166 
Indiana University 
The usual meetings of ratification were held in the various 
cities. Whig newspapers placed the names of Harrison and 
Tyler at the head of their columns, and the party leaders 
avowed cordial support. Mr. Clay’s friends unhesitatingly 
pledged his concurrence. Nevertheless, the first feeling 
among the Whig masses was one of depression rather than 
exultation, arising, doubtless, from the disappointment of 
their cherished hopes in regard to Mr. Clay. The Demo- 
crats were correspondingly elated, arguing that the Whigs 
had set aside their chief statesman, and taken in his stead 
a candidate whom Van Buren had beaten once and could 
defeat again. They dwelt upon the fact that Harrison would 
have no strength in the South, for four states — Tennessee, 
South Carolina, Georgia, and Arkansas — had not even sent 
delegates to the Whig convention at Harrisburg.^^ 
In a letter to the secretary of the convention, Harrison 
declared that, should he be elected to the office of president, 
he would under no circumstances be a candidate for a second 
term. Tyler also addressed a letter to Mr. Owen, the secre- 
tary, expressing his gratitude for the honor which the con- 
vention had conferred upon him.®® 
By the beginning of the year 1840, the opposition to Van 
Buren was so great that some of the Democratic state con- 
ventions met and after condemning the policy of the admin- 
istration declared for Harrison and Tyler.®"^ This was par- 
ticularly true in the case of a Democratic state convention 
held at Harrisburg, Pa., and of a meeting of the Democratic 
members of the Maryland legislature, which was held on 
February 21, 1840. The opponents of the administration 
also met in Washington, on Saturday, February 15, and, after 
passing a resolution censuring the policy of the administra- 
tion, declared for Harrison and Tyler.®® 
The Harrison state convention of Ohio met at Dayton, on 
February 21 and 22, 1840, and amid great and unrestrained 
enthusiasm unanimously declared for the Harrison and Tylei 
ticket.®® 
Democratic state conventions held about the same time in 
Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi appointed Van Buren 
Seward, Autobiography, 448. 
36 Niles’ Register, LVII, 379. 
Ibid., LVIII, 4, 5. 
^Ubid., LVIII, 19-21. 
^Ubid., LVIII, 21-22, 
