ADMINISTRATIONS OF HARRISON AND TYLER, 1841-1845.
[Illustration: William H. Harrison.]
[Illustration: John Tyler.]
[Sidenote: Death of Pres. Harrison.]
President Harrison was a Virginian by birth, the adopted son of Robert
Morris. He was graduated at Hampden-Sidney College, and afterwards
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.
[Sidenote: Webster-Ashburton Treaty.]
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
agreed upon to change the constitution, but in respect to the _manner_
of annulling the old charter there was a division.
[Sidenote: Dorr's Rebellion.]
6. In 1842 the "law and order party," under Governor King, undertook
to suppress the "suffrage party" under Thomas W. Dorr. The latter
resisted, and made an attempt to capture the State arsenal. But
the militia drove the assailants away. Dorr was arrested, tried for
treason, and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He was set at liberty
again in 1845.
[Sidenote: The Mormons.]
7. About the same time, a difficulty occurred with the Mormons. Under
the leadership of Joseph Smith, they first settled in Missouri. But
the people of Missouri opposed them. The militia was called out, and
the Mormons crossed into Illinois, and laid out the city of Nauvoo.
But serious troubles soon arose with the people of Illinois. Smith and
his brother were arrested and lodged in jail. In 1844 a mob broke open
the jail doors and killed the prisoners. Two years later the Mormons
resolved to leave the States. They made a toilsome march to the far
West; crossed the Rocky Mountains; reached the Great Salt Lake; and
founded Utah Territory.
[Illustration: Fall of Crockett in the Alamo.]
8. Meanwhile, a great agitation had arisen in regard to Texas. From
1821 to 1836 this vast territory had been a province of Mexico. In the
year 1835 the Texans raised the standard of rebellion. In a battle
at Gonzales, a thousand Mexicans were defeated by a Texan force of
five hundred. On the 6th of March, 1836, the Texan fort Alamo was
surrounded by eight thousand Mexicans, led by Santa Anna. The garrison
was overpowered and massacred. 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.
[Sidenote: Texas applies for Admission.]
9. Texas now asked to be admitted into the Union. At first the
proposition 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.
10. 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 dispatch ever so transmitted; and the event marks an era
in the history of civilization. The inventor of the telegraph, which
has proved so great a blessing to mankind, was Professor Samuel F. B.
Morse of Massachusetts. Perhaps no other invention has exercised so
beneficent an influence on the welfare of the human race.
[Sidenote: Admission of Texas, Florida, and Iowa.]
11. When Congress convened in December of 1844, a bill to annex Texas
to the United States was brought forward, and, on the first of the
following March, was passed. The President immediately gave his assent;
and, on the 29th of December, Texas took her place in the Republic. On
the 3d of March in this year, bills for the admission of Florida and
Iowa were also signed; but the latter State was not formally admitted
until December 28th, 1846.