The Coolidge examiner., 1935-10-11

morning of the meeting the celebrated two
thirds majority rule was passed. After what
seemed hopeless deadlock between Van Burcn
and Lewis Cass Van Buren's name was with.
drawn. Then followed the nrst convection
stampede IN American history and James X Polk
ot Tennessee. who had been n prominent candl.
date for vice president nominated as the
drs dark horse" ln our political history.
Back OF his nomination was 3 little known lE
gre In American political history. one ot those
real history makers whom the school history
books SO often overlook. lie was Senator Rob.
ert J. Walker Of Mississippi who. "A month before
the convention had resolved 10 defeat Van Burcn
When both ciay and Van Buren, sldestepped the
question of the annexation of Texas walker
boldly demanded not only the annexation of
Texas but also the re-occupation of Oregon. II
was Walker who pot through the two.thlrds
majority rule thus dcprlylng Van Buren of the
leadership OF the party: y was Walker who gave
the convention its slogan of "An Of Texas; all Of
Oregon" and II WAS Walker who engineered the
deadlock which resulted In Polk's nomination
Thus the campaign opened with the Democrats
committed 10 an expanslonisi policy James q
Calhoun supported Polk. Daniel Webster. Clay's
great rival for the leadership Of the Wings.
said little during the campaign The contest
centcred about territorial expansion and slavery
Polk. whose platform supported both PROPOSE.
,ons, found himself In a highly favorable posi-
ton. Clay. whose prestige and personal popu.
lariy were vastly greater than that ~ his op-
ponent put on the defensive AT the outset
So Polk won by an electoral vote OF l7O TO
los. Upon assuming ofiice he found one of the
main planks Of his platform already adopted
President Tyler had persuaded the short session
of congress In December. 1914 TO offer the indie
pendent republic Of Texas satisfactory terms FOR
s..rFr4r 49,. ri
that there remained for Polk TO do was 10 carry
out the fornalities OF receiving the Lone star
commonwealth into the slsierhood Of states
He next turned to the question OF Oregon
which Tor the past 20 years had been claimed by
both Great Britain aud the United States. Polk's
oiIer TO England TO divide this country by ex
tending the forty-nInth parallel. already the
boundary as far west as the Rockies was re
jected. At once the expansionisis raised a cry
that had already been heard during the campaign
II was $40 or Fight" meaning that America
demanded the whole coast as far north as the
Russian possessions
But Polk had no intention OF embrollIng the
country In two wars for be foresaw that con.
dict with Mexico WAS inevitable. So he persisted
in his negotiations with England until in June
1876 a treaty with her WAS signed establishing
the forty ninth parallel boundary line For the
first time America now had an undisputed foot.
hold the Pacific coast. given to ber by the
diplomacy of James X Polk
The dispute with Mexico was not so easily set.
tied. however THAT country had refused to recog-
nize the independence OF Texas and had protested
against its annexation by the United States
Moreover. 1t rejected the southern boundary
claimed by the Texans and had been very slow
in settling the claims against II for outrages
against the person and property OF Americans.
These matters, however, might have been set
tied amlcably ha9 Il uot been for the ambitious
extent OF the ezpansionist policy under Polk's
administration. Polk wanted California TO add
to Oregon and extend 10 our holdings on the Pa
cifc coast and he was willing to bur IT, But
when he sent John Slidell to Mexico to open ne
gotations for its purchase the Nexicans refused
even TO receive Sdell.
Relations on the border became strained and
Mexico began mobzing for war At the same
time Polk ordered Gen. Zachary Taylor who was
stationed at Corpus Christi on the Nueces river.
tc advance with his troops 20 the Rio Grande |