advocating a national currency, a protective tariff, and a distribution of surplus revenue among the States. It nominated Henry Clay, of Kentucky, and Theodore Frelinghuysen, of New York. The Democratic National Convention met at Baltimore, May 27th, 1844, and again adopted its strict constructionist platform of 1840, with an additional article demanding the re-occupation of Oregon, and the re-annexation of Texas. A large majority of the delegates came pledged to vote for Van Buren, whose views on the Texas question did not satisfy the Southern delegates. They succeeded in destroying his chances of a nomination by the adoption of the rule of two former Democratic Conventions, that nominations must be made by a two-thirds vote.' Van Buren had a majority, but not two-thirds. After eight ballots his name was withdrawn, and the Convention nominated James K. Polk, of Tennessee, and Silas Wright, of New York. Wright declined, and George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania, was substituted. An abortive Convention of office-holders at Baltimore renominated Tyler. He accepted the nomination, but soon withdrew.

11. The Democratic party was thus committed to the annexation of Texas, though the demand for the Tariff of 1842, and for "the whole of Oregon or none, with or without war with England," helped to gain votes. Nevertheless Whig success seemed

I This has since been the rule in Democratic National Conventions.

1844.]

Presidential Election.

147

probable until the appearance of an unfortunate letter of Clay's, in which he tried to conciliate Southern Democrats by saying that he would be "glad to see" the annexation take place at some future time. By this ill-judged piece of diplomacy he gained no Democratic votes, for Polk was a warm advocate of annexation, and lost those of the extreme Anti-Slavery Whigs and Abolitionists, who purposely threw away on Birney and Morris a number of votes which would have carried New York and thus elected Clay. They were therefore the real agents in the election of Polk, the annexation of Texas, and the extension of Slavery to a vast amount of new territory.

12. The Presidential Election in November resulted in Democratic success. But it was the most closely contested election in our history, except those of 1800 and 1876. The result in 14 of the 26 States was doubtful for two days, and most of these chose Polk electors by very slender majorities. In several of them the small Abolition vote would have turned the scale, and chosen Clay electors. A majority of the members chosen to the XXIXth Congress were in favor of a lower Tariff than that of 1842.

13. Congress met December 2d, 1844. A bill to XXVIIIth Congress, organize a territorial 2d Session. government for Oregon, up to the line of 54° 40′ North latitude, and beyond the line claimed by England as the true

boundary, was passed by the House, but, as it prohibited Slavery, the Senate declined to consider it. The annexation of Texas took up most of the time of this Session. Mexico had abolished Slavery twenty years before, and therefore Texas was by Mexican law free territory.' Propositions to prohibit Slavery in Texas were voted down. The Joint Resolution to annex Texas was passed by both Houses, and signed by the President. It prohibited Slavery in any States to be formed from the territory of Texas north of the Missouri Compromise Line (36° 30' North latitude), and left the question to be settled by the people in States formed south of that line.

14. Appropriations were made at this Session for both Eastern and Western harbors. The President - disposed of them by a pocket veto. In February, 1845, the electoral votes were counted and were found to be, for Polk and Dallas 170, and for Clay and Frelinghuysen 105. Polk and Dallas were therefore declared elected. March 3d, Florida became a State of the Union, and arrangements were made for the future admission of Iowa. The same day the President sent a messenger to secure the consent of Texas to the annexation. March 3d, 1845, Congress adjourned, and March 4th, Polk and Dallas were sworn into office.

I The Republic of Texas, however, had re-established Slavery by law.

CHAPTER XVI.

FIFTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, 1845-1849.

James K. Polk, President.

George M. Dallas, Vice-President.

XXIXth and XXXth Congresses,

Popular vote for President in 1844. Dem. 1,337,243, Whig 1,299,068, Ab. 62,300.

1. THE policy of Rotation in Office, laid down by Jackson in 1829 and accepted by the Whigs in 1841, was now finally established by the new Administration. It has been the rule since that time that every Presidential election shall be marked by a wholesale removal of office-holders, whose places are filled by friends of the new Administration.

2. Annexation had been accepted by the Congress of Texas and by a Popular Convention. Mexico was so occupied by intestine dissensions and revolution that her exhibition of resentment was at first confined to a formal protest, and the withdrawal of her Minister from Washington. No aggressive movement was made by her even when United States troops under General Taylor occupied the Eastern bank of the Nueces River, beyond which Texas had never hitherto exercised jurisdiction.

3. Congress met December 1st, 1845, with a

XXIXth Congress, Democratic majority in both branches.' In the

Ist Session. House John W. Davis, of Indiana, a Democrat, was chosen Speaker. The President's Message condemned all Anti-Slavery agitation, recommended a Sub-Treasury and a Tariff for Revenue, and spoke of the annexation of Texas as a matter which concerned only Texas and the United States. December 29th Texas became a State of the Union. December 31st an Act was passed extending the United States revenue system over the doubtful territory beyond the Nueces River, and a revenue officer was appointed to reside in the new district. Even these steps did not induce hostilities. Mexico still declared her willingness to negotiate concerning the disputed territory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande.

4. In March, 1846, Hostilities were precipitated by an order from the President to General Taylor to advance from the Nueces to the Rio Grande, and occupy the debatable district. He obeyed, and was thus brought face to face with Mexican troops. Early in May Arista, with 6000 Mexicans, crossed the Rio Grande, attacked Taylor and his force of 2,300 men at Palo Alto, and was badly beaten. On the following day Taylor assumed the offensive, attacked Arista at Resaca de la Palma, and drove him in headlong retreat across the Rio Grande.

1 Senate, 30 Dein., 25 Whig. House, 142 Dem., 75 Whig, and 6 others.