FROM JACKSON TO FILLMORE-1832-1851 49 



wrote in a private letter, which has been published in these 

 latter days, ' ' M. Van Buren is the most perfect imitation 

 of a gentleman I ever saw. ' ' But this commendation had 

 not then come to light, and the main reliance of the Demo- 

 crats in capturing the popular good-will was their can- 

 didate for the Vice-Presidency, Colonel Richard M. John- 

 son, of Kentucky. He, too, had fought in the Indian wars, 

 and bravely. Therefore it was that one of the Whig songs 

 which especially rejoiced me, ran: 



" They shout and sing, Oh humpsy dumpsy, 

 Colonel Johnson killed Tecumseh." 



Among the features of that period which excited my 

 imagination were the enormous mass meetings, with pro- 

 cessions, coming in from all points of the compass, miles 

 in length, and bearing every patriotic device and political 

 emblem. Here the Whigs had infinitely the advantage. 

 Their campaign was positive and aggressive. On plat- 

 form-wagons were men working at every trade which ex- 

 pected to be benefited by Whig success ; log cabins of all 

 sorts and sizes, hard-cider barrels, coon pens, great can- 

 vas balls, which were kept "a-rolling on," canoes, such 

 as General Harrison had used in crossing Western rivers, 

 eagles that screamed in defiance, and cocks that crowed 

 for victory. The turning ball had reference to sundry 

 lines in the foremost campaign song. For the October 

 election in Maine having gone Whig by a large majority, 

 clearly indicating what the general result was to be in 

 November, the opening lines ran as follows: 



" Oh, have you heard the news from Maine-Maine-Maine T 

 Rolling the country through f 

 It is the ball a-rolling on 

 For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." 



&c., &c., &c. 



Against all this the Democrats, with their negative and 

 defensive platform, found themselves more and more at 



I. 4 



