Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/106

 78 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS expansion beyond the Rocky mountains, the south ern states must have Texas added to their num ber as a counterpoise, or else the existence of slavery would be imperilled, and these fears were strengthened by the growth of anti-slavery senti ment at the north. The Whigs, who by reason of their tariff policy found their chief strength at the north, were disposed to avail themselves of this anti-slavery sentiment, and accordingly declared themselves opposed to the annexation of Texas. In the meantime the political pressure brought to bear upon Mr. Webster in Massachusetts induced resignation of his portfolio, and he was succeeded in the state department by Hugh S. Legare, May 9, 1843. In a few weeks Legare was succeeded by Mr. Upshur, after whose death, on February 28, 1844, the place was filled by John C. Calhoun. After a negotiation extending over two years, a treaty was concluded, April 12, 1844, with the gov ernment of Texas, providing for annexation. The treaty was rejected by the senate, by a vote of 35 to 16, all the Whigs and seven Democrats voting in the negative. Thus by the summer of 1844 the alliance between the Whig party and Mr. Tyler s wing of the Democrats had passed away. At the same time the division among the Democrats, which had become marked during Jackson s administra tion, still continued; and while the opposition to Mr. Tyler was strong enough to prevent his norni-