CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

CHAP. PAGE
[I.]Inauguration of Mr. Van Buren7
[II.]Financial and Monetary Crisis—General Suspension of Specie Payments by the Banks9
[III.]Preparation for the Distress and Suspension11
[IV.]Progress of the Distress, and Preliminaries for the Suspension16
[V.]Actual Suspension of the Banks—Propagation of the Alarm20
[VI.]Transmigration of the Bank of the United States from a Federal to a State Institution23
[VII.]Effects of the Suspension—General Derangement of Business—Suppression and Ridicule of the Specie Currency—Submission of the People—Call of Congress26
[VIII.]Extra Session—Message, and Recommendations28
[IX.]Attacks on the Message—Treasury Notes32
[X.]Retention of the Fourth Deposit Instalment36
[XI.]Independent Treasury and Hard Money Payments39
[XII.]Attempted Resumption of Specie Payments42
[XIII.]Bankrupt Act against Banks43
[XIV.]Bankrupt Act for Banks—Mr. Benton's Speech45
[XV.]Divorce of Bank and State—Mr. Benton's Speech56
[XVI.]First Regular Session under Mr. Van Buren's Administration—His Message65
[XVII.]Pennsylvania Bank of the United States—Its Use of the Defunct Notes of the expired Institution67
[XVIII.]Florida Indian War—Its Origin and Conduct70
[XIX.]Florida Indian War—Historical Speech of Mr. Benton72
[XX.]Resumption of Specie Payments by the New York Banks83
[XXI.]Resumption of Specie Payments—Historical Notices—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts85
[XXII.]Mr. Clay's Resolution in Favor of Resuming Banks, and Mr. Benton's Remarks upon it91
[XXIII.]Resumption by the Pennsylvania United States Bank; and others which followed her lead94
[XXIV.]Proposed Annexation of Texas—Mr. Preston's Motion and Speech—Extracts94
[XXV.]Debate between Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun, Personal and Political, and leading to Expositions and Vindications of Public Conduct which belong to History97
[XXVI.]Debate between Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun—Mr. Clay's Speech—Extracts101
[XXVII.]Debate between Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun—Mr. Calhoun's Speech—Extracts103
[XXVIII.]Debate between Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun—Rejoinders by each112
[XXIX.]Independent Treasury, or, Divorce of Bank and State—Passed in the Senate—Lost in the House of Representatives124
[XXX.]Public Lands—Graduation of Price—Pre-emption System—Taxation when Sold125
[XXXI.]Specie Basis for Banks—One-third of the Amount of Liabilities the Lowest Safe Proportion—Speech of Mr. Benton on the Recharter of the District Banks128
[XXXII.]The North and the South—Comparative Prosperity—Southern Discontent—Its True Cause130
[XXXIII.]Progress of the Slavery Agitation—Mr. Calhoun's Approval of the Missouri Compromise134
[XXXIV.]Death of Commodore Rodgers, and Notice of his Life and Character144
[XXXV.]Anti-duelling Act148
[XXXVI.]Slavery Agitation in the House of Representatives, and Retiring of Southern Members from the Hall150
[XXXVII.]Abolitionists Classified by Mr. Clay—Ultras Denounced—Slavery Agitators North and South Equally denounced as Dangerous to the Union154
[XXXVIII.]Bank of the United States—Resignation of Mr. Biddle—Final Suspension157
[XXXIX.]First Session Twenty-sixth Congress—Members—Organization—Political Map of the House158
[XL.]First Session of the Twenty-sixth Congress—President's Message162
[XLI.]Divorce of Bank and State—Divorce decreed164
[XLII.]Florida Armed Occupation Bill—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts167
[XLIII.]Assumption of the State Debts171
[XLIV.]Assumption of the State Debts—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts172
[XLV.]Death of General Samuel Smith, of Maryland; and Notice of his Life and Character176
[XLVI.]Salt—the Universality of its Supply—Mystery and Indispensability of its Use—Tyranny and Impiety of its Taxation—Speech of Mr. Benton—Extracts176
[XLVII.]Pairing off178
[XLVIII.]Tax on Bank Notes—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts179
[XLIX.]Liberation of Slaves belonging to American Citizens in British Colonial Ports182
[L.]Resignation of Senator Hugh Lawson White of Tennessee—His Death—Some Notice of his Life and Character184
[LI.]Death of Ex-Senator Hayne of South Carolina—Notice of his Life and Character186
