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

THIRTY YEARS' VIEW.

ADMINISTRATION OF MARTIN VAN BUREN.

[CHAPTER I.]

INAUGURATION OF MR. VAN BUREN.

March the 4th of this year, Mr. Van Buren was inaugurated President of the United States with the usual formalities, and conformed to the usage of his predecessors in delivering a public address on the occasion: a declaration of general principles, and an indication of the general course of the administration, were the tenor of his discourse: and the doctrines of the democratic school, as understood at the original formation of parties, were those professed. Close observance of the federal constitution as written—no latitudinarian constructions permitted, or doubtful powers assumed—faithful adherence to all its compromises—economy in the administration of the government—peace, friendship and fair dealing with all foreign nations—entangling alliances with none: such was his political chart: and with the expression of his belief that a perseverance in this line of foreign policy, with an increased strength, tried valor of the people, and exhaustless resources of the country, would entitle us to the good will of nations, protect our national respectability, and secure us from designed aggression from foreign powers. His expressions and views on this head deserve to be commemorated, and to be considered by all those into whose hands the management of the public affairs may go; and are, therefore, here given in his own words:

"Our course of foreign policy has been so uniform and intelligible, as to constitute a rule of executive conduct which leaves little to my discretion, unless, indeed, I were willing to run counter to the lights of experience, and the known opinions of my constituents. We sedulously cultivate the friendship of all nations, as the condition most compatible with our welfare, and the principles of our government. We decline alliances, as adverse to our peace. We desire commercial relations on equal terms, being ever willing to give a fair equivalent for advantages received. We endeavor to conduct our intercourse with openness and sincerity; promptly avowing our objects, and seeking to establish that mutual frankness which is as beneficial in the dealings of nations as of men. We have no disposition, and we disclaim all right, to meddle in disputes, whether internal or foreign, that may molest other countries; regarding them, in their actual state, as social communities, and preserving a strict neutrality in all their controversies. Well knowing the tried valor of our people, and our exhaustless resources, we neither anticipate nor fear any designed aggression; and, in the consciousness of our own just conduct, we feel a security that we shall never be called upon to exert our determination, never to permit an invasion of our rights, without punishment or redress."