35 2 HARRISON, TYLER 



sketch of his career here given is enough to show that 

 there was no man in the United States in 1840 whose 

 opinions had been more clearly or more boldly de- 

 clared; and if the Whigs had sinned in nominating 

 him, they certainly had sinned with their eyes open. 

 In the ill-yoked alliance of which the Whig party was 

 born, the elements of a fierce quarrel were scarcely 

 concealed, and the removal of President Harrison was 

 all that was needed to kindle the flames of strife. 

 "Tyler dares not resist," said Clay; "I'll drive him 

 before me." On the other hand, the new President 

 declared, " I pray you to believe that my back is to the 

 wall, and that, while I shall deplore the assaults, I 

 shall, if practicable, beat back the assailants ; " and he 

 was as good as his word. Congress met in extra ses- 

 sion, May 31, 1841, the Senate standing 28 Whigs to 

 22 Democrats, the House 133 Whigs to 108 Demo- 

 crats. In his opening message President Tyler briefly 

 recounted the recent history of the United States Bank, 

 the subtreasury system, and other financial schemes, 

 and ended with the significant words, " I shall be ready 

 to concur with you in the adoption of such system 

 as you may propose, reserving to myself the ultimate 

 power of rejecting any measure which may, in my view 

 of it, conflict with the Constitution, or otherwise jeop- 

 ard the prosperity of the country; a power which I 

 could not part with, even if I would, but which I will 

 not believe any act of yours will call into requisition." 

 The challenge was promptly accepted by Congress. 

 The ground was cleared for action by a bill for abol- 

 ishing Van Buren's subtreasury system, which passed 

 both houses and was signed by the President. But 

 an amendment offered by Mr. Clay for the repeal of 



