and Calhoun had much in common, and we all know how the latter fell out with Andrew Jackson as Vice President during the next administration. Van Buren and Jackson got along very well, but it was only because President Jackson was king and Van Buren merely factotum. It was another case of “me, too,” only more so, and Van Buren, as a reward for his submission, was made Jackson’s successor. Van Buren’s Vice President was Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, the first Vice President selected west of the Alleghenies, and, though he was the man who killed Tecumseh, his name is now almost forgotten. John Tyler, the next Vice President, was a cipher as long as Harrison lived, and Harrison’s Cabinet tried to control him after Harrison’s death. Fillmore had little influence while Zach Taylor was alive, and the troubles of Andrew Johnson after the death of Lincoln show that his influence was small during the life of Old Abe. So far as I can learn we have never had a Vice President who has ruled the President or directed the administration. Even the ablest of them have made no reputation while filling the office, and John C. Breckenridge, Buchanan’s second; George M. Dallas, who reigned with Polk; and William R. King, Vice President with Pierce, go down to history through other acts than those done during their Vice Presidency. Mr. King, by the way, died in office. He was the third Vice President who did so. The first was George Clinton, who had been Vice President under Jefferson, and was then serving under Madison. The second who died was Elbridge Gerry, a signer of the De laration of Independence and the author of the system of changing legislative districts for Congressional purposes, called after his name “ gerrymandering. ” The sixth Vice President was Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York. He is one of our four Vice Presidents who were twice elected, and he held the place through tho whole of Monroe’s administration. Now every one remembers Monroe, but how many can tell anything about Tompkins? Still, in the decade between 1810 and 1820, he was far more of a man than Tom Hendricks is now. He made a great reputation ns a war Governor of New York, and at one time, when the State put out $400,000 of bonds and there were no takers, he personally indorsed them and thus made them good, for he was wealthy; The other Vice Presidents who have hud two elections are John Adams, George Clinton, and John C. Calhoun. Of the last Vice Presidents, Colfax, Wilson and Wheeler, the world knows how little prominence they had while Grant was President, and? under the pacific reign of Rutherford B. Hayes. Chester A. Arthur was little talked of until Garfield’s death, and his relations with the great Ohioan were not more friendly than those at present said to exist between Hendricks and Cleveland. There have been, altogether, twentyone Vice Presidents elected by the people. Of these, four have died in office, three have risen to the Presidency by election, four have become Presidents by the death of the President, and none of them have made reputations which will outlast their century.— Washington letter.