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Martin Van Buren
PART TWO
The Eighth Preside
nt of the United
THE PONCHATOULA TIMES, OCTOBER 31, 1985, SEC. A., PAGE SIX
States
An original history by
Bernard Vincent McMahon
All England was aroused except Lord Sidmouth secretary to the prince regent
who congratulated the soldiery for their slaughter.
The nobility, shocked, headed up protest meetings in Yorkshire. The Duke of
Norfolk and the London Common Council demanded an investigation. Carlyle
the writer said, "This is our French Revolution." In 1817, with Van Buren
straddling the fence, Governor Thompkins signed a bill abolishing slavery after
1827.
Observing the new senator in Washington, John Quincy Adams wrote. "His
talent is intriqde." A young man writing in his diary: "1 have, I think, found the
way to be popular in Kentucky: drink whisky and talk loud...and you will hardly
fail of belnq called a clever fellow" He was a tutor for the children of Henry Clay.
Sidewalk hardware cafe
Hardy's Ace Hardware owner haa nopea to finish the main street
Hardy Richardson toasts Chamber of project in Richardson's block by this
Commerce President Mrs. Jeanne past Monday, but Hurricane Juan had
Zaleski at a sidewalk cafe table set up othei plans.
by Richardson outside his hardware Times Photo)
store Thursday. Construction crews.
Martin Van Buren
BUSTER
POOLS
1782- 1862
A first-run work
by America's historian
Andrew Jackson in a toast: "'Our union it must be preserved "'
Jefferson: "I feel much alarm at the prospect of seeing General Jackson
president. He is one of the most unfit men I know for the place. He has had v.ery
little respect for laws and constitutions, and is in fact. an able military chieftain. His
passions are terrible...he is a dangerous man." The fiftieth anniversary of the birth
of the nation was observed July 4. 1826. made memorable by the deaths of John
Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
On May 12. 1831 Van Buren paid Adams a morning call: and the president
entered in his diary: "Van Buren is now the grand electioneerng manager for
General Jackson, as he was before the last election for Mr. Crawford.."It was
generally reported that Jackson, if elected, would make Van Buren his secretary
of state, would support (Van Buren) for president at the end of his term. The
campaign of 1832 was already underway.
After his visit from Van Buren President Adams wrote in his diary: "He (van
Buren) is now acting over the part in the affairs of union which Aaron Burr
performed in 1799 and 1800: and there is much resemblance of character.
manners, and even person, between the two men." In parton's recollections of
Winfield Scott occurs: "Speaking of Martin Van Buren. for whom General Scott
had a great rL, gard, he alluded to the popular tradition that the ex-president was
the son of Aaron Burr. He gave a decided denial to the scandal, and aduced
convincing reason for rejecting it."
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Bring your suits and try our spas/
Three spas in-use in downtown Ponehatoula.
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AFFORDABLE
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Pools & Spas
• Open house
FROM PAGE ONE
will have an opportunity to make judg-
ment for yourself as you tour this new
facility. I sincerely hope that you
approve of what is seen."
After recognizing the building
committee, cafeteria worker and other
principals in the Ponchatoula system he
recognized Parish Superintendent of
Education, Sam Pigno, and the
taxpayers for making it all come true.
"This evening I would like to
recognize some very special people who
have had much to do with our new
schoQl. They have taken from the
drawing board and created an outstanding
education facility. Their dedication of
many hours of thought, dreams,
interest and service helped make this
project a reality:
Bradley-Mlremont and Associates,
our architects; Mrs. Lynn Bradley, Mr.
Ed Miremont and Mr. Jim Campbell. I
commend them for their services,"
adding, "'To build a structure of this
magnitude, to have the ability to take
from drawings and to put it all together
in such a way to please all concerned is
a tremendous task at hand; Mr. Charles
Ragusa, our contractor, and his super-
intendent, Mr. Anthony Matise."
