term the Whigs and the President were opposed to each other on nearly every question.

482. The Ashburton Treaty. The members of President Harrison's cabinet were retained by President Tyler; but all of them, except Webster, the Secretary of State, resigned when the issue was made between the President and the Whig party. Daniel Webster remained for a time in order to complete the negotiation of a treaty

Daniel Webster.

(After a daguerreotype.)

with Great Britain. A large number of troublesome disputes had arisen between the two countries; but the most important was the unsettled. boundary between the United States and Canada. By the treaty which Webster succeeded in making, the entire boundary line was definitely settled as far west as the Rocky Mountains, exactly as it is to-day. Lord Ashburton was sent over from England for the express purpose of making a treaty, and therefore it has received. the name of the WebsterAshburton Treaty.

American colonies (T 449) during the earlier part of the century. Among these was the new nation of Mexico, and one of the con stituent parts of this republic was the State of Texas and Coahuila. This State bordered upon Louisiana, and very soon many Southerners, taking their slaves with them, moved into Texas. By 1835 the number of Americans was so greatly in excess of the Spaniards

that Texas revolted from Mexico. Under the lead of General Samuel Houston, a desperate struggle was carried on for nearly a year.

William Henry Harrison, known as "Tippecanoe," because of his victory over the Indians at that place, was born at Berkeley, Virginia, February 9th, 1773. He held many high positions in the army and was finally elected President by the Whigs in 1840.

He was succeeded by John Tyler, who was also a native of Virginia. Tyler had previously been a member of the States Rights party, and although elected by the Whigs, retained many of this party's principles. He was born March 29th, 1790, and died January 17th, 1862.

In 1836 Houston attacked Santa Anna, and a severe battle took place at San Jacinto. Although the Mexican force was nearly double that of the Texans, Houston totally defeated Santa Anna. This victory placed the new State upon a firm footing, and Texas became an independent republic. Within a year several of the leading nations recognized the new State, and her independence seemed to be fairly established. Almost immediately the new

government applied for annexation to the United States.

484. Annexation of Texas.-The slave-owners of the South had begun to realize that most of the territory south of the compromise parallel of 36° 30′ had been made into slave States, while there was still much left north of the line out of which free States could be carved. It would be greatly to their advantage to admit the applicant at once. President Van Buren was opposed to the idea, and the matter was left for a more appropriate season. PresiIdent Tyler thought differently, however, and in the latter part of his term sent to the Senate a treaty annexing Texas to the Union. The treaty was hostile Senate that it refused to ratify it. tion had resulted in favor of the Democrats, both houses of Congress, in spite of very great objection from the Northern members, passed

Samuel Houston.

resolutions approving "reannexation."

The definite annexation of

the new State was deferred until the Texan government had

accepted the terms of Congress (¶ 488). Meanwhile Florida entered the Union on the last day of President Tyler's term, March 3d, 1845.

Florida.

The

On Easter Sunday (Pascha Floridum), Ponce de Leon discovered land and named it Florida. first permanent settlement within the United States was made at St. Augustine, in 1565. The province changed

from Spanish into English hands in 1763, and back again in 1783. The history of the territory until its purchase in 1819 has been told. "The productions of Florida are of an essentially tropical character." Most of the State possesses a very agreeable climate, and it is therefore a favorite winter resort. It has had a remarkable development during the last few years, which is shown by its greater gain per cent. in valuation than that of any other State east of the Mississippi. Its population in 1890 was about four hundred thousand.

485. Oregon.-West of the Rocky Mountains and north of Mexico was a tract of land which had received the name of the Oregon country. Spain, England, and the United States had considered this region to be a portion of their territory, presenting claims that were of more or less value. Before the year 1844, however, Spain had ceded her claims to the United States. Besides, the American nation claimed the region because of the discovery of the Columbia River by Captain Gray in 1792, the exploration of the river by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and 1806, and the settlement at Astoria in 1811. On the

other hand, England claimed prior exploration and settlement, and thus the matter had stood for many years. When the Presidential campaign of 1844 was fought on the question of the annexation of Texas, the Democratic party coupled with this the proposition to demand the whole territory of Oregon from England. The cry was "Fifty-four forty or fight," which meant to hold the territory against England as far north as 54° 40', or fight her for it. In 1846 the two nations agreed by treaty that the parallel of 49° should be continued westward to the channel opposite Vancouver's Island. Dr. Marcus Whitman had practically saved this country to us by an emigration, brought over in 1843. (See Appendix J.)

