CHAPTER VI

Allen Trimble Elected Governor-The National Republican Party-— Democracy Adapted to the Nation-Achievements of the Democratic Party-President Jackson's Policy-The Anti-Masonic Party-The Workingmen's Party-The Doctrine of Nullification-Tariff Legislation and the South Carolina IncidentDestruction of the United States Bank by President JacksonDuncan McArthur Elected Governor.

At the state election in 1826 Allen Trimble, who called himself a National Republican, was elected Governor by a vote of 71,775 over three other candidates who received about 4,000 each. Trimble was a candidate against Jeremiah Morrow in 1822 in which year he called himself a Federalist. About the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth century the Democratic Party had no opponent worthy of the name in either state or nation. It was too strong and could not continue without opposition. There always are and there always must be at least two parties. So when the Federalist Party of which Allen Trimble seems to have been the last important disciple in Ohio had passed out of existence, the Democratic Party divided into two branches, the new wing taking the name of National Republicans. Governor Trimble seems to have been one of the first of these as well as one of the last of the Federalists.

The National Republicans were followers of Henry Clay and differed from the regular Democrats in being moderate protectionists. In reviving the word Republican which had lately gone out of use in the Democratic Party and adopting protection as the main plank in their platforms they may have planted the seed which germinated thirty years later in the great Republican party.

The early Democracy of the nation seems to have suited the people of the country for forty years after the death of Washington. From 1800 to 1840 every President was a Democrat and from 1803 to 1836 every Governor of Ohio was of that political faith, the Na

tional Republicans being really Democrats. That the party should have been popular with a country like the United States before sophistry began to pervade the land was only natural. The recollection of the great fight for freedom was fresh in the minds of the people and the doctrines of states rights and individual liberty appealed strongly to men who were building a new country. Besides this the party had great leaders and had accomplished greatly. The Democratic Party was founded by the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence; the Constitution of the United States was made by the Democratic Party and adopted by Democratic states. Under Thomas Jefferson, the first Democratic President, the Territory of Louisiana was acquired and the odious Alien and Sedition Laws were repealed. The Democratic Party favored the war with England which was opposed by the Federalists, and it was natural that the people should support the party which made war upon their ancient enemy. The Monroe Doctrine, which was long like the Shield of Jove over the Western Hemisphere was promulgated by President Monroe. These things gave the Democratic Party great prestige with the country, and the people naturally reposed a confidence in that party to meet conditions as they arose with the times, and in this they were not disappointed. Under Andrew Jackson the finances of the country were taken out of the hands of the banks, and under Martin Van Buren, his successor, the present sub-treasury system was instituted. Then came the Mexican War which was carried through by the Democrats against the opposition of the Whigs, who opposed the war. Texas and California were acquired under President Polk who was a Democrat.

In 1828, the year in which Allen Trimble was elected to his second term as Governor, Andrew Jackson was elected President of the United States. The Democratic-Republican Party was founded by Jefferson. Andrew Jackson was the first President after the name had finally crystallized into that of Democrat. Jackson originated the theory that "to the victors belong the spoils," and carried out that political doctrine in all Federal offices. No president before or since equaled his record in this regard, and the sentiment in favor of Civil Service reform may be said to have had its beginning in his regime. Nor was it the only new force in politics and

national life which can be traced to President Jackson, and some of those forces were destined to work almost immediate injury to the Democratic Party throughout the country while their ultimate effect was unquestionably beneficial.

In addition to the National Republican Party other political parties began to come into existence about this time. In 1826 the Anti-Masonic Party sprang into existence in New York state and spread to some extent all over the country. It was not founded upon any political principles but was organized to destroy the order of Free Masons, because it was supposed a member of that fraternity had been murdered in Niagara County, New York for revealing secrets of the order. In 1832 the Anti-Masons had a candidate for President, William Wirt, who received only 509 votes in the state of Ohio. Then there was the Working Men's Party which was also fated to be ephemeral because it was composed mostly of men who were not working men. Outside of the farming communities working men at that day were not numerous. All those parties were ultimately swallowed up in one of the notable political organizations of the nation, namely the Whig Party.

It has been noted that Ohio was not in close touch with the Federal government in the early years of the State's existence. This condition continued until 1840 when this state produced its first President and began to build up the history which should cause it to be regarded as a nursery for presidents. Under Andrew Jackson events occurred which were destined speedily to make Ohio a prominent factor in political affairs and to give her an influence at Washington from which she had long been debarred.

Under Jackson the heresy of nullification caused its first serious trouble in the nation, and although it was quickly crushed out by the iron hand of Jackson, its advocates were men of such standing and ability that the spark of the heresy remained among men to flame out into war in 1861.

Nullification, that is, the act of declaring a Federal law to be void, had at that time two advocates whose names will always remain in American history, less because of their rebel tendencies than because of their splendid abilities. Calhoun and Hayne were two of the

greatest men of their day and behind them, nodding assent to their nullification doctrine stood Henry Clay. Only one man in the country could cope with Daniel Webster and the speeches of Webster and Hayne on nullification have become a part of American historical literature.

On July 14, 1832, a tariff bill which slightly reduced some duties became a law, but the South and particularly South Carolina was not satisfied. That state had been grumbling for some time and there was a serious menace in her tone. She now took steps to put her threats into execution and a state convention was called to meet November 19, 1832. That convention met and on November 24th passed a Nullification Ordinance which declared the Tariff Acts of 1828 and 1832 void; forbade the payment of duties under these acts after February 1, 1833; declared an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the validity of the ordinance to be contempt of the State Court; caused every juror and every state officer to swear to support the ordinance, and declared that if force were used against the state of South Carolina she would consider herself no longer a member of the Union.

President Jackson issued a proclamation declaring that nullification was inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States and that disunion by force of arms was treason. He sent General Scott to Charleston and ordered a naval force to enter the harbor of the city. The Collector of the Port was ordered to take precautions to insure the payment of duties. South Carolina weakened before Jackson's vigorous measures and in January, 1833, the nullifiers held a private meeting at which they decided to postpone the operations of their ordinance until after Congress met. As a consequence duties were paid after February 1st just as they had been before. That was practically the close of the incident, but Congress passed a new tariff bill in February, 1833, with a view to ameliorating the case. Although this bill was not satisfactory to the South the state of South Carolina held a convention March 16, 1833, and repealed its Ordinance of Nullification.

Jackson had decided upon the destruction of the United States Bank and had set about carrying that decision into effect. The immediate consequences of this course of action were disastrous to the