[LII.]Abolition of Specific Duties by the Compromise Act of 1833—Its Error, and Loss to the Revenue, shown by Experience189
[LIII.]Refined Sugar and Rum Drawbacks—their Abuse under the Compromise Act of 1833—Mr. Benton's Speech190
[LIV.]Fishing Bounties and Allowances, and their Abuse—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts194
[LV.]Expenditures of the Government198
[LVI.]Expenses of the Government, Comparative and Progressive, and Separated from Extraordinaries200
[LVII.]Death of Mr. Justice Barbour of the Supreme Court, and Appointment of Peter V. Daniel, Esq., in his place202
[LVIII.]Presidential Election203
[LIX.]Conclusion of Mr. Van Buren's Administration207
[LX.]Inauguration of President Harrison—His Cabinet—Call of Congress—and Death209
[LXI.]Accession of the Vice-President to the Presidency211
[LXII.]Twenty-seventh Congress—First Session—List of Members, and Organization of the House213
[LXIII.]First Message of Mr. Tyler to Congress, and Mr. Clay's Programme of Business215
[LXIV.]Repeal of the Independent Treasury Act219
[LXV.]Repeal of the Independent Treasury Act—Mr. Benton's Speech220
[LXVI.]The Bankrupt Act—What it was—and how it was Passed229
[LXVII.]Bankrupt Bill—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts234
[LXVIII.]Distribution of the Public Land Revenue, and Assumption of the State Debts240
[LXIX.]Institution of the Hour Rule in Debate in the House of Representatives—Its Attempt, and Repulse in the Senate247
[LXX.]Bill for the Relief of Mrs. Harrison, Widow of the late President of the United States257
[LXXI.]Mrs. Harrison's Bill—Speech of Mr. Benton—Extracts262
[LXII.]Abuse of the Naval Pension System—Vain attempt to Correct it265
[LXIII.]Home Squadron, and Aid to Private Steam Lines271
[LXXIV.]Recharter of the District Banks—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts273
[LXXV.]Revolt in Canada—Border Sympathy—Firmness of Mr. Van Buren—Public Peace Endangered—and Preserved—Case of McLeod276
[LXXVI.]Destruction of the Caroline—Arrest and Trial of McLeod—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts291
[LXXVII.]Refusal of the House to allow Recess Committees304
[LXXVIII.]Reduction of the Expense of Foreign Missions by reducing the Number305
[LXXIX.]Infringement of the Tariff Compromise Act of 1833—Correction of Abuses in Drawbacks307
[LXXX.]National Bank—First Bill317
[LXXXI.]Second Fiscal Agent—Bill Presented—Passed—Disapproved by the President331
[LXXXII.]Secret History of the Second Bill for a Fiscal Agent, called Fiscal Corporation—Its Origin with Mr. Tyler—Its Progress through Congress under his Lead—Its Rejection under his Veto342
[LXXXIII.]The Veto Message hissed in the Senate Galleries350
[LXXXIV.]Resignation of Mr. Tyler's Cabinet353
[LXXXV.]Repudiation of Mr. Tyler by the Whig Party—their Manifesto—Counter Manifesto by Mr. Caleb Cushing357
[LXXXVI.]The Danish Sound Dues362
[LXXXVII.]Last Notice of the Bank of the United States365
[LXXXVIII.]End and Results of the Extra Session372
[LXXXIX.]First Annual Message of President Tyler373
[XC.]Third Plan for a Fiscal Agent, called Exchequer Board—Mr. Benton's Speech against it—Extracts376
[XCI.]The Third Fiscal Agent, entitled a Board of Exchequer394
[XCII.]Attempted Repeal of the Bankrupt Act395
[XCIII.]Death of Lewis Williams, of North Carolina, and Notice of his Life and Character396
[XCIV.]The Civil List Expenses—the Contingent Expenses of Congress—and the Revenue Collection Expense397
[XCV.]Resignation and Valedictory of Mr. Clay398
[XCVI.]Military Department—Progress of its Expense404
[XCVII.]Paper Money Payments—Attempted by the Federal Government—Resisted—Mr. Benton's Speech406
[XCVIII.]Case of the American Brig Creole with Slaves for New Orleans, carried by Mutiny into Nassau, and the Slaves Liberated409
[XCIX.]Distress of the Treasury—Three Tariff Bills, and Two Vetoes—End of the Compromise Act413
[C.]Mr. Tyler and the Whig Party—Confirmed Separation417
[CI.]Lord Ashburton's Mission, and the British Treaty420
[CII.]British Treaty—The Pretermitted Subjects—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts426
[CIII.]British Treaty—Northeastern Boundary Article—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts438
[CIV.]British Treaty—Northwestern Boundary—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts441
