THE FREE SOIL CAMPAIGN OF 1848

Top 2. Feb 9, 2001 9:10 AM

» Mugwump53 - Frustration and Sympathy

You're right, Tina. It kinda makes you feel some sympathy for Al Gore regardless of who(m) you voted for.

-- posted by Mugwump53

Top 3. Feb 10, 2001 11:01 AM

» jerrib - I didn't realize this, John

I still say Gore was unfairly ousted, but that's the way it goes. That's why we have a democracy. Anyone may win; also, anyone may lose! That's the way it goes. Better than another form of government and voting!

Always enjoy your historical pieces, John.

Jerri

-- posted by jerrib

Top 4. Feb 11, 2001 5:16 AM

» ossining - Re: Frustration and Sympathy

In response to message posted by Mugwump53:

Question: What was Van Buren's relationship with
Charles Francis Adams, his Free Soil Vice-Presidential running mate? It's only my observation, but I don't think Van Buren had had a close working relationship with his Second-in-command, Col. Richard M. Johnson, during his tenure in the White House. Col. Johnson was, somewhat, of a free-spirit (if you know anything about his 'by that day's standards' unusual personal life').
What prompted Charles Francis Adams to be nominated for VP?
As a dyed-in-the-wool New York State Democrat, myself, I think, if I had been around in 1848, I would have been torn between supporting the Democratic standard bearer (Cass) or Van Buren. I have a feeling that I would have voted for Van Buren-Adams, thereby, helping to cause the split in the Empire State.
My mother, God rest her soul, LOVED Martin Van Buren. She was convinced that she was romantically involved with him in an earlier life.
Many years ago, when his house was not yet open to the public, we made the long journey to see 'Lindenwald.' Alas, it was closed, and all we got to do was to have a picnic lunch at Van Buren's gravesite. Years later, as you will recall, my wife and I saw Vice-President Levi Morton's grave on our honeymoon. What is it with me and Presidential resting places?
Anyway, I'll be glad to hear your observations about Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams.

-- posted by ossining

Top 5. Feb 11, 2001 10:45 AM

» Mugwump53 - Dead Presidents

Hi, Ossining!

You are correct. Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams did not have a close working relationship. Like most running mates in the first half of our history, they didn't really even know each other. (Rutherford B. Hayes even went so far as to ask someone "Who is this Wheeler?" when told who his running mate was.) So, this is nothing surprising. If you want to know more about Charles Francis Adams, read my article "Charles Francis Adams: Unsung Hero" published on Suite 101 on June 2, 2000.

As to Van Buren's relationship with Col. Johnson, it was close to non-existent. Van Buren's opponent in 1836 was William Henry Harrison, whose main claim to fame was that he led the forces that defeated the Indian leader Techumseh. The Democrats, prodded by Jackson, nominated Col. Johnson because he claimed to have been the man to actually kill Techumseh, thereby stealing some of the Whig's thunder.

Johnson proved so unpopular that many of the Democratic electors refused to vote for him. As a result, even though the Decmorats had a majority of the electors and Van Buren won with a majority, Johnson did not. The selection of Vice President went to the Senate for the only time in our history. With a Democratic majority, they almost elected the Whig candidate.

At the end of his term, Johnson had become so unpopular, that the Democratic convention refused to re-nominate him. Van Buren thus became the only President to run for re-election without a running mate. (It seems that Johnson, a slave owner, lived with a slave in common law marriage, and tried to bring her to official state dinners and other social functions and claim full social honors for her due her as his wife. This did not go over very well. Even more distasteful was when his "wife" left him for another man, and he tracked her down and sold her to another slave owner in the deep South.

I once taught a young man who was a direct descendent of Van Buren, and his middle name was Van Buren.

As to your prediliction for Presidential grave sites, here is a site to try: www.starship.python.net/crew/manus/Presidents/index.html#index

Thanks for another interesting post. Always glad to see you come in.

-- posted by Mugwump53

Top 6. Feb 11, 2001 11:53 AM

» ossining - Re: Dead Presidents

In response to message posted by Mugwump53:

Speaking of descendants, I once knew a descendant of Vice-President Daniel D. Tompkins (Monroe's VP). We would spend hours on end talking about her ancestor. Ironically, she was killed in a car accident during the Christmas holidays in MONROE, NY, and she was the same age that Tompkins was when he died (51). Amazing, isn't it? RIP - Susan Carson.

-- posted by ossining