temperate in his habits, he accustomed himself to a rigid system of diet, which alone could have sustained him in his political conflicts.

His powers of endurance were taxed to their utmost capacity during his presidential career. Elevated to that responsible position at the age of forty-nine, being younger by several years than either of his predecessors, he was determined to employ all the resources of his intellect in the discharge of his duties. His administration occurred in times big with great events, and his sound judgment, and inflexibility of purpose, enabled him to control them with unparalleled success.

The amiable and accomplished Mrs. Polk presided with great dignity and grace over the presidential mansion during the term of President Polk. All who approached her were warmly impressed with her unaffected affability of manner, and probably no lady ever occupied that position, who left it with so many friends.

The prominent aspirants for the presidency in 1844, were Mr. Van Buren and Mr. Clay. The democratic party were anxious to atone for the terrible defeat which they sustained in 1840, and the whigs were determined to do justice to the distinguished leader, who was the "embodiment" of their principles. These two gentlemen, either imagined that Mr. Tyler had pressed the question of the annexation of Texas to the United States, to advance his own prospects for the presidency, and were, therefore, determined to frustrate his designs by forcing their supporters to oppose that measure;

or they were honestly opposed to the consummation of that event. And while a large majority of both parties, at least in the slave-holding States, were anxiously endeavoring to promote a union of the two republics, and were taking prompt and decisive steps to produce that result, they were astounded by the publication of letters from Messrs. Clay and Van Buren, in opposition to that measure.* The attachment of the whig party to Mr. Clay proved more powerful than their desire for the admission

* "In the future progress of events, it is probable that there will be a voluntary or forcible separation of the British North American possessions from the parent country. I am strongly inclined to think it will be best for the happiness of all parties, that, in that event, they should be erected into a separate and independent republic. With the Canadian republic on one side, that of Texas on the other, and the United States, the friend of both, between them, each could advance its own happiness by such constitutions, laws, and measures, as were best adapted to its peculiar condition!"

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"In conclusion, they [his objections to annexation] may be stated in a few words to be, that I consider the annexation of Texas, at this time, without the assent of Mexico, as a measure compromising the national character, involving us certainly in a war with Mexico, probably with other foreign powers, dangerous to the integrity of the Union, inexpedient in the present financial condition of the country, and not called for by any general expression of public opinion.”—Letter of MR. CLAY, May 9, 1844.

"I by no means contend that a formal recognition of Texas by Mexico is necessary to justify us in assenting to her annexation to the United States. Time and circumstances may work such a change in the relations between these two countries as to render an act of that character on the part of Mexico unnecessary and unimportant. What I mean to say is, that, from all the information I have been able to obtain on the subject, no change has yet taken place that would make the objections I have here detailed inapplicable."-Letter of MR. VAN BUREN, April 20,

of Texas into the Union; while the doctrines of Mr. Van Buren, meeting with no sympathy from a majority of the democratic party, resulted in his defeat in the Baltimore Convention, and produced the nomination of Mr. Polk. At the meeting of that convention, the claims of the latter gentleman were alone pressed for the office of Vice President, and it was only when there was danger that violence and anarchy would produce a dissolution of the body, that he was selected as the compromise candidate.* About the same time the Whig Con

* The Baltimore Convention assembled on the 27th of May, 1844. Mr. Hendricks R. Wright of Pennsylvania was appointed President. The two-thirds rule was adopted by a vote of 148 to 116. This was regarded as a test vote, the Van Buren men going in a mass against it.

The first ballot resulted in the following vote: Van Buren, 146; Cass, 83; Johnson, 24; Buchanan, 4; Woodbury, 2; Stuart, 1; Calhoun, 6. The second ballot: Van Buren, 127: Cass, 94; Johnson, 33; Buchanan, 9; Stuart, 1; Calhoun, 1.

Third ballot Van Buren, 121; Cass, 92; Johnson, 33; Buchanan, 11; Woobury, 2; Calhoun, 2.

