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cations not to be doubted, that the undivided wishes of the Republican party throughout the Union point to him as the individual best calculated, at the present juncture, to execute the measures of policy which they deem essential to the public welfare, and as the members of this convention unanimously concur in the opinion so generally entertained by their constituents; therefore

"Resolved, That this convention do present the name of Martin Van Buren to the people as the Democratic candidate for the office of president of the United States, and that we will spare no honorable efforts to secure his election.

"And whereas several of the states which have nominated Martin Van Buren as a candidate for the presidency have put in nomination different individuals as candidates for the office of vice president, thus indicating a diversity of opinion as to the person best entitled to the nomination; and whereas some of the said states are not represented in this convention; and as all the individuals so nominated have filled the various public trusts confided to them, ably and faithfully, and have thereby secured for themselves the confidence of their Republican fellowcitizens; therefore

"Resolved, That the convention deem it expedient at the present time not to choose between the individuals in nomination, but to leave the decision to their Republican fellow-citizens in the several states, trusting that before the election shall take place, their opinions shall become so concentrated as to secure the choice of a vice president by the electoral colleges."

Mr. Ashmead, of Pennsylvania, then observed, that there could be no objection to the adoption of the preamble and the first of the resolutions, in relation to the nomination for president. On that question the convention

was unanimous. There were objections to the second resolution, and he therefore moved that the question be divided, so as to take it first on the preamble and first resolution, and afterward on the second resolution.

This motion having been agreed to, the question was taken on the preamble and first resolution, and they were unanimously adopted.

The convention then adopted the following platform of principles:

"1. Resolved, That the federal government is one of limited powers, derived solely from the constitution, and the grants of power shown therein ought to be strictly construed by all the departments and agents of the gov ernment, and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers.

"2. Resolved, That the constitution does not confer upon the general government the power to commence and carry on a general system of internal improvements.

"3. Resolved, That the constitution does not confer authority upon the federal government, directly or indirectly, to assume the debts of the several states, contracted for local internal improvements, or other state purposes; nor would such assumption be just, or expedient.

"4. Resolved, That justice and sound policy forbid the federal government to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of another, or to cherish the interests of one portion to the injury of another portion of our common country-that every citizen and every section of the country has a right to demand and insist upon an equality of rights and privileges, and to complete and ample protection for persons and property from domestic violence or foreign aggression.

"5. Resolved, That it is the duty of every branch of the government to enforce and practice the most rigid

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economy, in conducting our public affairs, and that no more revenue ought to be raised, than is required to defray the necessary expenses of the government.

"6. Resolved, That congress has no power to charter a national bank; that we believe such an institution one of deadly hostility to the best interests of the country, dangerous to our republican institutions and the liberties of the people, and calculated to place the business of the country within the control of a concentrated money power, and above the laws and the will of the people.

"7. Resolved, That congress has no power, under the constitution, to interfere with or control the domestic institutions of the several states, and that such states are the sole and proper judges of everything appertaining to their own affairs, not prohibited by the constitution; that all efforts of the abolitionists or others, made to induce congress to interfere with questions of slavery, or to take incipient steps in relation thereto, are calculated to lead to the most alarming and dangerous consequences, and that all such efforts have an inevitable tendency to diminish the happiness of the people, and endanger the stability and permanency of the Union, and ought not to be countenanced by any friend to our political institutions.

"8. Resolved, That the separation of the moneys of the government from banking institutions, is indispensable for the safety of the funds of the government and the rights of the people.

"9. Resolved, That the liberal principles embodied by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, and sanctioned in the constitution, which makes ours the land of liberty, and the asylum of the oppressed of every nation, have ever been cardinal principles in the Democratic faith; and every attempt to abridge the present privilege of be

coming citizens, and the owners of soil among us, ought to be resisted with the same spirit which swept the alien and sedition laws from our statute book."

But it was not in the power of his Democratic friends to save him from defeat. He received only sixty electoral votes, and these, except seven from New Hampshire and five from Illinois, from slaveholding states. He forced his way into the executive chair, against the voluntary choice of his party; he retired from it without severely aggrieving any considerable number of his friends.

CHAPTER IX.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF HARRISON AND TYLER-CONVENTION ADOPTED NO PLATFORM-ISSUE GENERAL AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION-CHARACTER OF THE CANVASS-HARRISON'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS-REBUKES ANTISLAVERY SOCIETIES IN NON-SLAVEHOLDING STATES HIS CABINET, HOW COMPOSED-HIS DEATH-INAUGURATION OF TYLER-SPECIAL SESSION OF CONGRESS-MESSAGE-VETOES TWO BANK AND TWO TARIFF BILLS-DISSOLUTION AND RE-ORGANIZATION OF HIS CABINET-CONGRESS SUCCUMBS ON THE DISTRIBUTION QUESTION-CALHOUN AND RHETT COME TO THE SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND APPLAUD THE PRESIDENT-NEGOTIATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN-THE ASHBURTON TREATY-SLAVERY AGITATION IN CONGRESS CENSURE OF GIDDINGS-ATTEMPT TO CENSURE MR. ADAMS—EXPLOSION OF THE PEACE-MAKER, AND DEATH OF SECRETARIES OF STATE AND NAVY-CALHOUN TAKEN INTO THE CABINET-INTRODUCES HIS POLICY AND MEASURES HIS AMBITIOUS DESIGNS-PROCEEDINGS TO ANNEX TEXASCOLLUSION WITH POLK AND CONSPIRACY AGAINST SILAS WRIGHT.

GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, of Ohio, succeeded Mr. Van Buren in the presidency, and John Tyler, of Virginia, succeeded Colonel Johnson in the vice presi dency. They were nominated by a Whig national convention, held at Harrisburgh on the 4th day of December, 1839, in which all the states in the Union were represented, except South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Governor Barbour, of Virginia, presided, who announced on taking the chair that the Whig party had flung to the breeze the broad banner of liberty and the constitution, inscribed, "One presidential term-the integrity of public servants-the safety of the public money -and the general good of the people." After twentyfour ballotings in the grand committee of the states for a choice between the nominee, Henry Clay, and General M*