STATES. ELECTORAL VOTE. Counted on February 10, 1841. PRESIDENT. VICE-PRESIdent. No: : : : : : : : ~a::::::::::: 0~ 23 234 21 30 1:::::::::~a:::::::: cv::: 0 4 11 5 9 15 5 10 10 14 3 4 4 1808081 3 3 William H. Harrison was elected President and John Tyler as Vice-President. During this period Congress was divided politically as follows: Twenty-Seventh Congress. Senate 22 Democrats, 28 Whigs, 2 Independents House-103 Democrats, 132 Whigs, 6 Independents, 1 vacancy Twenty-eighth Congress. Total, 52 242 Senate 23 Democrats, 29 Whigs Total, 52 66 223 Election of 1844 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. Baltimore, Md., May 27-29, 1844. Temporary and permanent Chairman, NOMINATED— For President, James K. Polk, of Pennsylvania. of Tennessee. For Vice-President, George M. Dallas, Every state was represented at this convention except South Carolina. 325 delegates were in attendance, but they cast only 266 votes. After a day and a half of contention the two-thirds rule was adopted. The following is the result of the balloting: 1st. 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th. 8th. 9th of Tennessee Whole No. of votes, 266 Necessary to choice, 178 In voting for a candidate for Vice-President, Silas Wright, of New York, received 256 votes on the first ballot, 9 being cast for Levi Woodbury, of New Hampshire. Mr. Wright declined the nomination. On the following day George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania, was nominated, receiving 220 votes. John Fairfield, of Maine; Levi Woodbury, of New Hampshire; Lewis Cass, of Michigan; Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky; Commodore Stewart, of Pennsylvania; Wm. L. Marcy, of New York, were also voted for. The following platform was adopted: DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. 1. Resolved, That the American Democracy place their trust, not in factitious symbols, not in displays and appeals insulting to the judgment and subversive of the intellect of the people, but in a clear reliance upon the intelligence, patriotism, and the discriminating justice of the American people. 2. Resolved, That we regard this as a distinctive feature of our political creed, which we are proud to maintain before the world, as the great moral element in a form of government springing from and upheld by the popular will; and we contrast it with the creed and practice of federalism, under whatever name or form, which seeks to palsy the will of the constituent, and which conceives no imposture too monstrous for the popular credulity. 3. Resolved, therefore, That, entertaining these views, the Democratic party of this Union, through the delegates assembled in general convention of the states, coming together in a spirit of concord, of devotion to the doctrines and faith of a free representative government, and appealing to their fellowcitizens for the rectitude of their intentions, renew and reassert before the American people the declaration of principles avowed by them on a former occasion, when, in general convention, they presented their candidates for the popular suffrage. Then resolutions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the platform of 1840 (see pages 41 and 42) were reaffirmed, to which were added the following: 13. Resolved, That the proceeds of the public lands ought to be sacredly applied to the national objects specified in the Constitution, and that we are opposed to the laws lately adopted, and to any law, for the distribution of such proceeds among the states, as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant to the Constitution. 14. Resolved, That we are decidedly opposed to taking from the President the qualified veto power by which he is enabled, under restrictions and responsibilities amply sufficient to guard the public interest, to suspend the passage of a bill whose merits cannot secure the approval of two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, until the judgment of the people can be obtained thereon, and which has thrice saved the American people from the corrupt and tyrannical domination of the Bank of the United States. 15. Resolved, That our title to the whole of the Territory of Oregon is clear and unquestionable; that no portion of the same ought to be ceded to England or any other power, and that the re-occupation of Oregon and the re-annexation of Texas at the earliest practicable period are great American measures, which this convention recommends to the cordial support of the Democracy of the Union. NOTE. An abortive convention of officeholders met at Baltimore shortly after the Democratic Convention and renominated ex-President Tyler. He accepted the nomination, but soon after withdrew. WHIG CONVENTION. Baltimore, Md., May 1, 1844. Chairman pro tem., ANDREW F. HOPKINS, |