Fourth ballot Van Buren, 111; Cass, 105; Johnson, 32; Buchanan, 17; Calhoun, 1.

26.

Fifth ballot Van Buren, 103; Cass, 107; Johnson, 29; Buchanan,

Sixth ballot Van Buren, 101; Cass, 116; Johnson, 23; Buchanan, 25; Calhoun, 1.

Seventh ballot Van Buren, 99; Cass, 123; Johnson, 21; Buchanan, 22; Calhoun 1.

The excitement now became intense, and disorder and confusion prevailed.

An effort was now made to establish the majority rule, but failed; 118 voting for, and 148 against. On Wednesday the Convention again met. Eighth ballot Van Buren, 104; Cass, 114; Buchanan, 2; Polk, 44; Calhoun, 2.

Ninth ballot Polk, whole number of votes, 266.

Mr. Wright was nominated for the Vice Presidency, but declined

vention, with great unanimity and enthusiasm, nominated Mr. Clay, and thus the two aspirants were placed before the American people. Accusations were made by each party against the other, of unfairness in conducting the canvass. It was asserted by the whigs, that the northern democracy touched lightly upon the question of annexation, and inscribed upon their flags the motto of "Polk, Dallas, and the Tariff of 1842;" the democrats as positively declared that the southern whigs did not hesitate to denounce the question of the annexation of Texas after the publication of Mr. Clay's letter, although they had most zealously advocated that measure while his opinions were unknown.

It is but justice to both parties to say, that the canvass was the most exciting since the organization of our Government, and was conducted with as much fairness as usually characterizes those struggles. It is an evil which is an inevitable result of all elections where parties are zealously supporting their favorite candidates, that all the opinions, even if frankly promulgated by the aspirants, are not as frankly reiterated by partisan orators and the press of the country. Still this conduct upon the part of the politicians does not prevent the people from honestly giving their support to that individual

accepting the nomination, and on Thursday the Convention proceeded to elect another candidate.

First ballot Fairfield, 87; Woodbury, 56; Cass, 29; Johnson, 26; Stewart, 23; Dallas, 13; Marcy, 5.

Second ballot: Dallas, 220; Fairfield, 30; Woodbury 6.

who will illustrate, in the administration of public affairs, the political opinions which they advocate. It cannot be denied that it was known to the American people, that Mr. Polk was in favor of the immediate annexation of Texas to the United States, and in triumphantly electing him, they consequently sanctioned that measure.*

The prominent questions discussed during the canvass of 1844 were the currency, the tariff, the annexation of Texas, the veto power, and the distribution of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands. The Democratic Convention which nominated Mr. Polk at Baltimore, in May, 1844, laid down a

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* "You request from me an explicit expression of opinion upon this question of annexation. Having at no time entertained opinions upon public subjects which I was unwilling to avow, it gives me pleasure to comply with your request. I have no hesitation in declaring that I am in favor of the immediate re-annexation of Texas to the territory and government of the United States. I entertain no doubts as to the power or expediency of the re-annexation. "It is a part of the great valley of the Mississippi, directly connected by its navigable waters with the Mississippi River, and having once been a part of our Union, it should never have been dismembered from it. The government and people of Texas, it is understood, not only give their consent, but are anxiously desirous to be re-united to the United States. If the application of Texas for a re-union and admission into our confederacy shall be rejected by the United States, there is imminent danger that she will become a dependency, if not a colony of Great Britain-an event which no American patriot, anxious for the safety and prosperity of this country, could permit to occur without the most strenuous resistance. Let Texas be re-annexed, and the authority and laws of the United States be established and maintained within her limits, and also in the Oregon Territory, and let the fixed policy of our government be, not to permit Great Britain, or any other foreign power, to plant a colony or hold dominion over any portion of the people or territory of either."-Letter of JAMES K. POLK, April 23, 1844.