Tyler and Texas
On March 1, 1845 (167 years ago today) President John Tyler signed a law annexing the Republic of Texas into the United States. At the time Tyler was a lame duck president, with only three days to go into his term. The annexation of Texas had been a key issue in the election of 1844 and a promise to annex Texas had been one of the reasons that James K. Polk was victorious over his opponent Henry Clay. But Polk wouldn't be the one signing the Texans' entry into the union into law, Tyler would steal that thunder.
In early 1843, President Tyler felt that the time was right to pursue the addition of Texas into the union, but he was on the outs with the Whig Party. He optimistically believed that the annexation of the republic was his ticket to re-election in 1844 as an independent. Tyler knew he would need a Secretary of State who supported the Texas initiative, and so he replaced Daniel Webster's with Hugh S. Legaré as the new Secretary of state and removed other officeholders, replacing them with pro-annexation supporters. This was a reversal of his former stand against patronage. He elicited the help of political organizer Michael Walsh to build a political machine in New York. In exchange for an appointment as consul to Hawaii, journalist Alexander G. Abell wrote a flattering biography, called The Life of John Tyler. Tyler then embarked on a nationwide campaign tour in the spring of 1843.
Legaré's sudden death, led to the appointment of Abel P. Upshur, a popular Secretary of the Navy and close adviser, as the new Secretary of State. Tyler and Upshur began stealth negotiations with the Texas government, promising military protection from Mexico in exchange for a commitment to annexation. Secrecy was necessary, as the Constitution required Congressional approval for such military commitments. Upshur planted rumors of possible British designs on Texas to drum up support among Northern voters, who were wary of admitting a new pro-slavery state. By January 1844 Upshur told the Texas government that he had found a large majority of Senators in favor of an annexation treaty. The republic remained skeptical, and finalization of the treaty took until the end of February.
Upshur was killed on February 28, 1844 whem an explosion occurred on the USS Princeton at a ceremony at which Tyler was also present. Tyler appointed former Vice President John C. Calhoun in early March 1844 as his Secretary of State. Calhoun was a leading advocate of slavery, and his attempts to get an annexation treaty passed were resisted by abolitionists. When the text of the treaty was leaked to the public, and found to implicitly endorse both slavery and a possible confrontation with Mexico, public opposition grew.
Tyler knew, with virtually no chance of re-election, that the only way to salvage his presidency and legacy was to move public opinion in favor of the Texas issue. He formed a third party, the Democratic-Republicans, using the officeholders and political networks he had built over the previous year. The Tyler supporters, holding signs reading "Tyler and Texas!", held their nominating convention in Baltimore in May 1844, just as the Democratic Party was holding its presidential nomination. With their high visibility and energy they were able to force the Democrats' hand in favor of annexation.
The controversy over the annexation of Texas probably contibuted to the Democrats rejecting the candidacy of Martin Van Buren in favour of a lesser known pro-annexation candidate named James K. Polk. Tyler was unfazed when the Senate rejected his treaty by a vote of 16–35 in June 1844, as he felt that annexation would come with the election of Polk. He called for Congress to annex Texas by joint resolution rather than by treaty. Satisfied with the prospects of success, he dropped out of the race in August and endorsed Polk for the presidency. Polk's narrow victory over Clay in the November election was seen by the Tyler administration as a mandate for completing the resolution.
In late February 1845, the House by a substantial margin and the Senate by a squeaker 27–25 majority approved a joint resolution offering terms of annexation to Texas. On March 1, three days before the end of his term, Tyler signed the bill into law. After some debate, Texas accepted the terms and entered the union on December 29, 1845, as the 28th state.
In early 1843, President Tyler felt that the time was right to pursue the addition of Texas into the union, but he was on the outs with the Whig Party. He optimistically believed that the annexation of the republic was his ticket to re-election in 1844 as an independent. Tyler knew he would need a Secretary of State who supported the Texas initiative, and so he replaced Daniel Webster's with Hugh S. Legaré as the new Secretary of state and removed other officeholders, replacing them with pro-annexation supporters. This was a reversal of his former stand against patronage. He elicited the help of political organizer Michael Walsh to build a political machine in New York. In exchange for an appointment as consul to Hawaii, journalist Alexander G. Abell wrote a flattering biography, called The Life of John Tyler. Tyler then embarked on a nationwide campaign tour in the spring of 1843.
Legaré's sudden death, led to the appointment of Abel P. Upshur, a popular Secretary of the Navy and close adviser, as the new Secretary of State. Tyler and Upshur began stealth negotiations with the Texas government, promising military protection from Mexico in exchange for a commitment to annexation. Secrecy was necessary, as the Constitution required Congressional approval for such military commitments. Upshur planted rumors of possible British designs on Texas to drum up support among Northern voters, who were wary of admitting a new pro-slavery state. By January 1844 Upshur told the Texas government that he had found a large majority of Senators in favor of an annexation treaty. The republic remained skeptical, and finalization of the treaty took until the end of February.
Upshur was killed on February 28, 1844 whem an explosion occurred on the USS Princeton at a ceremony at which Tyler was also present. Tyler appointed former Vice President John C. Calhoun in early March 1844 as his Secretary of State. Calhoun was a leading advocate of slavery, and his attempts to get an annexation treaty passed were resisted by abolitionists. When the text of the treaty was leaked to the public, and found to implicitly endorse both slavery and a possible confrontation with Mexico, public opposition grew.
Tyler knew, with virtually no chance of re-election, that the only way to salvage his presidency and legacy was to move public opinion in favor of the Texas issue. He formed a third party, the Democratic-Republicans, using the officeholders and political networks he had built over the previous year. The Tyler supporters, holding signs reading "Tyler and Texas!", held their nominating convention in Baltimore in May 1844, just as the Democratic Party was holding its presidential nomination. With their high visibility and energy they were able to force the Democrats' hand in favor of annexation.
The controversy over the annexation of Texas probably contibuted to the Democrats rejecting the candidacy of Martin Van Buren in favour of a lesser known pro-annexation candidate named James K. Polk. Tyler was unfazed when the Senate rejected his treaty by a vote of 16–35 in June 1844, as he felt that annexation would come with the election of Polk. He called for Congress to annex Texas by joint resolution rather than by treaty. Satisfied with the prospects of success, he dropped out of the race in August and endorsed Polk for the presidency. Polk's narrow victory over Clay in the November election was seen by the Tyler administration as a mandate for completing the resolution.
In late February 1845, the House by a substantial margin and the Senate by a squeaker 27–25 majority approved a joint resolution offering terms of annexation to Texas. On March 1, three days before the end of his term, Tyler signed the bill into law. After some debate, Texas accepted the terms and entered the union on December 29, 1845, as the 28th state.