"l sincerely hope that you recognize
that this new building is really a fine
school plant, that it has all of the
modern conveniences to make it truly a
great educational facility. However,
there are two other very important
ingredients for a well-rounded
education for our youth. One is our
faculty. I believe in this faculty. They are
people who care about the youth of this
community. They are professional
educators who strive to give our boys
and girls the finest education possible
and spend hours of their own time to
give our students a very active co-
curricular and extra-curricular
program," Bodker said, adding, "Our
most important ingredient in education
is our students. Without them, we could
not operate. We want to stress the
importance of them. After all, this is
what it is all about -- their education."
• Dewitt Clinton died suddenly and Van Buren decided to run for governor. He
"'vas elected due to the growth of the anti-Masonic party that split his opposition.
l'das inaugurated governor on January 1, 1829. President Jackson tendered
him the secretary of state cabinet post and he accepted March 12, 1829. This
shilly shallying upset any number of people.
No sooner had Van Buren settled down to the secretary of state office than a
beautiful widow. Peggy O'Neale an ex-barmaid in her father's inn who had
married the new Secretary of War John H. Eaton. former senator. She began
throwing social monkey wrenches into the cabinet and cabinet ministers' wiveS,
ostracized her. Next President Jackson, who knew her when he roomed at her
father's inn and was still smarting on the slurs thrown at his beloved wife Rachel,
came to her defense. When the smoke cleared everyone had resigned except
Postmaster General Barry. Modecal M. Noah. Van Buren's Public Relations man
wrote. "'Well indeed may Mr. Van Buren be called the Great Magician, for he
raises his wand and the whole cabinet vanishes." Van Buren was sent to England
as ambassador (minister) from the United States. it too was of short duration. He
had not been confirmed by the senate, wherein Calhoun was sharpening knives.
in South Carolina at a dinner hosting Calhoun, this toast was drunk: "Martin
Van Buren--ah that deceit should steal such gentle shape, and with virtuous visor
hide deep vice.'"
Contrast this with Washington Irving's view as Van Buren's secretary in
London: "The more I see of Mr. Van Buren. the more I am confirmed in a strong
personal regard for him He is one of the gentlest and most amiable men I have
ever met with: with an affectionate disposition that attaches itself to those around
him and wins their kindness in return.'"
In his autobiography (p.449) he writes. "'A large portion of the stock of the
bank (of the U.S.) was held in England. Principally by bankers and by the gentry.
including noblemen of distinction, many of whom had free access to the govern"
ment and were capable of influencing its actions in not a inconsiderable degree."
Prince Tallyrand was French ambassador to England and used his niece, the
Duchess Dino as his interpreter as he "Could not speak English." Meeting Van
Buren in a vacant parliament room he looked around for an interpreter but,
finding no one. began conversing with Van Buren in fluent English.
On January 26. 1832. by Calhoun casting the decisive vote. Van Buren was
rejected as Minister to the Court of St. James. Senator Thomas Hart Benton said.
"You have broken a minister, and elected a vice-president." He was nominated
vice president in May 1832 when the democrats held their first national
convention in Baltimore. He delayed his return from England to avoid Jackson's
controversial - vetoing of the U.S. Bank Charter.
Demonstrations by Tammany Hall members in his favor had to be cancelled
due to an outbreak of cholera in New York City. Docking he was met by a
messenger with an urgent summons to the White House. Here he found an
enfeebled president seemingly at the point of death. Taking Van Buren's hand he
said. "The bank. Mr. Van Buren, is trying to kill me, but i will kill it." From Van
Buren's autobiography: "Gen. Jackson entered upon the duties of the office of
president on the fourth of March 1829, and the charter of the bank was to expire
by its own limitation on the third of March 1836 A new charter, or an extension
of that under which it was then acting was naturally the subject upon which the
thoughts of those who were entrusted with its management were most
employed."
The crux of the whole bank controversy seemly boils down to who would
control the bank. As Van Buren was dedicated "to the victor belong the spoils"
political philosophy, it can only be natural to conclude he wanted to grap control
of the bank. Jackson was either in his dotage or insane: take your pick. Nicholas.
Biddle, president of the bank and a financial genius, realizing the Jacksonians
wanted to gain control of the bank wrote, "'1 will not give way an inch in what
concerns the independence of the bank to please all the administrators, past.
present, or future.
