N the death of General Harrison, the presidency of the United States, by a clause of the Constitu tion, providing for such an emergency, devolved upon the Vice-president. He arrived at the capital on the 6th of April, and was immediately waited upon by the members of the cabinet, to whom he expressed his deep sense of the national loss, and his hope that they would continue in office and lend him all necessary assistance. He attended the funeral of the late President, and confirmed all his nominations.

Much anxiety was manifested among the friends of the administration, as to the course which Mr. Tyler would pursue, as he was known to be favourable to what is called the old Virginian school of democracy. The inaugural address appears to have been pretty generally satisfactory, which feeling was increased by the policy respecting the recent appointments. He also sanctioned the special meeting of Congress, as in his own words, "his own first wish, in the circumstances in which he was so unexpectedly placed, would have been to have called to his aid, in the administration of public affairs, the combined wisdom of the two houses of Congress, in order to take their counsel and advice as to the best mode of extricating the government and the country from the embarrassments weighing heavily on both."

Congress met in extra session on the day appointed. The Whigs had a large majority in both houses. One of the first measures which they proposed was the establishment of a new national bank. A bill to that effect

was reported by the Secretary of the Treasury, and referred to a committee, of which Mr. Clay was chairman. The institution was to be located in the District of Columbia, with a capital of thirty millions, augmentable at the will of Congress, with a power to establish branches in different states. It was passed by decided majorities, and presented to the President on the 6th of August. He retained it the whole constitutional period, during which time the most intense anxiety was felt for its fate, by friends of the administration. Various committees visited him, frankly stated their fears, and exhorted him to consider the state of the country and the wishes of his party. Mr. Botts, of Virginia, addressed to him a powerful but respectful letter, entering at length into the absolute necessity for a national bank. On the 16th, the bill was sent to the Senate with his veto.

The veto message bewildered the Whig members of Congress, and was received by the party throughout the country as the knell of hope-the precursor to destruction and dissolution. The President, however, had hinted at a bank which would be likely to meet his approval, and Congress immediately hastened to mould it into a tangible form. In order not to be again deceived, they appointed Mr. Berrien, from the Senate, and Mr. Sergeant, from the House, to wait upon the chief magistrate, and ascertain from him, personally, exactly the kind of bill that he would approve. This was done, and the new bill shaped accordingly. Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the whole country, when this bill, also, was returned vetoed to the Congress. All confidence between the President and his former friends was immediately lost; and, with a single exception, the whole cabinet resigned.

Twenty-five acts and five joint-resolutions were passed at the extra session. Of these, the most important were the repeal of the Sub-treasury, the establishment of a uniform system of bankruptcy; reviving and extending the charters of banks within the District of Columbia; appropriating the proceeds arising from the sales of the public lands, and regulating the post-office law.

About this time, the arrest of McLeod, for murder and piracy, threatened the country with a repetition of the scenes of 1812. On the 29th of December, 1837, a party from Canada, acting under British authority, attacked the United States steamboat Caroline, at Fort Schlosser, on the American side of the Niagara river, drove off the crew, and sent her over the Falls. McLeod was in this affair, and, being arrested by the authorities of New York, was accused of having murdered an American, Amos Durfee. Being claimed by the British government, the United States made efforts to have him tried by the national court, but the gover nor of New York refused to deliver him. The trial caused much excitement, it being a question of interest to both nations. McLeod, however, was acquitted.

The second session of the 27th Congress commenced on the 6th of December, and is remarkable as being the longest session of any Congress since the formation of the Constitution. An immense amount of business was done by it, and no less than two hundred and ninety-nine bills passed. The leading measure was a new tariff; a bill for which was signed by the President, after he had rejected two others of similar import. Acts were also passed for the apportionment of representation, for various pur poses of defence, and to authorize the issue of treasury notes. At the beginning of the session, a plan of an exchequer was reported by the Secretary of the Treasury, but not acted upon.

In 1842, an important treaty with Great Britain was negotiated at Washington, by which the long-vexed question of the north-eastern boundary was definitely settled, in a manner satisfactory to all parties. Lord Ashburton was the representative of England, appointed especially for the purpose, and Mr. Webster, for the United States. In addition to the boundary question, the treaty provided for the final suppression of the African slave trade, and the delivery of fugitive criminals in certain cases. Soon after this amicable adjustment of a troublesome dispute, the Secretary of State resigned.

In July, 1843, the President reorganized his cabinet as follows:-Abel P. Upshur, of Virginia, Secretary of State; John C. Spencer, of New York, Secretary of the Treasury; James M. Porter, of Pennsylvania, Secretary of War; David Henshaw, of Massachusetts, Secretary of the Navy; Charles A. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, Postmaster-general; John Nelson, of Maryland, Attorney-general. At the next meeting of Congress, the Senate refused to sanction the appointment of Porter and Henshaw; and William Wilkins, of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Gilmore, of Virginia, were substituted. On the 28th of February, 1844, Messrs. Upshur and Gilmore were killed by the bursting of a large gun on board the Princeton, and John C. Calhoun became Secretary of State. Some other changes took place in the cabinet during the same year.

About the same time, a valuable treaty was concluded with the Chinese empire.

On the 12th of April, 1844, a treaty of annexation between our govern ment and that of Texas was signed by Messrs. Calhoun, Henderson, and Van Zandt, but was rejected by the Senate. The measure, however, became one of considerable popularity in the south, and was subsequently made a political article by the democratic party throughout the country.

The Whig national convention met in Baltimore, on the 1st of May, 1844, to nominate candidates. Henry Clay was unanimously chosen for president by acclamation. Theodore Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, was chosen for vice-president. On the 27th of the month, the democratic convention met in the same city. Van Buren was the popular candi

date, but on account of his opposition to the annexation of Texas, he was rejected by what was called the two-third rule, and after much excitement, the nomination fell upon James Knox Polk, of Tennessee. At the same time, Silas Wright, of New York, was appointed as the candidate for vicepresident; but he declined, and the honour was conferred upon George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania. A resolution was also passed, declaring, "that our title to the whole of the territory of Oregon is clear and unquestionable; that no portion of the same ought to be ceded to England, or any other power; and that the reoccupation of Oregon, and the reannexation of Texas, at the earliest practical period, are great American measures, which this convention recommends to the cordial support of the democracy of the

Union."

At the same time, a third convention met at Baltimore, and nominated John Tyler. He accepted the nomination, but subsequently withdrew his

name.

The presidential election, in the fall of 1844, gave the two first offices in the nation to the democratic candidates, Polk and Dallas.

The most exciting topic for the second session of the twenty-eighth Congress was the annexation of Texas. The act finally passed, and was ratified by the President, on the 1st of March, 1845. A river and har bour bill was passed, but was retained by the executive, until after the session.

On the 3d of March, the administration of President Tyler terminated, and on the following day, his successor was inaugurated at the capitol.