PAGE

Jackson for Capitulating to South Carolina, out of Respect

to Henry Clay-Fidelity to the Constitution-Seward the

Representative Man in New York-His Nomination in 1834

for Governor-Nomination of Harrison and Granger in 1886;

also, Judge White, of Tennessee-The Albany Resolutions-

Result of Election Encouraging-Rapid Growth of the Party

afterward-The Harrisburgh Convention in 1839-Nomina-

tion of Harrison and Tyler-The Canvass Wisely Managed, 264

CHAPTER VIII.

Nomination of Martin Van Buren-Circumstances relating to

the Canvass Formation of a Loco-foco Party in New York

-Efforts of Mr. Van Buren to Reünite the Divided Party—

His Election by a Small Majority-Peculiarities of his Inau-

gural Address-His Overture to the Slave Power-Monetary

Pressure Suspension of Specie Payments-Special Session

of Congress Called-President Recommends an Independent

Treasury-Measure Defeated-Annexation of Texas Proposed

-The Debate thereon-Proposition Withdrawn-Atherton's

Gag-Petitions for Diplomatic Relations with Hayti-Con-

duct of the Administration concerning the Amistad Negroes

-Rejection of the Whig Representatives from New Jersey-

Further Measures of this Administration-The Slave Power

Stimulated-Condition of Parties,

270

CHAPTER IX.

Nomination and Election of Harrison and Tyler-Convention

adopted no Platform-Issue General against the Adminis-

tration-Character of the Canvass-Harrison's Inaugural Ad-

dress-Rebukes Antislavery Societies in Non-Slaveholding

States-His Cabinet, how Composed-His Death—Inaugura-

tion of Tyler-Special Session of Congress-Message-Ve-

toes two Bank and two Tariff Bills-Dissolution and Reör-

CONTENTS.

ganization of his Cabinet-Congress Succumbs on the Distri-

bution Question-Calhoun and Rhett come to the Support

of the Administration, and Applaud the President-Negotia-

tions 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 Am-

bitious Designs-Proceedings to Annex Texas-Collusion

with Polk and Conspiracy against Silas Wright,

ix

PAGE.

297

CHAPTER X.

Nomination of Polk and Dallas under Extraordinary Circum-

stances Intrigue of Polk and Calhoun-Annexation of Texas

Incorporated into the Democratic Platform-William C.

Bryant and other Dissenters in New York-Their Secret Cir-

cular-Nomination of Clay and Frelinghuysen by the Whigs

-The Whig Platform-The Canvass-Clay Defeated by his

Letters to Alabama-His. Acknowledgments to William H.

Seward-Polk and Dallas Elected-Polk Removes to Wash-

ington-Acquiesces in the Abstraction of Public Funds for

the Purchase of the Globe-Agrees to Taboo Silas Wright as

a Recreant Democrat-His Intrigue with Tyler respecting

the Annexation of Texas-His Inaugural-His Cabinet-The

Oregon Question and War with Mexico-Other Measures-

Refused a Re-nomination-General Remarks.

350

CHAPTER XI.

Nomination of Taylor and Fillmore-Opposing Candidates-

Non-acquiescence of Daniel Webster-Taylor's Political Sa-

gacity-His Letters to Captain Alison and others-His Nomi-

nation at Charleston-The Albany Meeting-Free-soil Con-

ventions at Utica and Buffalo-The Buffalo Platform-Cass'

A*

PAGE.

change of opinion concerning the Wilmot Proviso-Election

of Taylor and Fillmore-The Issue Decided-Taylor's Inau-

guration His Cabinet-His Opposition to the further Ex-

tension of Slavery-Efforts to Overbear Him-His Death-

Accession of Fillmore-Change of Cabinet and Policy-De-

fers to Slavery-Encourages a Schism and formation of a

New Party-Seceders styled Silver Grays-President favors

the Compromise Measures-Another Concession to Slavery, 403

CHAPTER XII.

Nomination of Pierce and King-The Rival Candidates-The

Canvass-Democratic Party Subsidized-The Whig Party

Crushed by its Platform-Election of Pierce and King-

Pierce's Inaugural - His Extraordinary Views respecting

Slavery under the Constitution-His First Message to Con-

gress, and its Interpretation-Bill of Douglass and Richard-

son for the Organization and Division of Nebraska and Kan-

sas-It Reopens Agitation of the Slavery Question-Ab-

sorbs the Attention of Congress, and Obstructs the Public

Business-Assault on the Missouri Compromise-Its Repeal-

Reasons assigned therefor-Passage of the Bill-Plea of Popu-

lar Sovereignty-Invasion of Kansas by Armed Marauders-

Removal of Governor Reeder-The People frame a Constitu-

tion-Apply for Admission into the Union - Assault on

Sumner,

-

428

CHAPTER XIII.

Re-formation of the Republican Party-The Result of a High

Public Necessity-The Pittsburgh National Convention-Its

Declaration of Principles-Its Devotion to the Constitution

and the Union-Perversion of the Government from its origi-

nal Purposes--Necessity of a Restoration-Power and Duty

of Congress respecting the Territories-Fallacy of applying

the Doctrine of Popular Sovereignty to Territories-Slavery

CONTENTS.

Nationalized and Freedom Sectionalized by Pierce's Admin-

istration-Calhounism in Ascendency-Danger Imminent-

A Nominating Convention Called-Delegates Appointed—

Nominating Convention Assembled-Its Platform-Nomina-

tion of Fremont and Dayton,

xi

PAGE

445

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN C. FREMONT.

Colonel Fremont's Nativity, Ancestry, Early Habits, and Char-

acter-His Entrance into a Law Office, into a Grammar

School, and into Charleston College-Afterward Teaches

Mathematics, and becomes a Civil Engineer-Takes part in

South Carolina against Calhoun and Nullification—Is Ap-

pointed Professor of Mathematics in the Navy Joins the

Corps of Topographical Engineers-Accompanies M. Nicol

let in his North-west Explorations-Commissioned Lieuten-

ant-His Marriage-His Subsequent Explorations, Conquest

and Government of California-Ilis Arrest, Trial, and Resto-

ration-Exerts himself to make California a Free State-Is

Elected Senator-His Political Opinions-His Nomination

for the Presidency,

473

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF WILLIAM L DAYTON.

Judge Dayton's Nativity, Ancestry, Early Habits and Char-

acter-Studies with Doctor Brownlee-Enters and Gradu-

ates at Princeton College-Studies Law with Governor

Vroom-Admission to the Bar in 1830-Commences Practice

in Freehold-Elected to the Legislative Council of New

Jersey-His Projects of Reform-Is Appointed Justice of

the Supreme Court-Resigns after Three Years-Succeeds

Samuel L. Southard in the Senate of the United States-

Was Opposed to the War with Mexico, but Voted to Confirm

the Treaty of Peace-Supports the Wilmot Proviso-His

Speeches-Is Superseded by Commodore Stockton-Resumes

the practice of Law-Is a Delegate to the Baltimore Conven-

tion of 1852, and Supports General Scott-Afterward, until

the Repeal of the Missouri Compromise, not engaged in

Politics-Is Opposed to the Further Extension of Slavery,

PAGE

505