in 1838. 1839. 2. Treaty concluded by comb. a. April. b. May. sistance. On the 25th of the month, Colonel Taylor, at 1836. the head of about six hundred men, encountered the Indians on the northern side of the Big Water Lake, in the southern part of the peninsula. After a severe battle of more than an hour, in which twenty-eight of the whites were killed and one hundred and eleven wounded, the enemy was forced to retire, but with what loss is unknown. 10. 'During the years 1837 and 1838, frequent en- 1838. counters were had with the Indians, although but little ap- 1. The war peared to be accomplished towards bringing the war to a close. In 1839, General Macomb, who had received the chief command of the army, induced a number of the chiefs in the southern part of the peninsula to sign a General Ma treaty of peace. The Indians were to remain in the country until they could be assured of the prosperous condition of their friends who had emigrated. The general then left Florida. But numerous murders, which occurred imme- followed this diately after the treaty, destroyed all confidence in its utility; and in June the government of the territory offered a reward of two hundred dollars for every Indian killed or taken. 11. The year 1840 passed with numerous murders by the Indians, and frequent contests between small parties of them and the whites. In December, Colonel Harney, who, by his numerous exploits in Indian warfare, had become the terror of the Seminoles, penetrated into the extensive everglades in Southern Florida, long supposed to be the head-quarters of the enemy, where he succeeded in capturing a band of forty, nine of whom he caused to be executed for some previous massacre in which they were supposed to be engaged. 3 Events that 4. treaty. 1840. Events of pedition of 1840, and ex Col. Harney. pendent trea sury bill passed. 12. During the session of congress which terminated 5. The inde in the summer of 1840, the Independent-treasury bill, which had been rejected at the extra session of 1837, and which was regarded as the great financial measure of Mr. Van Buren's administration, passed both houses of congress and became a law. 13. "The presidential election of 1840 was probably the most exciting election that had ever occurred in the United States. The trying scenes of financial embarrassment through which the country was then passing, together with what was called "the experiments of the government upon the currency," furnished the opponents of the administration with abundant exciting topics for popular party harangues, in the approaching political contest. During several months preceding the election, the whole country was one great arena of political debate, and in the numerous assemblages of the people the ablest men of both parties engaged freely in the discussion. c. Jan. 23, and June 30. The prest tion of 1840. dential elec 14. 'The whigs concentrated their whole strength upon William Henry Harrison, the "Hero of the Thames, and of Tippecanoe," while the administration party united with equal ardor in favor of Mr. Van Buren. The result was a signal defeat of the latter, and a success of the whigs by a majority altogether unexpected by them. General Harrison received two hundred and thirty-four of the electoral votes, while Mr. Van Buren received only sixty. John Tyler, of Virginia, was elected vice-president. Period embraced in Harrison's administration. 1841. tion of Gen. CHAPTER IX. HARRISON'S ADMINISTRATION, FROM MARCH 4, TO APRIL 4, 1841. 1. On the 4th of March, 1841, William Henry Harri2. Inaugura son, in the presence of an unusually large assemblage of Harrison. the people convened at the capitol in Washington, took the oath prescribed by the constitution, and entered upon the office of president of the United States. 3. His inaug 2. His inaugural address was a plain, but able and ural address. comprehensive document, expressing his approval of the leading principles of the party which had selected him for the highest office in the gift of the people, and pledging his best endeavors to administer the government according to the constitution, as understood by its framers and early administrators. 4. Sentiments ex the address. 3. 'In conclusion, the president expressed his profound pressed in the reverence for the Christian religion, and his thorough conconclusion of viction that sound morals, religious liberty, and a just sense of religious responsibility, are essentially connected with all true and lasting happiness. "Let us unite then," said he, "in commending every interest of our beloved country to that good Being who has blessed us by the gifts of civil and religious freedom; who watched over and prospered the labors of our fathers; and who has hitherto preserved to us institutions far exceeding in excellence those of any other people." B. First acts of the new ad 4. "The senate was immediately convened for the purministration. pose of receiving the usual nominations, and a new and able cabinet was formed, at the head of which was placed Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts, as secretary of state. Events But while every thing promised an administration honorfollowed. able to the executive and useful to the country, rumors of the sudden illness of the president spread through the land; that soon ing remarks. and scarcely had they reached the limits of the Union, 1841. when they were followed by the sad intelligence of his death. 