by Jackson, requiring all payments to the government to be made in gold and silver, and thus, it was claimed, large quantities of specie were kept out of circulation. A committee of N. Y. merchants petitioned the president to rescind the circular. Van Buren refused their request, but called an extra session of Congress. That body took measures to protect the government from embarrassment, but could do little to relieve the prevalent distress. The return of confidence and prosperity was necessarily slow. The New York banks resumed specie payments in May, 1838, as did those in other places shortly after.

At this extra session Van Buren submitted his famous Sub-treasury Scheme, for the safe keeping of the public funds. It was at first violently opposed and failed to pass; but, presented at a subsequent session, it became a law in 1840. The Sub-treasury Bill provided that all government dues should be paid in gold or silver, which should not, as before, be deposited in banks, but should be kept in certain offices in the chief cities of the Union, under the care of persons appointed for the purpose, called sub-treasurers, who should give security for the proper discharge of their duty. The sub-treasury bill was the great measure of Van Buren's administration, and called forth violent denunciations from his opponents. Keeping a large amount of specie in the vaults. of government, it compelled the banks to limit their operations, and through them acted on the community. With such effect was this argument used in the election of 1840, that Van Buren, who was running for a second term, was defeated by a large majority.

549. In 1837, a portion of the Canadians rose against the British government and attempted to establish their independence. The people of the U. S., particularly those of New York, sympathized with the insurgents, and many

circular"? Who petitioned the president to rescind it? How did the president answer their petition? What was done by Congress? When did the banks resume payment? What scheme did the president submit at this extra session? What was its fate? Give the substance of the Sub-treasury Bill. What argument was urged against it? What was the consequence? 549. In 1887, what attempt was made by some of the Canadians? How did the people of the U. S. feel on the subject? What was done by a party of 700

1837] TROUBLES ON THE CANADA FRONTIER.

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crossed the border to render them assistance. A party of 700 men took possession of Navy Island, a British dependency in the Niagara River [see Map, p. 351], and fortified it so strongly as to resist an attack from the loyalists. The steamer Caroline was employed to bring them munitions from Schlosser on the American side. Late at night, near the close of December, 1837, a party of loyalists crossed from Canada, set fire to the Caroline, cut her from her moorings, and allowed her to drift over the falls. By these proceedings the peaceful relations between Great Britain and the U.S. were endangered; but Van Buren promptly issued a proclamation forbidding interference in the affairs of Canada, and sent Gen. Wool to the frontier. The force on Navy Island surrendered their arms and dispersed; and, not long after, another body which had assembled in N. Y. near the Canada line, with hostile intentions, followed their example. The insurrection was soon suppressed, and harmony between the two countries was once more restored.

CHAPTER XII.

ADMINISTRATION OF HARRISON AND TYLER, 1841-1845.

550. VAN BUREN was succeeded by William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, who was inaugurated March 4th, 1841. Harrison was born on the James River, Virginia, in 1773, and on the death of his father was placed under the guardianship of Robert Morris, the great financier of the Revolution. Having graduated at Hampden Sidney College, he applied himself to the study of medicine; but, before the completion of his course, the news of Indian aggressions in the West led him to join the army then about to take the

men? [See Map, p. 351.-What place in New York near Navy Island? What other island in the Niagara River?] How did the loyalists retaliate? What were endangered by these proceedings? What steps were taken by the president? What was the result? 550. By whom was Van Buren succeeded? When was Harrison inaugurated? Give sketch of Harrison's previous history. What won for Harrison the confidence of his

field, and he received from Washington a commission as ensign. Bearing himself gallantly in the armies of St. Clair and Wayne, he was rapidly promoted, and finally became lieutenant-governor of the North-west Territory. In 1799, he was sent to Congress as its first delegate; and soon after he was appointed governor of Indiana, which then included, not only the region now so called, but also Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. His services in this capacity, and his victories at Tippecanoe and the Thames, gained for him the hearty gratitude of the West, as well as the unreserved confidence of the whole Union.

John Tyler was the new vice-president. Born in 1790 in Virginia, he was graduated at 17 at William and Mary College, was admitted to the bar two years afterwards, and soon became distinguished in his profession. Tyler was not long in attaining political prominence. After serving successively in the legislature and in Congress, he was in 1825 elected governor of Virginia. Called to the U. S. senate, he ran an honorable career in that body, consistently carrying out state rights principles and generally voting with the democratic party. Differing from Jackson on some points, and an ardent friend of Clay, though known to be opposed to the U.S. Bank, he was placed on the same ticket with Gen. Harrison.

