The

frighten the people from re-electing Van Buren. papers were filled with advertisements declaring that the subscriber would pay a certain sum for pork or flour or other products if Harrison were elected, and one-half only of that sum if Van Buren were elected.

The working man was to have good wages and high living in the, former event, and low wages and starvation in the latter. Doggerel songs, constant public processions, monster gatherings, excursions, frequent speaking, every means that could be devised to work the whole country into a delirium of excitement were used. The election in the States preceding the general election foreshadowed the result, but not such a tidal wave as overwhelmed the administration and bore the Whig candidates into power. On the popular vote Harrison had 1,275,016, Van Buren 1,129,102; but Harrison had carried 19 out of 27 States, and received 234 out of 294 electoral votes. Tyler had the same. It was apparently a complete overthrow of the Democratic party. But it did not dampen its courage or lessen its faith. It felt that its principles could not be overthrown, and the tide of popular excitement would soon ebb away and leave its opponents, united on no common principles, again in the minority.

A significant fact in the election was the appearance of an Abolition party, which cast 7,000 votes for James G. Birney, of New York, for President. It will be observed

that while Van Buren increased his vote 364,000 on his previous election he was still beaten, a fact which led the Democrats to charge that frauds had been committed; but of this no proof has been given. The administration of

Van Buren had been a successful one. He had met and ridden safely through a fearful financial storm, but he left the country prosperous, and his administration had generally been statesmanlike and true to Democratic principles.

THE

NEW Y

.

CHAPTER X.

HISTORY UNDER PRESIDENTS

HARRISON AND TYLER, 1841-1845.

[ARRISON was inaugurated March 4, 1841. He died

HAR

April 4, 1841, having done little more than appoint his Cabinet, with Daniel Webster as Secretary of State, and a very able set of associates, and special session of Congress for May 31.

issued a call for a

The call merely said "that sundry and weighty matters, principally growing out of the condition of the revenue and finances of the country, appear to call for the convocation of Congress."

*

John Tyler was the first Vice-President who succeeded to the office of President by the death of the Chief Magis

trate.

When the Twenty-seventh Congress met as convened in special session by President Harrison, the Whigs had a majority in both Houses, and immediately set to work to accomplish the financial legislation for which they had been fighting so long.

Mr. Clay, in the Senate, assumed the leadership, and in the first week of its session offered a resolution setting forth six subjects, which should first, if not exclusively, engage the deliberations of Congress at that session.