Samuel F. B. Morse.

(From an engraving in the Treasury Department Washington, D. C.)

1842]

TEXAS AND OREGON.

486. Dorr Rebellion. A civil war broke out in Rhode Island is May, 1842, which had its origin in a revolutionary attempt to replace the charter of Charles II. (T 67) by a more modern and democratic constitution. The limita

The Magnetic Telegraph. — The first practical experiment with the magnetic telegraph took place in the year 1844, when Congress established a trial line between Washington and Baltimore. Thirty thousand dollars was appropriated for this purpose, and the telegraphic system of Samuel F. B. Morse, which had been patented in 1837, was used. The first words sent over this wire were "What hath God wrought! The telegraph, with the railroad, marks the beginning of a new era in the prosperity of the country.

tion of the suffrage to landowners and their eldest sons, and the inequalities of the representation in the General Assembly, were the principal objectionable features of the government which had grown up under the charter. The agitation for reform began soon after the presidential election of 1840, and in the winter of 1841-1842 resulted in the formation of two constitutions. One, framed by a convention, which had been legally called by the legislature, was defeated by the people, while the other, prepared by the suffragists in an assembly, summoned and held without the form of law, was declared by them to have been adopted.

A State election was held under the new constitution at which the suffrage party alone participated. Thomas W. Dorr was de

Patroon War. When the Dutch settled New Netherland large tracts of land were granted to members of the wealthier class, called patroons. The system of disposing of these lands to the tenants was a peculiar one, in which the tenants partially owned them, but were compelled to pay a certain fee to the patroon. This custom continued until the middle of this century, and during Tyler's administration many "anti-rent" riots took place, and the State authorities were compelled. to call out the militia to put down the Patroon War. Little by little the lands were sold without the fees, and absolute ownership was obtained.

clared elected Governor, and an entire State government was chosen. The "law and order" party, then in power, considered this election illegal, and chose Samuel W. King governor, at an election held in accordance with the charter requirements. The two governments were organized, and a bitter struggle seemed imminent. PresiIdent Tyler declared in favor of the charter authorities, and sent United States troops to Fort Adams, to be in readiness if needed. After two months of excitement the "Dorr Rebellion" collapsed, and order was restored. A third constitution was prepared, which granted most of the desired changes. It was adopted almost unanimously, and put in operation in May, 1843. Dorr surrendered to the State authorities, was tried for high treason, convicted and sentenced to

imprisonment for life. After a confinement of one year he was set free under a general amnesty act, and his civil rights were restored to him a few years later.

487. Presidential Election. In 1844 the Whig National Convention, after adopting a platform, nominated Henry Clay of Kentucky and Theodore Frelinghuysen of New York as its candidates. The Democratic Convention failed to renominate Van Buren, who had been a leading candidate, and finally put in nomination James K. Polk of Tennessee and George M. Dallas of Pennsylvania. A very closely contested election resulted, in which the Democratic candidates were successful. This result was due very largely to a small number of voters in the North, who had belonged to the Whig party, but who refused to vote for Clay because of his doubtful stand on the question of the annexation of Texas.

CHAPTER LXV.

WAR WITH MEXICO. 1845-1849.

488. The Texan Boundary. The Republic of Mexico had not acknowledged the independence of Texas, and would not accept the boundary lines that Texas claimed. The disputed boundary question was whether the new State should include any of the province of Coahuila, or not, and if it did what portion. Texas claimed to the west as far as the Rio Grande, and north to the border line between Mexico and the United States. Mexico held that the western boundary of her State, Texas, was the Nueces River. When, December 29th, 1845, Congress admitted Texas into the Union, the United States was pledged to uphold the claims of Texas as against Mexico.

James Knox Polk was a native of North Carolina. His father intended to make a merchant of him; but as the son was opposed to business life, he finally allowed him to enter college and to study law. He showed great abilities in his chosen line, became Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governor of Tennessee, and President of the United States. Mr. Polk was born in 1795, and died in 1849.

489. Declaration of War.- President Polk had taken the necessary steps to defend the disputed territory from any occupation by the