The National tribune., 1900-12-06

can question the maSterful manner IN
which the affairs of the Executive Man
sion were conducted during Mrs. Polk
| life there.
In such high esteem was she held
throughout the country that during the
| civil war she received the protection of
both armies and from the bounty of So,OOO
per annum given to the widows of ex-
Presidents, she was as long as she lived
comfortably provided for.
As we have seen, the bill for the an
| neXation of Texas was adopted three days
before President Tyler's retirement. The
4th of the July following the Texas Leg
iSlature ratified the act of annexation.
At once Mexico showed signs of discon-
tent over the boundary line. Mr.. Polk
in his first message had for his topic the
admission of Texas and the dissatisfaction
of Mexico. Florida and Iowa were ad-
mitted into the Union, the former allowing
slavery, the latter denying it.
Heretofore there had been an even bal
ance of power among the Slave and Free
States. With all the other troubles loom
ing up was the Northwestern boundary
question.
The Democrats in their convention had
declared for the $40 line, and it was Il
plank in their platform.
Great Britain proposed 40 degrees
continuing to the ocean, as the line they
would agree to. Calhoun had favored this;
but the President did not know what to
do with the battle cry of the Democrats
''54-40 or fight" He could not go back
on his previous acts and consistently make
that a basis for treaty. Lord AshburtOn
had the treaty III charge, and proved HIM
self a willy diplomat. He met the question
by showing to Calhoun and his fol
lowers that if this country adhered
to "54-40" it would eventually bring on
T., Il, htpl-
ly take Canada, which would Immediate
~ give the balance of political power to
the North, and that the South would be
overruled in Congress; that the Canadian
feeling was as pronounced against slav-
cry as the North and East. This, the au-
thority for this story goes on to say, set
tied the boundary question in Jltfy.
In the meantime Congress had declared
war with Mexico. Calhoun spoke against
it, but did not vote. His conduct, with
some others, had brought on the war, but
they did not stand by the Administration
when the crisis came.
President Polk had an able Cabinet.
James Buchanan was Secretary Of State;
Robert J. Walker, of Mississippi; was Sec
rotary of the Treasury; William l.. Marcy,
of New York, was Secretary of War, and
George Bancroft, the historian, was made
Secretary of the Navy.
1t was at this first session of Congress
that the American Party" made its ap-
pearance among the delegates. In the dis
cussion that followed the Presidents mes
sage on the question of the Mexican War,
Mr.. Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, introduced
and moved prOyisO that no part of the
Territory to be acquired should be open
to the introduction of slavery.
1t will be easily remembered by any one
who took any interest in politics in those
days what a burning question the Will
mot Proviso" proved to be. 1t brought
ND again the slavery agitation, which had
been dormant for many years, or since the
Compromise bill of Henry Clay. Without
going into the intricacies of legislation
on all these questions, we give the result