A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents

Compilation of the Messages and
Papers of the Presidents, A

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Title: A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents:
Tyler Section 2 (of 3) of Volume 4: John Tyler
Author: Compiled by James D. Richardson
Release Date: May 28, 2004 [EBook #12464]
Language: English
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A COMPILATION OF THE MESSAGES AND PAPERS OF THE
PRESIDENTS
BY JAMES D. RICHARDSON
John Tyler

April 4, 1841, to March 4, 1845

John Tyler
JOHN TYLER, second son of Judge John Tyler, governor of Virginia
from 1808 to 1811, and Mary Armistead, was born at Greenway,
Charles City County, Va., March 29, 1790. He was graduated at
William and Mary College in 1807. At college he showed a strong
interest in ancient history; was also fond of poetry and music, and was
a skillful performer on the violin. In 1809 he was admitted to the bar,
and had already begun to obtain a good practice when he was elected to
the legislature. Took his seat in that body in December, 1811. Was here
a firm supporter of Mr. Madison's Administration; and the war with
Great Britain, which soon followed, afforded him an opportunity to
become conspicuous as a forcible and persuasive orator. March 29,
1813, he married Letitia, daughter of Robert Christian, and a few weeks
afterwards was called into the field at the head of a company of militia
to take part in the defense of Richmond, threatened by the British. This
military service lasted but a month. He was reelected to the legislature
annually until, in November, 1816, he was chosen to fill a vacancy in
the United States House of Representatives. Was reelected to the
Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses. In 1821, his health being seriously
impaired, he declined a reelection and retired to private life. In 1823 he
was again elected to the Virginia legislature. Here he was a friend to
the candidacy of William H. Crawford for the Presidency. In 1824 he
was a candidate to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate, but was
defeated. He opposed in 1825 the attempt to remove William and Mary
College to Richmond, and was afterwards made successively rector and
chancellor of the college, which prospered signally under his
management. In December, 1825, he was chosen by the legislature to
the governorship of Virginia, and in the following year was reelected
by a unanimous vote. In December, 1826, the friends of Clay and
Adams combined with the Democrats opposed to John Randolph and
elected Mr. Tyler to the United States Senate. In February, 1830, after
taking part in the Virginia convention for revising the State constitution,
he returned to his seat in the Senate, and found himself first drawn
toward Jackson by the veto message (May 27) upon the Maysville
turnpike bill; supported Jackson in the Presidential election of 1832,

but broke with the Administration on the question of the removal of the
deposits from the United States Bank, and voted for Mr. Clay's
resolution to censure the President. He was nominated by the
State-rights Whigs for Vice-President in 1835, and at the election on
November 8, 1836, received 47 electoral votes; but no candidate having
a majority of electoral votes, the Senate elected Richard M. Johnson, of
Kentucky. The legislature of Virginia having instructed the Senators
from that State to vote for expunging the resolutions of censure upon
President Jackson, Mr. Tyler refused to obey the instructions, resigned
his seat, and returned home February 29, 1836. On January 10, 1838,
he was chosen president of the Virginia Colonization Society. In the
spring of 1838 he was returned to the Virginia legislature. In January,
1839, he was a candidate for reelection to the United States Senate; the
result was a deadlock, and the question was indefinitely postponed
before any choice had been made. December 4, 1839, the Whig
national convention, at Harrisburg, Pa., nominated him for
Vice-President on the ticket with William Henry Harrison, and at the
election on November 10, 1840, he was elected, receiving 234 electoral
votes to 48 for Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky. By the death of
President Harrison April 4, 1841, Mr. Tyler became President of the
United States. He took the oath of office on April 6. Among