The death of General Harrison and the elevation of John Tyler to the
Presidency wrought a great change in the fortunes of the Whig Party.
Soon after the assembling of Congress at the extra session, called by
President Harrison, a bill for a Fiscal Bank was passed by the two
Houses, and vetoed by President Tyler. The veto message was so framed
as to encourage the Whig leaders to pass a second bill in a form
designed to avoid the objections of the President.

In the discussion upon the veto of the first bill, Mr. Clay assailed
the President in such terms that a reconciliation was impossible. From
that moment it was the purpose of the President to co-operate with the
Democratic Party. A second bill was passed. That was also vetoed by
the President. Early in September all the members of the Cabinet
resigned except Mr. Webster. The outgoing members gave reasons to the
public, and Mr. Webster gave reasons for not going. Caleb Cushing,
Henry A. Wise, and a few other Whigs, called the Omnibus Party chose
their part with Webster and Tyler. The Whig Party was divided,
hopelessly.

Previous to the division, a bill had passed, which had been approved by
the President, for the repeal of the Independent Treasury System. The
ardor of its enemies was such that no substitute was provided. The
expectation was that a Fiscal Bank, or Fiscal Agent, would be created.
The failure of the bank bills left the Government without any lawful
system of finance. The pet bank system was restored, in fact. The
rupture in the Whig Party contributed to its defeat in Massachusetts
at the election in 1842, but the party was so compact in 1841 that its
triumph was assured. Mr. Webster defended his course, and with few
exceptions his conduct was either approved or tolerated in
Massachusetts.

[* It was then an unfinished building and stood where the Willow Dale
road connects with Hollis Street. The building had been erected by a
body of people who advocated the union of all the churches. They
called themselves Unionists. Their leader was the Rev. Silas Hawley.
He was a vigorous thinker, a close reasoner, and he displayed great
knowledge of the Bible. His following became considerable. The
excitement extended to the neighboring towns and for a time serious
inroads were made upon the churches of the village.

The no-creed doctrine was accepted by some who never believed in any
creed, and by others who had believed in creeds that they t