5. 'Just one month from the day of his inauguration, 1. Concludthe aged president was a pallid corpse in the national mansion. The event was calculated to make a deep impression upon the people, who had witnessed and taken part in the recent scenes of excitement which had preceded the elevation of one of their number to be the nation's ruler. The hand of Almighty power was acknowledged in the bereavement, teaching that "the Lord alone ruleth." CHAPTER X. TYLER'S ADMINISTRATION, Period em braced in Tyler's administration. 2 The extra session that a. had been called by Harrison. From May 31, 10 Sept. 13, 1841. EXTENDING FROM APRIL 4, 1841, TO MARCH 4, 1845. 1. "On the death of General Harrison, Mr. Tyler, the vice-president, became the acting president of the United States. During an extra session of congress which had been called by General Harrison, several important measures of exciting interest to the country were brought forward. The sub-treasury bill was repealed; a general bankrupt law was passed; and two separate bills, chartering a bank of the United States, were rejected by the exe- b. Aug. 16, cutive veto. The course pursued by the president caused and Sept. 9. him to be denounced generally, by the whig party, which had elected him to office, and occasioned the resignation of his entire cabinet, with one exception.* 3. c. Mr. Webster. 1842. Events that occurred in 1842. ified by U. S. Aug. 20. B. G. B. Oct. 14. ment of the 2. In 1842, an important treaty, adjusting the dispute in relation to the northeastern boundary of the United States was negotiated at Washington, between Mr. Webster, on the part of the United States, and Lord Ashburton d July. Raton the part of Great Britain. The same year was signalized by the commencement of domestic difficulties in Rhode Island, which at one time threatened serious consequences. 3. 'A movement having been made to set aside the an- 4 Commence cient charter under which the government of the colony dificulties in and state had so long been administered, parties were formed with respect to the proper mode of adopting a new constitution. The "suffrage party," having formed and adopted a constitution in a manner declared by their opponents to be in violation of law, chose Thomas W. Dorr governor, and elected a legislature. About the same time the "law and order party," as it was called, chose Samuel W. King governor. In May, 1843, both parties met and organized their respective governments. 4. "The adherents of the "law and order party" then took Rhode Island. e. Since 1663. See p. 218. 1843. f. April 18. g. May 3, 4. 5. Violent measures that followed. a. May 16. ANALYSIS active measures to put down what they denominated the rebellion. Great commotion ensued, and several arrests were made. Dorr left the state, but soon returning," a bloody struggle appeared inevitable; but his associates finally dis persed, on the appearance of the government forces, and Dorr, to avoid arrest, fled from the state. 1. Second rising, and the party. pachet. c. June 25. 5. 'In June, however, considerable numbers of the dispersion of "suffrage party" made their appearance under arms, the suffrage and were joined by Dorr, but a body of troops being b. At Che- sent against them, they dispersed without any effectual resistance. Dorr again fled, but, returning after a few 1844. months, was arrested, tried for treason, convicted, and 2. The fate of sentenced to be imprisoned during life. In the mean time a constitution for the state had been adopted according to the prescribed forms of law. In June, 1845, Dorr was released, although he had refused to accept a pardon on condition of taking the oath of allegiance to the state gov Dorr. d. June. 3. The last ler's administration. ernment. 6. 'During the last year of Mr. Tyler's administration, year of Ty considerable excitement prevailed on the subject of the annexation of Texas to the American Union, a measure first proposed by the government of the former country. 4. History of Texas, formerly a province of Mexico, but settled mostly by emigrants from the United States, had previously with. drawn from the Mexican republic, and by force of arms had nobly sustained her independence, although unac knowledged by Mexico. Texas. (See also page 621.) 