Studies in American History 
167 
men as delegates to the national Democratic convention, and 
in a few words expressed confidence in Van Buren’s admin- 
istration and disdain for Harrison and the Whig party. One 
delegate to the Mississippi Democratic state convention said: 
“OLD GRANNY HARRISON stands no earthly prospect of 
receiving a single electoral vote in the Southwest. The 
PETTICOAT HERO will be waterlooed.”^° This gentleman 
seemed to voice the sentiments of the southern Democrats. 
The next national convention to be held was that of the 
Whig Young Men. Arrangements had been made for such a 
convention at the time of the fneeting of the Whig national 
convention late in the preceding year. In pursuance of public 
notice, the delegates to the national convention of Whig 
Young Men assembled in an informal meeting, on Saturday 
evening. May 2, 1840, at Washington Hall, in the city of 
Baltimore. No business was transacted at this session ex- 
cept to request each state delegation to select one of its mem- 
bers to act as a member of the committee for the nomina- 
tion of officers for the convention and to prepare such other 
business as it deemed necessary to bring before the conven- 
tion. The members of this committee were to meet at 
Barnum’s Hotel, at 7 o’clock on Monday morning. This com- 
mittee met accordingly on Monday morning, and called Mr. 
Thompson of Kentucky to the chairmanship of the committee. 
Mr. Norvell of Tennessee was requested to serve as secre- 
tary. The committee then nominated John V. L. McMahon 
of Maryland as a candidate for president of the convention. 
His name was then presented to the convention, and the roll 
of the states was next called for the nomination of twenty- 
seven vice-presidents and the same number of secretaries. 
These officers were nominated and some more minor business 
transacted, after which the convention decided to meet at 
the Canton race course. Then came the great procession. 
The delegations from the thirteen original states with banners 
and all sorts of standards took the lead, and the thirteen 
newer states brought up the rear. This was a great day in 
Baltimore. The monster parade finally reached the race 
course and entered the enclosure, where temporary platforms 
had been provided for the speakers. A few speakers ad- 
dressed the assembly. Then Mr. Thompson of Kentucky an- 
nounced the nominations for officers, which had been agreed 
40 /bid., LVIII, 21, 22. 
