Page:Conspectus of the history of political parties and the federal government - Houghton - 1860.djvu/36

20 of principles was adopted. The Nullification candidate was John C. Calhoun, nominated by the legislature of South Carolina. No one was indicated for the second office, and the person of the candidate was deemed sufficient without a promulgation of principles. General Jackson was re-elected, having received 219 electoral votes out of 316.

ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.—In 1833 the National Anti-Slavery Society was formed, as a result of the great interest awakened on the question of slavery two years before. Many auxiliary societies were organized throughout the northern states. The subject was openly and freely discussed; anti-slavery newspapers were soon established, and anti-slavery mail was circulated in the southern states. The opponents of slavery were called Abolitionists.

NULLIFICATION ORDINANCE.—Immediately after the tariff of 1832 was enacted, the congressmen of South Carolina issued an address denouncing the law, and asserting that it decreased duty on unprotected articles, and increased it on those protected. In November (1832), a convention of the people of South Carolina, acting under authority of the legislature, adopted an ordinance which declared the tariff act null and void. This was followed by a proclamation from the President, in which he pronounced against the actions of South Carolina, expounded the constitution according to the views of Webster, and expressed his determination to execute the laws of the United States. This famous proclamation accorded with the views of the people in all sections of the Union except the southern states. In South Carolina it was characterized as “the edict of a dictator.” The governor urged the people to protect the liberty of the state, and Congress empowered the President to employ the forces necessary to insure the collection of the revenue. Virginia at this juncture offered her mediation.

THE TARIFF OF 1833 was a compromise measure, brought forward by Mr. Clay to prevent the destruction of the tariff policy, to avert a civil war, and to restore peace to the country. It provided for a gradual reduction of duties till June, 1842, and put to rest the spirit of nullification.

REMOVAL OF DEPOSITS.—The law of 1816, establishing the National Bunk, ordered that the public moneys should be deposited in the vaults, and empowered the Secretary of the Treasury to remove the funds when necessary, provided he would lay before Congress his reasons for so doing. During the recess of Congress, the President determined that the revenue collectors should cease to deposit the revenues in the Bank, and that the funds remaining therein should be used to meet the current expenses of the government till the amount should be exhausted. This was termed a removal of the deposits, since it produced that result. In September, 1833, the President directed the Secretary of the Treasury to issue the necessary order. On his refusal to do so, Roger B. Taney was appointed in his stead, and, complying with the direction of the President, he designated certain banks as depositories. This act of the President was censured by the entire opposition and many of his political friends. It created great excitement throughout the country.

STATE BANKS.—When the Bank ceased to be the place for depositing the public moneys, the Democrats favored the use of state banks as depositories; this the Whigs opposed, and advocated the establishment of a sub-treasury.

SUB-TREASURY.—During the agitation in Congress over the bank question, a plan was proposed providing that the public moneys be placed in the custody of certain faithful agents appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury. The scheme was subsequently denominated the “sub-treasury.” It was advocated by the opposition during Jackson’s administration.

THE WHIG PARTY.—The intense political excitement occasioned by the removal of the “deposits,” gave rise to a reconstruction of parties, which resulted in the formation of the Whig party. It was composed of the National Republicans, the Anti-Masons, most of the nullifiers, and many Democrats who denounced what they deemed the high-handed measures of the executive. [See D.]

LOCOFOCOS.—In 1835, in the city and county of New York, a portion of the Democrats organized themselves into the “Equal Rights” party. Having convened in Tammany Hall to overslaugh the proceedings of the Democratic nominating committee, they presented a chairman in opposition to the one supported by the regular Democrats. When neither party could secure the election of its chairman, the committee, in the midst of the greatest confusion, extinguished the lights. The Equal Rights men immediately relighted the room with candles and locofoco matches, with which they had provided themselves. From this they received the name of Locofocos, a designation, which was, for a time, applied to the Democratic party by the opposition.

ANTI-SLAVERY MAIL.—The executive, in 1835, recommended to Congress the passage of a law suppressing the circulation, by mail, of anti-slavery publications in the southern states. The Whigs opposed the law on the ground that it invaded the sanctity of private correspondence.

TEXAS.—In 1836 the United States acknowledged the independence of Texas. Anti-slavery men opposed the measure.

RIGHT OF PETITION.—A society of Friends, in 1836, petitioned Congress to remove slavery from the District of Columbia. This was followed by excited discussion concerning the right of petition. Pro-slavery men argued that petitions for the abolition of slavery should not be received.

SPECIE CIRCULAR.—To prevent the accumulation of paper money in the treasury, the President issued his “specie circular,” which required the treasurer to receive only gold and silver in payment for lands sold. A great revulsion in business followed, and an excitement second only to that occasioned by the removal of the deposits.

ELECTION OF 1836.—The Democratic party, in national convention at Baltimore, May, 1835, confirmed the two-thirds rule, and, without adopting a platform, nominated Martin Van Buren and R. M. Johnson. The Locofocos held a counter convention in 1836, and adopted a declaration of principles. [See D. and Pl.] At a Whig convention, held at Albany, New York, and composed of delegates from that state only, William H. Harrison and Francis Granger were nominated. Resolutions favoring Harrison and opposing Van Buren were adopted. No principles were asserted. The Anti-Masons, who had not identified themselves with the Whigs, confirmed, in convention, the ticket selected at Albany. This nomination met with approval from Whig state conventions, but not without exceptions. Daniel Webster, H. L. White and William Smith were also candidates. This lack of unity weakened the efforts of the Whigs, and injured their chances of success. Van Buren was chosen by a mere popular majority.