[CV.]British Treaty—Extradition Article—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extract444
[CVI.]British Treaty—African Squadron for the Suppression of the Slave Trade—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extract449
[CVII.]Expense of the Navy—Waste of Money—Necessity of a Naval Peace Establishment, and of a Naval Policy452
[CVIII.]Expenses of the Navy—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts456
[CIX.]Message of the President at the Opening of the Regular Session of 1842-'3460
[CX.]Repeal of the Bankrupt Act—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts463
[CXI.]Military Academy and Army Expenses466
[CXII.]Emigration to the Columbia River, and Foundation of its Settlement by American Citizens—Frémont's First Expedition468
[CXIII.]Lieutenant Frémont's First Expedition—Speech, and Motion of Senator Linn478
[CXIV.]Oregon Colonization Act—Mr. Benton's Speech479
[CXV.]Navy Pay and Expenses—Proposed Reduction—Speech of Mr. Meriwether, of Georgia—Extracts482
[CXVI.]Eulogy on Senator Linn—Speeches of Mr. Benton and Mr. Crittenden485
[CXVII.]The Coast Survey—Attempt to diminish its Expense, and to expedite its Completion by restoring the Work to Naval and Military Officers487
[CXVIII.]Death of Commodore Porter, and Notice of his Life and Character491
[CXIX.]Refunding of General Jackson's Fine499
[CXX.]Repeal of the Bankrupt Act—Attack of Mr. Cushing on Mr. Clay—Its Rebuke503
[CXXI.]Naval Expenditures and Administration—Attempts at Reform—Abortive507
[CXXII.]Chinese Mission—Mr. Cushing's Appointment and Negotiation510
[CXXIII.]The Alleged Mutiny, and the Executions (as they were called) on Board the United States man-of-war, Somers522
[CXXIV.]Retirement of Mr. Webster from Mr. Tyler's Cabinet562
[CXXV.]Death of William H. Crawford562
[CXXVI.]First Session of the Twenty-eighth Congress—List of Members—Organization of the House of Representatives563
[CXXVII.]Mr. Tyler's Second Annual Message565
[CXXVIII.]Explosion of the Great Gun on Board the Princeton man-of-war—the Killed and Wounded567
[CXXIX.]Reconstruction of Mr. Tyler's Cabinet569
[CXXX.]Death of Senator Porter, of Louisiana—Eulogium of Mr. Benton569
[CXXXI.]Naval Academy, and Naval Policy of the United States571
[CXXXII.]The Home Squadron—Its Inutility and Expense575
[CXXXIII.]Professor Morse—His Electro-Magnetic Telegraph578
[CXXXIV.]Frémont's Second Expedition579
[CXXXV.]Texas Annexation—Secret Origin—Bold Intrigue for the Presidency581
[CXXXVI.]Democratic Convention for the Nomination of Presidential Candidates591
[CXXXVII.]Presidential—Democratic National Convention—Mr. Calhoun's Refusal to Submit his Name to it—His Reasons596
[CXXXVIII.]Annexation of Texas—Secret Negotiation—Presidential Intrigue—Schemes of Speculation and Disunion599
[CXXXIX.]Texas Annexation Treaty—First Speech of Mr. Benton against it—Extracts600
[CXL.]Texas or Disunion—Southern Convention—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts613
[CXLI.]Texas or Disunion—Violent Demonstrations in the South—Southern Convention proposed616
[CXLII.]Rejection of the Annexation Treaty—Proposal of Mr. Benton's Plan619
[CXLIII.]Oregon Territory—Conventions of 1818 and 1828—Joint Occupation—Attempted Notice to Terminate it624
[CXLIV.]Presidential Election625
[CXLV.]Amendment of the Constitution—Election of President and Vice-President—Mr. Benton's Plan626
[CXLVI.]The President and the Senate—Want of Concord—Numerous Rejections of Nominations629
[CXLVII.]Mr. Tyler's Last Message to Congress631
[CXLVIII.]Legislative Admission of Texas into the Union as a State632
[CXLIX.]The War with Mexico—Its Cause—Charged on the Conduct of Mr. Calhoun—Mr. Benton's Speech639
[CL.]Mr. Polk's Inaugural Address—Cabinet649
[CLI.]Mr. Blair and the Globe superseded as the Administration Organ—Mr. T. Ritchie and the Daily Union substituted650
[CLII.]Twenty-ninth Congress—List of Members—First Session—Organization of the House655
[CLIII.]Mr. Polk's First Annual Message to Congress657
[CLIV.]Death of John Forsyth659
[CLV.]Admission of Florida and Iowa660
[CLVI.]Oregon Treaty—Negotiations commenced, and broken off660
[CLVII.]Oregon Question—Notice to abrogate the Article in the Treaty for a Joint Occupation—The President denounced in the Senate for a supposed Leaning to the Line of Forty-nine662
