After controlling the government for forty years, the Democratic party was temporarily overthrown. For Vice-President, John Tyler of Virginia was chosen.

RECAPITULATION.

Sketch of the new executive.-Continuance of the Seminole War.-Colonel Taylor defeats the savages at Lake Okeechobee.-And compels submission.The financial panic of '37.-The Specie Circular.-The banks suspend.-Tremendous failures.-Treasury notes are issued.-The Independent Treasury Bill is passed.-Partial revival of business.-The Canada insurrection.--Affair of the Caroline.-Order is restored.-General Harrison is elected President.

CHAPTER LIV.

ADMINISTRATIONS OF HARRISON AND TYLER, 1841-1845.

THE new President was a Virginian by birth, the adopted son

of Robert Morris. He was graduated at Hampden-Sidney College, and afterward entered the army of St. Clair. He became governor of Indiana Territory, which office he filled with great ability. He began his duties as President by calling a special session of Congress. An able cabinet was organized, with Daniel Webster as secretary of state. Everything promised well for the new Whig administration; but before Congress could convene, the President, now sixty-eight years of age, fell sick, and died just one month after his inauguration. On the 6th of April, Mr. Tyler became President of the United States.

2. He was a statesman of considerable distinction; a native of Virginia; a graduate of William and Mary College. In 1825 he was elected Governor of Virginia, and from that position he was sent to the Senate of the United States. He had been put upon the ticket with General Harrison through motives of expediency; for although a Whig in political principles, he was known to be hostile to the United States Bank.

3. One of the first measures of the new Congress was the repeal of the Independent Treasury Bill. A bankrupt law was then passed for the relief of insolvent business men. The next measure was the rechartering of the Bank of the United States. A bill for that purpose was brought forward and passed; but the President interposed his veto. Again the bill received the assent of both Houses, only to be rejected by the executive. By this action a rupture was produced between the President and the party which had elected him. All the members of the cabinet except Mr. Webster resigned their offices.

4. A difficulty now arose with Great Britain about the northeastern boundary of the United States. Since the treaty of 1783 that boundary had been in question. Lord Ashburton on the part of Great Britain, and Mr. Webster on the part of the United States, were called upon to settle the dispute. They performed their work in a manner honorable to both nations; and the present boundary was established.

5. In the next year, the country was vexed with a domestic trouble in Rhode Island. By the terms of the old charter of that State the right of suffrage was restricted to property-holders. A proposition was now made to change the constitution, and on that issue the people of Rhode Island were nearly agreed; but in respect to the manner of annulling the old charter there was a division. One faction, called the "law and order party," chose Samuel W. King as governor. The other faction, called the "suffrage party," elected Thomas W. Dorr. In May of 1842 both parties met and organized their governments.

6. The "law and order party" now undertook to suppress the faction of Dorr. The latter resisted, and made an attempt to capture the State arsenal. But the militia drove the assailants away. Afterward, Dorr's partisans were dispersed by the troops of the United States. Dorr fled from Rhode Island; but, a few months later, was arrested, tried for treason, and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He was then offered a pardon, but refused to accept it; and in June of 1845, was set at liberty.

7. About the same time, a disturbance occurred in New York. Until the year 1840, the descendants of Van Rensselaer, one of the

old Dutch patroons of New Netherland, had held a claim on lands in the counties of Rensselaer, Columbia, and Delaware. At last the farmers grew tired of paying rents and rebelled. In 1844 the anti-rent party became so bold as to coat with tar and feathers their fellow-tenants who made the payments to the Rensselaers. Time and again the authorities of the State were invoked to quell the rioters; and the dispute has never been permanently settled.

8. Of a different sort was the difficulty with the Mormons. Under the leadership of their prophet, Joseph Smith, they made their first settlement in Jackson county, Missouri. Here their numbers increased to fully fifteen hundred. A difficulty arose between them and the people of Missouri. The militia was called out, and the Mormons were obliged to leave the State. In 1839 they crossed the Mississippi into Illinois, and laid out a city which they called Nauvoo, meaning the Beautiful. Here they built a splendid temple. Other Mormons came to join the community, until the number reached ten thousand. For awhile Smith administered the government according to Mormon usage; then serious troubles arose between the Mormons and the people of Illinois, and civil war ensued.

9. Finally, Smith and his brother were arrested, taken to Carthage and lodged in jail. On the 27th of June, 1844, a mob broke open the jail doors and killed the prisoners. In the following year, Nauvoo was besieged by the populace. At last the Mormons gave up in despair, and resolved to exile themselves beyond the limits of civilization. In 1846 they began a toilsome march to the far West; crossed the Rocky Mountains; reached the Great Salt Lake; and founded Utah Territory.

10. Meanwhile, a great agitation had arisen in regard to Texas. From 1821 to 1836 this vast territory had been a province of Mexico. It had been the policy of that country to keep Texas uninhabited, in order that the Americans might not encroach on the Mexican borders. At last, however, a large land-grant was made to Moses Austin of Connecticut, on condition that he would settle three hundred families within the limits of his domain. Afterward the grant was confirmed to his son Stephen, with the privilege of establishing five hundred additional families of immigrants.

11. In the year 1835, the Texans raised the standard of rebellion. In a battle, fought at Gonzales, a thousand Mexicans were defeated by a Texan force of five hundred. On the 6th of March, 1836, a Texan fort, called the Alamo, was surrounded by eight thousand Mexicans, led by Santa Anna. The garrison was overpowered and mas

sacred. The daring David Crockett was one of the victims of the butchery. In the next month was fought the decisive battle of San Jacinto, which gave to Texas her independence.

12. The people of Texas

now asked to be admitted into

sition was declined by President Van Buren. In 1844, the question of annexation was again agitated; and on that question the people divided in the presidential election. The annexation was favored by the Democrats and opposed by the Whigs. James K. Polk of Tennessee was put forward as the Democratic candidate, while the Whigs chose their favorite leader, Henry Clay. The former was elected; for Vice President, George M. Dallas of Pennsylvania was chosen.

13. On the 29th of May, 1844, the news of the nomination of Mr. Polk was sent from Baltimore to Washington by THE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. It was the first despatch ever so transmitted; and the event marks an era in the history of civilization. The in