551. Harrison appointed Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts, secretary of state, and soon after his inauguration called an extra session of Congress, to consider "sundry important matters connected with the finances of the country". When Congress met, the president was no more. He died on the 4th of April, 1841, from disease brought on by fatigue and exposure. Tyler thus became president, and on the 6th of April he took the oath of office.

Congress, at its extra session, occupied itself chiefly with the financial interests of the country. The Sub-treasury Act was repealed, and a Bankrupt Law was passed, which freed

countrymen? Who was the new vice-president? Where was John Tyler born? Give an account of his early life. What course did he pursue in the senate? How did he come to be nominated by the whigs? 551. Whom did Harrison make secretary of state? What did the president do soon after his inauguration? Before Congress met, what melancholy event happened? Who thus became president? What occupied the

1841]

TYLER'S VETOES.

415

those who had failed from their obligations, and enabled them to recommence business. The great question before Congress, however, was the establishment of a national bank. A bill providing for such an institution was framed by Clay and passed both houses; but, to the indignation of the whigs throughout the country, it was vetoed by the president. Another bill, similar in substance but modified in some of its details, was passed the following September; but this also received Mr. Tyler's veto. Violent abuse was lavished on the president for thus defeating the favorite measure of the party that elected him; yet he was merely carrying out the principles which he had always held on this subject. The cabinet showed their disapproval of his course by resigning, Mr. Webster alone retaining his seat on account of several important public interests which would have suffered from his resignation.

552. One of these was the settlement of a boundary line on the northeast, between the possessions of Great Britain and the United States. War was at one time threatened; but the excitement that pervaded the country, particularly those parts of Maine and New Brunswick which bordered on the disputed line, was laid at rest by a treaty made by Lord Ashburton and Daniel Webster on the part of their respective countries, and ratified by the senate August 20th,

1842.

553. The charter of the U. S. Bank expired by limitation in 1836. President Jackson's veto, as we have seen, prevented it from receiving a new charter from the general government; but it succeeded in obtaining one from Pennsylvania, and continued its operations under the management of Nicholas Biddle. Its directors, however, abandoning the prudent policy which had marked its former movements,

attention of Congress at this extra session? What act was repealed? What law was passed? What was the great question before Congress? What action was had on the subject of a national bank? How was it defeated? How were these vetoes received? How did the cabinet show their disapprobation? Why did Webster retain his seat? 552. What difficulty had arisen between the United States and Great Britain? How was it settled? 553. What had proved fatal to the U. S. Bank? From what state did it receive a new charter? By whom was it managed? What policy did it follow? What

ventured into the same wild system of speculation that was ruining other institutions, and, like them, it was compelled to suspend in 1837. It resumed payment, but again speculated beyond its means; and, notwithstanding the exertions of its friends, it finally failed in October, 1841, involving many in ruin.

554. The summer of 1842 was signalized by the return of an exploring expedition which had been sent out four years before by the government, under the command of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, of the U.S. navy. Accompanied by a large corps of scientific men, and well provided with every thing that could assist them in their researches, Lieut. Wilkes had traversed the Pacific, visited various groups of islands before but little known, surveyed different parts of the western coast of America, and made many important discoveries in the far south, which was the particular scene of his explorations. Among other things, he discovered and coasted for a distance of 1700 miles what is known as the Antarctic Continent. The whole distance traversed was 90,000 miles.

555. Rhode Island and New York were each the seat of internal disturbances during Tyler's administration. In Rhode Island, the difficulties originated in attempts to change the constitution granted by Charles II., under which the government had been administered for nearly two hundred years. According to this instrument, no citizen could vote unless he had a certain amount of property. This provision and others it was deemed best to alter; but a difference of opinion on some of the points involved gave rise to two parties, known as the "suffrage" and the "law and order" party, each of which elected a governor, and prepared to support its claims with arms. The suffrage party, whose proceedings had not been in accordance with existing laws, elected Thomas W. Dorr. He made an attack on the state arsenal, May 18th, 1843, but was soon compelled to flee before the militia, who

was it compelled to do? What was its final fate? 554. What signalized the summer of 1942? What was accomplished by Wilkes' expedition? How long a voyage did it make? 555. What states were the scene of disturbances during Tyler's administration? Give an account of the difficulties in Rhode Island. Whom did "the suffrage party"