[CLVIII.]Oregon Territorial Government—Boundaries and History of the Country—Frazer's River—Treaty of Utrecht—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts667
[CLIX.]Oregon Joint Occupation—Notice authorized for terminating it—British Government offers the Line of 49—Quandary of the Administration—Device—Senate Consulted—Treaty made and Ratified673
[CLX.]Meeting of the Second Session of the 29th Congress—President's Message—Vigorous Prosecution of the War Recommended—Lieutenant-general proposed to be created677
[CLXI.]War with Mexico—The War Declared, and an Intrigue for Peace commenced the same Day679
[CLXII.]Bloodless Conquest of New Mexico—How it was Done—Subsequent Bloody Insurrection, and its Cause682
[CLXIII.]Mexican War—Doniphan's Expedition—Mr. Benton's Salutatory Address, St. Louis, Missouri684
[CLXIV.]Frémont's Third Expedition, and Acquisition of California688
[CLXV.]Pause in the War—Sedentary Tactics—"Masterly Inactivity"693
[CLXVI.]The Wilmot Proviso—Or, Prohibition of Slavery in the Territories—Its Inutility and Mischief694
[CLXVII.]Mr. Calhoun's Slavery Resolutions, and Denial of the Right of Congress to Prohibit Slavery in a Territory696
[CLXVIII.]The Slavery Agitation—Disunion—Key to Mr. Calhoun's Policy—Forcing the Issue—Mode of Forcing it698
[CLXIX.]Death of Silas Wright, Ex-Senator and Ex-Governor of New York700
[CLXX.]Thirtieth Congress—First Session—List of Members—President's Message702
[CLXXI.]Death of Senator Barrow—Mr. Benton's Eulogium706
[CLXXII.]Death of Mr. Adams707
[CLXXIII.]Downfall of Santa Anna—New Government in Mexico—Peace Negotiations—Treaty of Peace709
[CLXXIV.]Oregon Territorial Government—Anti-Slavery Ordinance of 1787 applied to Oregon Territory—Missouri Compromise Line of 1820, and the Texas Annexation Renewal of it in 1845, affirmed711
[CLXXV.]Mr. Calhoun's New Dogma on Territorial Slavery—Self-extension of the Slavery Part of the Constitution to Territories713
[CLXXVI.]Court-martial of Lieutenant-colonel Frémont715
[CLXXVII.]Frémont's Fourth Expedition, and Great Disaster in the Snows at the Head of the Rio Grande del Norte—Subsequent Discovery of the Pass he sought719
[CLXXVIII.]Presidential Election722
[CLXXIX.]Last Message of Mr. Polk724
[CLXXX.]Financial Working of the Government under the Hard Money System726
[CLXXXI.]Coast Survey—Belongs to the Navy—Converted into a Separate Department—Expense and Interminability—Should be done by the Navy, as in Great Britain—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extract726
[CLXXXII.]Proposed Extension of the Constitution of the United States to the Territories, with a View to make it carry Slavery into California, Utah and New Mexico729
[CLXXXIII.]Progress of the Slavery Agitation—Meeting of Members from the Slave States—Inflammatory Address to the Southern States733
[CLXXXIV.]Inauguration of President Taylor—His Cabinet737
[CLXXXV.]Death of Ex-President Polk737
[CLXXXVI.]Thirty-first Congress—First Session—List of Members—Organization of the House738
[CLXXXVII.]First and only Annual Message of President Taylor740
[CLXXXVIII.]Mr. Clay's Plan of Compromise742
[CLXXXIX.]Extension of the Missouri Compromise Line to the Pacific Ocean—Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, and Mr. Clay—The Wilmot Proviso743
[CXC.]Mr. Calhoun's Last Speech—Dissolution of the Union proclaimed unless the Constitution was amended, and a Dual Executive appointed—one President from the Slave States and one from the Free States744
[CXCI.]Death of Mr. Calhoun—His Eulogium by Senator Butler747
[CXCII.]Mr. Clay's Plan of Slavery Compromise—Mr. Benton's Speech Against it—Extracts749
[CXCIII.]Death of President Taylor765
[CXCIV.]Inauguration and Cabinet of Mr. Fillmore767
[CXCV.]Rejection of Mr. Clay's Plan of Compromise768
[CXCVI.]The Admission of the State of California—Protest of Southern Senators—Remarks upon it by Mr. Benton769
[CXCVII.]Fugitive Slaves; Ordinance of 1787—The Constitution—Act of 1793—Act of 1850773
[CXCVIII.]Disunion Movements—Southern Press at Washington—Southern Convention at Nashville—Southern Congress called for by South Carolina and Mississippi780
[CXCIX.]The Supreme Court—Its Judges, Clerk, Attorney-Generals, Reporters and Marshals during the Period treated of in this Volume787
[CC.]Conclusion787