at the
head of their ticket and as Van Buren had no competitor, he became the
candidate of the Democracy. Never in the political history of the United
States had there been such universal excitement as was displayed in the
ensuing campaign. The great financial trials through which the
government had passed were made the basis of all argument by the press
and orators for the opposition.

Charges of corruption, extravagance and indifference to the welfare of
the laboring classes were collected and dumped upon poor Van Buren. Thus
was Van Buren represented, while the enthusiasm for Harrison was
greatly augmented by log cabins, emblematical of his humble origin. This
time Van Buren received only 60 electoral votes, while General Harrison
received 234. His last annual message set forth with renewed energy the
benefits of the independent treasury; announced with satisfaction that
the government was without a public debt; and earnestly advised the
enactment of more stringent laws for the suppression of the African
slave trade.

In 1844 Mr. Van Buren's friends once more urged his nomination for the
presidency by the Democratic national convention at Baltimore. But he
was rejected there on account of his opposition to the annexation of
Texas to the Union, avowed in a public letter to a citizen of
Mississippi who had asked for his position on that question. Though a
majority of the delegates in the convention were pledged to his support,
a rule being passed making a two-thirds vote necessary to a choice,
proved fatal to his interest. For several ballots he led all competitors
when he withdrew his name and Mr. Polk was nominated on the ninth
ballot.

In 1848, when the Democrats had nominated General Cass, and avowed their
readiness to tolerate slavery in the new territories lately acquired
from Mexico, Mr. Van Buren and his adherents adopting the name of the
free democracy at once began to discuss in public that new aspect of the
slavery question.

They held a convention at Utica on June 22nd which nominated Mr. Van
Buren for president, and Henry Dodge of Wisconsin for vice-president.
Mr. Dodge declined, and at a great convention in Buffalo on August 9th,
Charles Francis Adams was substituted. The convention declared:
"Congress has no more right to make a slave than to make a king; it is
the duty of the federal government to relieve itself from all
responsibility for the existence and continuance of slavery wherever the
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