5. Opposition to annexa tion, and the against the 7. The proposition for annexation to the United States was strongly resisted at the North, and by the whig party arguments generally throughout the Union. The impolicy of exmeasure. tending our limits by accessions of foreign territory; the danger of a war with Mexico; the encouragement given to slavery by the admission of an additional slave state; and the increase of power that the South and southern institutions would thereby gain in the national councils, were urged against the measure. 6. Texas annexed. e. April 12. 1845. 1. See p. 672. 7. Iowa and Florida. 8. The elec tion of 1844. March 4. 8. A treaty of annexation, signed by the president, was rejected by congress, but early in the following year a bill was passed, authorizing the president, under certain restrictions, to negotiate with Texas the terms of annexa tion; and soon after Texas became one of the states of the American Union. During the same session of congress bills were passed providing for the admission of Iowa and Florida, as states, into the Union. The opposing candidates in the election of 1844 were Mr. Clay, of Kentucky and James K. Polk, of Tennessee. The contest resulted in the choice of the latter, who entered on the duties of his office on the 4th of March, of the following year. APPENDIX TO THE PERIOD SUBSEQUENT TO THE REVOLUTION. 1. Govern United 2. Character ral governmenis. 1. "THE government of the United States, like that which existed ANALYSIS. at one time in Greece, among the Dutch provinces in the low countries, and in Switzerland, is called a federal republic, or a republic ment of the composed of several independent states. Most federal governments have been noted for their weakness and inefficiency; anarchy has prevailed among the members: and the result has usually been of most fede that the most powerful state has acquired a preponderating control over the rest, or that the federal government has gradually become powerless, and sunk into inaction and obscurity. The latter 3. was the case with the federal government adopted by the American congress in 1777, and under which the states terminated the Revolution. The" Articles of Confederation" were found powerless as a government, when a sense of common danger no longer united the states in a harmony of national councils. 2. 4The constitution of 1789, however, rests upon a theory until that time unknown in political science. Former federal governments possessed legislative authority only, while the states of which they were composed reserved to themselves the executive powers, or the right of enforcing the laws of the general government; whence it often happened that regulations that were deemed unjust, unconstitutional, or burdensome to any particular member of the confederacy, were evaded, or openly violated. The subjects of the American government, however, are not independent states, jealous of the rights of sovereignty, but private citizens, upon whom the constitution acts without any reference to state lines. When the national government levies a tax, or imposes a duty on merchandize, it is collected by its own officers,-not from the states, but from individuals,—and over all the subjects of its legislation it is possessed of ample powers for enforcing obedience. 3. 5It is this principle which gives the federal union of the United States its greatest strength, and distinguishes it from all previous confederations;-which guards against corruption, by rendering the people familiar with all the acts of their government, and by causing them to feel a deep interest in its wise administration. 4. It is not surprising that when our present national constitution was first promulgated, the "untried experiment" encountered a wide diversity of opinion. As soon as the convention of 1787 submitted the result of its labors to the people for their approval or rejection, the country became divided into two political parties,-the friends and the enemies of the constitution. The former, who were in favor of the plan of government contained in that instrument, were known as federalists; and the latter, who disliked some of its leading features, at first took the name of anti-federalists. Washington and the elder Adams were the leaders of the former party, and Jefferson of the latter. The federal government of 1777. a. See p. 410. 4. In what constitution manner the 1789 differs federal gov 5. ernments. Effects of this principle. 6 Early di versity of opinion upon the merits of the constitu tion. 7. Federalists and antifederalists. 8. The constitution-the result of a 5. The constitution, as finally adopted in convention, was in a great measure the result of a series of compromises, by which the series of com extremes of ultra political sentiments were rejected; and, when it promises. |