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A HISTORY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1840.
BEGUN JUNE 25, 1840.
In order to give a full and complete history of this campaign,
it is necessary to go back to and examine the situation of the
country, the policy pursued, and the measures which Mr. Van
Buren was pledged to carry out when elected in 1836.
By the influence of General Jackson in 1834 the state bank
system was substituted for the National Bank as the depository
of the public moneys.
The "Pet Bank System" during the remainder of General
Jackson's Administration apparently succeeded in accomplishing
its object; and when he delivered his last message our affairs
were in so prosperous a condition that he said with truth: "I
leave the nation in prosperity and at peace with all nations."
Mr. Van Buren in his inaugural address, March 4, 1837, said:
"I shall follow in the footsteps of my illustrious predecessor";
an assurance which he has since found very hard [to] fulfill.
In May following, all the evils of the "Pet Bank System" burst
upon the country. The banks were compelled to "suspend," and
the commercial cities were filled with distress and ruin. An
extra session of Congress was called. Mr. Van Buren recom-
mended the sub-treasury scheme, the object of which was to
separate the Government from the banks and reduce our cur-
rency to specie. Many of the heretofore members of the Van
Buren party refused to support the measure. They called them-
selves Conservatives. Mr. Rives, Tallmadge, Ruggles, and sev-
eral members of the House of Representatives were among the
principal. The measure was rejected by a close vote.
The fall elections turned upon this point. The party opposed to
Van Buren succeeded beyond all expectation. New York went
against him by a large majority. But in his first annual message
to the Congress of 1837-8, he again recommended the measure,
and it became evident that the Administration were determined
to "sink or swim" with the scheme. Mr. Van Buren said, al-
luding to the result of the fall elections: "The sober second
thought of the people is seldom wrong and always efficient."
The measure was again rejected. A caucus was held by the op-
position members of Congress who recommended that a con-
vention to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President
be held at Harrisburg, December, 1839. Although this was later
than many wished, yet, as it was recommended by the best
"managers" in the land, it was agreed to by the party.
In the fall elections of 1838, the Van Buren party were suc-
cessful. Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee, all returned Democratic
members, but New York still remained firm; so that the opposi-
tion were still in good spirits. In the session of 1838-39, the
Sub-Treasury was again put down. In the fall elections of 1839,
the Democratic party were very successful and the Whig party
were low-spirited.
But the pressure of the times began to be felt all over the
Union. The farmers and laboring classes, who before had not
suffered, now were the most oppressed.
The Twenty-sixth Congress, after several weeks of trouble
about contested seats, was organized and the administration
party with the aid of the New Jersey members had a decided
majority.
The Whigs now began to hope that with a popular candidate
they could by great exertion succeed. Many thought the Van
Buren party had not fulfilled their promises and expressed their
dissatisfaction with the Administration.
In December, 1839, "the Convention" met. It was composed
of one delegate from each Congressional District. Nearly all the
States were represented by the principal men in the nation.
Governor Barbour, of Virginia, presided. The candidates for
nomination were Clay, Scott, and Harrison. There was a spirit
of concession manifest from the beginning which showed they
[the delegates] were determined.
Harrison was nominated. The convention were all well satis-
fied. Everywhere the nomination was hailed with joy by the
opposers of the Administration. Large and enthusiastic meetings
were held in the different States to respond to the nomination.
John Tyler, of Virginia, was nominated for Vice-President
unanimously. General Scott, Mr. Clay, Webster, Tallmadge,
Rives, Generals Clinch, Gaines, and Van Rensselaer, all expressed
their determination to go heart and hand for the nominations.
In this State (Ohio), many who had before been supporters
of Van Buren came out publicly and declared their intention to
go for Harrison. About this time the Baltimore Republican,
a Van Buren print, sneeringly said of General Harrison: "Give
him a pension of two thousand dollars and a barrel of hard cider,
and he will be content to live in a log cabin the remainder of his
days." Great use was made of this by the Harrison party. They
styled themselves the "Log-cabin and hard-cider party." In
February and March, 1840, log cabins began to be built for
council houses for the Harrison party.
A convention was held on the 22d of February in this State
(Columbus) to respond to the nomination and nominate candi-
dates for state offices. Large and spirited meetings were held in
the different counties nominating delegates for "the Convention."
All knew that the State was aroused, but as the weather was bad,
the roads almost impassable, few expected that there would be
much of a "turnout"; but the day came, and with it the greatest
[meeting] in many respects ever held. There was no plan or
system, but each delegation bore as their emblem whatever their
caprice dictated. Log cabins, hard cider, canoes, boats, all kinds,
were brought with thousands of mottoes.
At this convention it was, that political songs were sung to
any great extent, and this was the first of that series of great
conventions for which this campaign will be remarkable. Num-
ber present twenty thousand. A convention was held in Con-
necticut, remarkable for its size,--five thousand.
The first contested state election after the nomination was in
Connecticut. To this election the eyes of both parties were
turned. Both claimed it and both knew it would test the popular-
ity of the Harrisburg nominees. The result was a clear Harrison
majority of four thousand five hundred. Rhode Island was also
claimed by both parties. Harrison's majority, one thousand
four hundred.
But again the eyes of both parties were directed to [the] Vir-
ginia election. Two senators were to be elected by the next
Legislature. Two Van Buren and two Harrison men were up.
The Van Buren party hoped that the nomination would be un-
popular in the South; but the result showed a Harrison majority
of ten on joint ballot. The township and charter elections were
claimed by both parties as evidences of their strength.
Tremendous conventions began to be held in the summer by
the Harrison party. [On the] 11th [of] June, Fort Meigs,
thirty-five thousand. Tippecanoe, thirty thousand. Illinois, June
4, fifteen thousand. Both parties are straining every nerve.
Now my belief is that the Harrison party will succeed.-- June
30, 1840.