Studies in American History 
169 
But there was bitter opposition to Colonel Johnson, the vice- 
president. Party discipline was not then what it is now. 
So hostile were many of the party to Johnson that it was 
certain that he, at least, would fail to be chosen by a majority 
of electors, whatever might be Van Buren’s fate.^^ 
The situation was such that it seemed wise to many of the 
party leaders not to hold a convention at all, since to do so 
would merely advertise the party division. It was argued 
that the Democrats were all in favor of Van Buren and 
that the people had already nominated him spontaneously. 
The Senate, which had once elected Colonel Johnson, could 
be trusted to choose that Democratic candidate who received 
the most electoral votes. It was asserted that there were 
ten states which had declined or would decline to send dele- 
gates to a convention. By some of them Mr. Van Buren had 
been named for re-election in conjunction with William R. 
King of Alabama, or James K. Polk of Tennessee, or Little- 
ton W. Tazewell of Virginia, or Colonel Johnson himself.^^ 
There was then no such body as a national committee of 
the party, and in fact no constituted authority to decide 
whether or not a national convention should be held. The 
conventions of 1831 and 1835 had both been called by the Demo- 
cratic members of the Nev/ Hampshire legislatures, and once 
again they issued a called for a convention to meet at Balti- 
more, on May 4, 1840.^® This convention has sometimes been 
called the Van Buren or administration convention. 
No business was transacted on Monday, May 4, but on the 
following day at 12 o’clock noon the convention assembled 
in the Hall of the Musical Association. Felix Grundy called 
the convention to order, and then moved that Governor Hill 
of New Hampshire take the chair, and that General Dix of 
New York be appointed secretary pro-tem. This was agreed 
to, and, on motion of Mr. Simpson, a committee consisting 
of one member from each state was appointed to nominate 
a candidate for the presidency of the convention and also to 
name four vice-presidents and a secretary.^^ 
The roll of the states was then called by the secretary, and 
it was found that delegates were present from twenty-one 
Stanwood, A History of the Presidency, I, 198. 
^^Ibid., I, 199. 
^^Ibid., 1, 199. 
Niles’ Eegister, LVIII, 147. 