The bigots of the last (Adams) administration reproached us with not being for
them- the bigots of the present (Jacksons) will be annoyed that the bank will not
support them. Be it so, 1 care nothing for either class of partisans and mean to
disregard both."
President Jackson did say to Biddle in a White House interview: "l do not
dislike your bank any more than all banks. But ever since ! read the history of the
South Sea bubble ! have been afraid of banks." The bank was not a campaign
issue and the victory for Jackson and Van Buren was more decisive than it had
been for Jackson and Calhoun four years earlier. Jackson interpreted this election
as a mandate to withdraw federal monies from the bank, this he proceeded to do,
dumping the federal money in shaky "Pet Banks." Now the people were really
alarmed.
Biddle, bewildered by both Jackson and Van Buren appealed to Alexander
Hamilton, who knew them both, he said: "Have no confidence in Van Buren; as
an aspirant for the chief magistracy, he is without principle, and totally destitute of
sincerity. In the West, especially in Kentucky, the friends of the administration are
against you, and on a majority in this state...these are sufficient causes. This
gentlemen, he may smile and seem gracious, it will only be deceive."
The slavery issue, smouldering, broke aflame anew when by an act of
parliament over 800,000 black slaves were freed in the British West Indies.
William Lloyd Garrisson in his newspaper The Liberator aroused the south with
his demands for emancipation. The legislature of Georgia offered a $5,000
reward for the arrest of anyone caught circulating it. The hot beds of Abolitionist
meetings were in the Protestant churches now anti-abolitionists in the North,
particularly New York City, attacked the churches, set fire to them, and had to be
driven off by the militia. A mob attacked the Ursuline convent at Charlestown in
the shadow of the unfinished Bunker Hill monument and burned it down to the
cry of, "no popery." The anti-Mason fanatics were now converged into the anti-
Catholic "Know Nothings." the turbulance of President Andrew Jackson's
temperament was reflected inlawlessness and street rioting. Perhaps his real
reason in destroying the Bank of the U.S. was to cripple the northern anti-
abolitionists and the free states' economic power.
May 20, 1834 the Democrat-Republicans held their convention in Baltimore.
Although the election was twenty-one months off. The first obstacle was the two
thirds rule that hobbled every election down to Roosevelt's in 1932. It had been
adopted four years before to make Van Buren's nomination for vice president all
the more impressive. Tennessee had fifteen votes but no delegates from that
state showed up so they found a man in a saloon who said he was a Tennesseean
and he voted the fifteen votes. Van Buren was unanimously nominated, as was
his running mate Johnson. There was no platform and no acceptance speech by
Van Buren, who refused to commit himself on any of the issues, except in a letter
to a man from Athens, Georgia on his stand on slavery: he disavowed that he .
entertained "views and opinions that are justly obnoxious to the slaveholding
states."
CONTINUED
Guilders hold Christmas Bazaar
decor, shoppers will be able to view the
many handcrafted items which will
feature something appropriate for all
ages. In addition to the handicrafts, one
can choose home baked cakes, pies,
cookies, and candies, plus gift items of
Women for health
The UM.W. Guilders will be holding
their fifth annual Christmas Bazaar next
Saturday. November 2, in the Fellow-
ship Hall of the First United Methodist
Church.
Amid a festive scene of Christmas
Donna Scale, Patti Glannoble,
Celeste Layrisson, Hammond Mayor
Debble Pope, Jane Dunn, Nanette
Guerln, Peggy Matheu, (not pictured)
Ann Livingston, Maxine Dixon.
(Times Photo by Terrence McMahon)
The Tangipahoa Chapter of the
Women's Health Foundation of
Louisiana met for a luncheon
gathering Friday at Westpark
Hospital. Those attending Included:
(left to right) Mines. Anne Ferguson,
jellies, preserves, and pickles. TI,
Guilders cordially invite the public to ge
the Christmas spirit early by coming to
the Fellowship Hall to have a cup of tea,
browze among the items, and enjoy a
friendly visit with them between the
hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Halloween bum
This familiar-looking Hallowe
bum won top awards Saturday durtm
the St. Joseph Spook Party Cotun.
Contest. Congratulations WAY'"
Melancon, and all other winners. ,
(Times Photm