Some months previous to this time, a treaty had been negotiated with Texas, respecting the annexation of that republic, as a territory, to the United States. The annunciation of such a treaty, was made to congress in April, 1844, by a special message from the president, and excited much surprise throughout the country, and awakened great anxiety in the minds of those who were opposed to the measure. They viewed it as involving an extension of slavery, and a probable war with Mexico, as she still laid claim to Texas as a portion of her rightful domain. The senate, however, rejected the treaty, and thus frustrated Mr. Tyler's designs at that period.
Joint Resolution for the Annexation of Texas.—The rejection of the treaty with Texas, before mentioned, seemed not to discourage the president from attempting the annexation of that country to the United States, in violation, as many believed, of the constitution. According to his wishes, and it is supposed at his suggestion, a joint resolution[80] for annexation was introduced into congress, and passed the house of representatives, January 23d, 1845, by a vote of one hundred and eighteen to one hundred and one. In the senate, the resolution underwent several important amendments, particularly one by Mr. Walker, involving the alternative of negotiation at the option of the president, which, having been concurred in by the house, received the sanction of the executive, and thus the way was prepared for the annexation of the country in question.
"As these measures, in regard to the admission of Texas, were adopted at the close of the session of congress, it was expected that Mr. Tyler would leave it to his successor to consummate the wishes of congress, and it was also understood that Mr. Polk had determined to negotiate a treaty with Texas, under the alternative offered by Mr. Walker's amendment. President Tyler, however, determined to forestall the action of his successor, and hence dispatched an express to communicate to Texas, that he had decided to invite Texas into the Union, under the provisions of the resolutions as they passed the house of representatives, without the exercise of farther treaty-making power."
Character of Mr. Tyler's Administration.—"Of the character of Mr. Tyler's administration, and his personal relations thereto, it is yet too early to speak. His independent course in vetoing the bank bills and other measures, greatly exasperated the party who had elevated him to office, and he was denounced as a traitor; while his equally independent course in opposing General Jackson in his measures against the United States' bank, and also his alliance with the whigs during Mr. Van Buren's administration, denied him the confidence of the democrats. He himself said, 'I appeal from the vituperation of the present day to the pen of impartial history, in the full confidence that neither my motives nor my acts will bear the interpretation which has, for sinister purposes, been placed upon them.' As an executive of the people's will, he exhibited all the necessary vigor of a chief magistrate. 'Nor is it to be denied,' says one of his political opponents, 'that the foreign relations of the United States were ably managed during his presidential term, and that he generally surrounded himself with able counsellors in his cabinet.'"
Presidential Canvass.—Mr. Tyler's presidential term expired on the 4th of March, 1845, and he was not rëelected, nor indeed was he a candidate for rëelection, except for a short period. The candidates of the two great political parties were now Henry Clay, of Kentucky, and James K. Polk, of Tennessee. These had been nominated by the respective conventions of the parties, which had assembled in the city of Baltimore, one on the 1st, and the other on the 17th of May, 1844. The strife and the efforts of the adherents of the respective candidates were eager and persevering. The issue, for some time, appeared to be doubtful; but the close of the canvass showed that the democratic nominee had been elected.
The following table exhibits the result of the official count in the presence of both houses of congress, February 12th:
| Key: A. | James K. Polk, of Tennessee. |
| B. | Henry Clay, of Kentucky. |
| C. | Geo. M. Dallas, of Pennsylv'a. |
| D. | T. Frelinghuysen, of N. Jersey. |
| Number of Electors from each State. | STATES. | PRESIDENT. | VICE-PRESIDENT. | ||
| A. | B. | C. | D. | ||
| 9 | Maine, | 9 | 9 | ||
| 6 | New Hampshire, | 6 | 6 | ||
| 12 | Massachusetts, | 12 | 12 | ||
| 4 | Rhode Island, | 4 | 4 | ||
| 6 | Connecticut, | 6 | 6 | ||
| 6 | Vermont, | 6 | 6 | ||
| 36 | New York, | 36 | 36 | ||
| 7 | New Jersey, | 7 | 7 | ||
| 26 | Pennsylvania, | 26 | 26 | ||
| 3 | Delaware, | 3 | 3 | ||
| 8 | Maryland, | 8 | 8 | ||
| 17 | Virginia, | 17 | 17 | ||
| 11 | North Carolina, | 11 | 11 | ||
| 9 | South Carolina, | 9 | 9 | ||
| 10 | Georgia, | 10 | 10 | ||
| 12 | Kentucky, | 12 | 12 | ||
| 13 | Tennessee, | 13 | 13 | ||
| 23 | Ohio, | 23 | 23 | ||
| 6 | Lousiana, | 6 | 6 | ||
| 6 | Mississippi, | 6 | 6 | ||
| 12 | Indiana, | 12 | 12 | ||
| 9 | Illinois, | 9 | 9 | ||
| 9 | Alabama, | 9 | 9 | ||
| 7 | Missouri, | 7 | 7 | ||
| 3 | Arkansas, | 3 | 3 | ||
| 5 | Michigan, | 5 | 5 | ||
| 275 | Whole No. of Electors, Majority, 138 | 170 | 105 | 170 | 105 |