MARCH 4 — 1850 The Great Triumvirate (Clay, Calhoun, Webster) debate slavery; Pre-1933 Inauguration Day: 1933 FDR elected first term; 1829 Andy Jackson’s inaugural community event at White House; 1841 Pres. William Henry Harrison gives deathly boring inaugural speech (literally); 2016 DeMar DeRozan sinks 24 free throws for the Raptors
MARCH 4
1850—Clay, Calhoun and Webster debate about slavery.
But that was nothing new, really. The first sons of the Founding Fathers were indeed Julius Ceaser, Pompey and Crassus of their day, even though none of them were president.
The Great Triumvirate, as this trio was called: Daniel “Black Dan” Webster of New England, opponent of the War of 1812, one of the greatest speakers of his time, and a federalist who supported industrialization of the North. On the West side of the United States was Senator Henry Clay from Kentucky. One of the greatest speakers to never become President. John Calhoun, representing the South, in particular the right to own slaves, and author of the Nullification Crisis which gave the states the right to ignore Federal government laws.
When you think about it, your average American might be more likely to recognize quotes from Webster, Clay, or Calhoun, than the Presidents of their days, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, or Chester Arthur.
All three men served as Senate, Secretary of State, and in the House at some point before the Civil War. Clay, the oldest, was the first to serve in the house in 1806 under the Whig party. Calhoun admired Clay, and the two agreed on how to handle what would become the War of 1812. Webster was elected to Congress in 1813 and was an opponent of the War of 1812, and began debating Clay and Calhoun on how to deal with the aftermath of the War and other issues like the 2nd Bank of the US and the Tariff of 1816.
The trio wouldn’t actually become alliances until Andrew Jackson came into office during the 1820s and 30s. Old Hickory Jackson’s replacements weren’t considered as strong as Jackson, so the Great Triumvirate, who represents the three parts of the country, debated bitterly over slavery and other issues.
Clay’s “American System” paved the way for American central banks. Calhoun’s staunch position justified the existence of a Confederate States of America in speeches that oppose big government which influences American speakers to this day. Webster’s speeches influenced The Gettysburg Address. People would be lucky to pay admission to watch these three men debate, and the longer the debate the better. Even though they went hour’s longs, viewers were carefully hanging onto every word said.
A new generation of orators was already beginning to take their places, Stephen Douglas, Jefferson Davis, and William Seward.
The Great Triumvirate’s time was up, as John Calhoun would die, March 31 1850, right after giving a speech of his concerns of the Compromise of 1850. Two years later in 1852 Henry Clay died, and Daniel Webster would pass on as well a year later in 1853.
Which is why this day, Mar 4, 1850 as these men spoke together for the last time, and it was not just another day of debating between the three.
Big Inauguration Day.
I know we’re all used to inaugurations happening in January, but until the 20th amendment was added to the Constitution in 1933, inaugurations took place on…
March 4. 1933 – FDR is inaugurated for his first term.
Yes, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself FDR boldly and proudly exclaimed on the east wing of the White House on this rainy and blustery day. He outlined his plan for the New Deal, which was Roosevelt’s attempt to make capitalism work for everybody and not just for those at the top.
1829 – The craziest party the White House ever had.
Old Hickory Andrew Jackson had just beaten Old man Eloquent John Quincy Adams in one of the dirtiest campaigns in presidential history. The campaign was full of ruthless political attacks as well as personal ones. Leave Rachel alone already! I mean, Andy had killed over insults to his wife Rachel, but the insults just never stopped. In fact Rachel died a month after the election and Jackson blamed his political enemies.
But getting back to the party.
On this day in 1829 he delivered his inaugural speech. And continued a tradition Thomas Jefferson started back in the day: the open house at the White House. Americans of all walks of life needed no invitation. They could show up, stand in line to hopefully shake hands with the president, maybe even come inside the White House for some punch and dessert.
All great and peaceful, until the whiskey came out.
Legend has it, floods of people ransacked the white house, digging cheese into the carpets with their boots, smashing china and chandeliers, standing on furniture with muddy shoes, and causing mayhem.
The White House became Animal House. Old Hickory just bailed on the party and escaped through a back door and supposedly checked into a local hotel. The only way to get the mob outside the white house was by moving the whiskey outside on the lawn.
I know how hilarious this story must sound, but according to whitehousehistory.org, actual damage to the white house that day was trivial. Jackson, America’s first democrat president, of course was succeedd by his secretary of state Martin Van Buren. But following that administration, the Whigs came into power and so did Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
1841 – President William Henry Harrison gave his inaugural speech alongside his running mate and new VP John Tyler.
Harrison was a great fighter in the war of 1812 as well as against Tecumseh and Tippecanoe, hence his nickname Old Tippecanoe. But on this date in 1841, The Cincinnatus of the West delivered a nearly two hour speech in a snowstorm and he didn’t even wear a jacket. Friends, if you have trouble falling asleep at night, check out bartleby.com and look for this speech by President William Harrison. Here’s the first sentence of that speech to give you n idea.
“ CALLED from a retirement which I had supposed was to continue for the residue of my life to fill the chief executive office …… “ blah blah blah blah blah. Two hours of this. A month later, Harrison became the first president to die in office, as pneumonia from the snowstorm finally got over him. You might say his speech bored him to death.
In NBA news…
2016 DeRozan sinks 24 free throws for the Raptors.
DeMar DeRozanm who attended Compton High, became a USC Trojan, and then was selected 9th in the NBA draft for the Toronto Raptors. It would be on this day in 2016 that the Raptors barely squeaked by the Portland Trailblazers, 117-115, with DeRozan making 24 or 25 free throws; the last one in the last half second of the game.
Not that there was any pressure, or anything. It tied the record for Atlanta Hawk Dominique Wilkins from waaayyy back in 1992.
But on this night DeRozan missed that 25th. I mean, on that last shot the ball hit the front of the rim. Why? Maybe it was something Kyle Lowry said to him.