The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-11-06
SELECT LITERATU RE.
"REMINISCENCES OF WASHINGTON

The Tyler Administration from 1s43 to
1845.
(CONCLUDED.)
trom lie .itluHtic Monthly.
Henry Clay, when he had found it i'm
possible to save the measures of the Wing
party from the iconoclasm of John Tyler,
formally resigned his seat in the United
States Senate, and commenced his can
vass for election to the Presidency in 1874
This was acceptable news to the staunch
Democrats, who regarded him as man
every inch of him-worth fighting and
worth beating. They knew that he would
not, like the available Harrison, sail I'M
der false colors. but that he would
nail to the mast the old Wing flag, i'll
scribed, a national bank, a protective
tariff, and the distribution OF the surplus
The Wing party was ,iubilant when their
chosen leader again took the field, and
the truants flocked back to the standard
which they had temporarily deserted to
support John Tyler. Harmony prevailed
among the recognized leaders and in the
ranks, and the Wing party was again in
good working order.
Martin Van Burn, meanwhile, was in
dustriously seeking the Democratic nomi-
nation. Although he had only received
in 1S40 sixty electoral votes, against the
two hundred and thirty-four electoral
votes given for General Harrison, he be-
lieved that the people had been deceived
by the Wing politicians, and that their
"sober second thought would secure
his election in 1914. This result he dem
onstrated as mathematician solves his
problem, rather than by any calculation
based on the popularity Of the principles
advocated by the opposing parties and
he demanded Democratic support. His
friends did not entertain a shadow of a
doubt that he would be nominated and
his opponents in the Democratic ranks
had almost lost all hope of defeating him
in the convention, when, ut the sugges-
ton of Mr.. Calhoun, he was adroitll
questioned on the annexation of Texas
in a letter written to him by Mr.. Hamett
Representative from Mississippi. Mr..
Van Buren, was too old and sagacious a
politician not to discover the pit thus dug
for him to fall into, and he replied with
great caution, avowing himself in favor
of the annexation of Texas, when it could
be brought about peacefully and honor
ably, but against it at that time, when it
would be followed by a war with Mexico.
This was what the Southern conspirators
wanted, and their subsequent action was
thus narrated in letter written a few
years afterwards by John Tyler, which
has never been published.
Texas" wrote Mr.. Tyler, was the
great theme that occupied me. The dele
gates to the Democratic convention, or a
very large majority of them, had been
elected under implied pledges to sustain
Van Buren,. After his letter repudiating
annexation, reyulsion had become obvi-
Gus, but how far it was to operate it was
not possible to say. 4 majority of the
delegates at least were believed still to
remain in his favor. If he was nomi-
mated, the game to be played for Texas
was all as one over. What was to be
done?''
MY friends" Mr.. Tyler went on to
say, advised me to remain at rest, and
take my chances in the Democratic con-
vention. 1t was impossible to do so. If
| suffered my name to be used in that
convention, then became bound to sus-
tain the nomination, even if Mr.. Van
Buren, was the nominee. This could not
be. | chose to run no hazard, but to
raise the banner of Texas, and convoke
my friends to sustain it. This was but a
few weeks before the meeting of the con-
venton. To my surprise, the notice
which was thus issued brought together
thousand delegates, and from every
State in the Union. Many called on me
Oh their way to Baltimore to receive my
views. My instructions were, Go to
Baltimore, make your nomination. and
then go home, and leave the thing to
work its own results said no more,
and was obeyed. The Democratic con-
vention felt the move. A Texan man or
defeat was the choice left, and they took
a Texan man. My withdrawal at suit
able time took place, and the result was
soon before the world. acted to insure
the success of great measure, and |
acted not altogether without effect. In
SO doing kept my Own secrets: to have
divulged my purposes would have been
to have defeated them
| Meanwhile tie national Wing conven-
ton assembled at Baltimore, and never
was a nominating assembly animated
with greater enthusiasm or brighter ex-
pectations. When ex-senator B. Wat
kins Leigh rose to offer resolution de
claring that Henry Clay was the nominee
| of the convention, he was interrupted
| ny lu dCCitiit WHICH liosC wiz were
present afterward confessed their inabili.
ty to describe. The veterans of the
Wing party, crowned with gray hairs,
stood upon their chairs and waved their
hats as they shouted, until they were
hoarse, and then sat down, while young
er voices continued the acclamations At
the first pause, the presiding officer call
ed upon Mr.. Leigh to read the conclusion
| of the resolution. but it was again inter-
rupted by cheers; and when it had at
last been presented to the convention,
and accepted a scene of iubilant tumult
ensued, only arrested by the settling of
the floor of the hall, which occasioned a
momentary panic. When order was re-
stored, ex-senator Theodore Frelinghuy-
sen, of New Jersey, was nominated as
vice-P President. The next day hun
bred thousand Wings, from every section
of the republic, met in mass convention
at Baltimore, with music, banners, and
badges, to ratify the ticket. Mr.. Web
ster, with true magnamity, was one of
the speakers, and advocated the election
of Clay and Frelinghuysen with all the
strength of his elequencc.
Three weeks later, the national Demo-
cratic convention WAS held at Baltimore,
and remained i'm session three DAYS Mr.