June 12-Territorial government of Iowa organized.

Aug. 19-The United States exploring expedition sailed from Hampton Roads, Va., with six vessels, their officers, and a corps of scientific men, for the purpose of exploring the Arctic regions. Near the close of this year the Cherokee Indians, of Georgia, completed their emigration from that State to the Indian Territory, west of the Mississippi river. This was in consequence of the hostile legislation of the State of Georgia against them. The Supreme Court of the United States had decided these laws to be unconstitutional; but this decision was disregarded, and the Indians were driven off. "Lo! the poor Indian !”

1839.

In the early part of this year, Gen. Macomb induced the
Seminole Indians to make a treaty of peace with the United
States, but they were treacherous, and many murders were
still committed.

This year there was trouble between the United States and
England, respecting our N. E. boundary line. For the set-
tlement of this question, see July, 1842.

Dec. 2-Congress assembled, but it was three weeks before the house was organized.

"4-A Whig convention, at Harrisburg, Pa., nominate W. H. Harrison as their candidate for President.

1840.

May 5-A Democratic convention assembled at Baltimore, and nominated Martin Van Buren as their candidate for the office of President.

June 30-Congress passed the sub-treasury act, which had been defeated in 1837.

Nov. The fourteenth Presidential election held this fall, when the Whig candidate, Wm. H. Harrison, was elected. This was the most exciting election ever held in this country, Dec. 19-Felix Grundy, U. S. Senator from Tennessee, a very prominent statesman, and zealous friend of President Jackson, died.

1841.

Jan. 14-Congress abolished imprisonment for debts due to the United States wherever it was abolished by State laws. March 4-Wm. H. Harrison inaugurated the ninth President. 17-The President called (by proclamation) an extra session of Congress to meet on the 31st inst., to consider the subjects of revenue and finances of the country.

April 4-William H. Harrison President of the United States, died, and John Tyler, the Vice President, became acting President. This was the first time such an event had happened. May 14-Acting President John Tyler had issued a proclamation recommending this day to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, on account of President Harrison's death, which was so observed.

June 25-Alexander Macomb, chief in command of the United States army, died at Washington.

July 21-Congress authorized the President to borrow $12,000,000 for the support of government.

Aug. 9 The sub-treasury act repealed.

18-The United States bankrupt law went into operation; but it was repealed in 1843.

"16-The President vetoed a bill to charter a U. S. Bank. Sept. 9-He vetoed another bill for the same purpose. This made the fourteenth time the veto power had been used; Washington vetoed two bills, Madison four, Monroe one, Jackson five, Tyler two.

"10-All the members of Tyler's cabinet, except Daniel Webster,

resigned.

1842.

June 25-Congress again apportion the Representatives in Congress among the States, on the basis of the sixth census (1840), fixing the ratio of one Representative to 70,600 people.

July 23-The Bunker-Hill monument finished, which had been in progress seventeen years.

In July the Senate ratified the treaty which had just been negotiated by Daniel Webster for the United States, and Lord Ashburton, for England, in relation to the northeastern boundary between the United States and the British possessions in North America.

Aug. 14-It was officially announced that the war with the Indians in Florida had ceased.

26-By law the fiscal year of the United States government was made to commence on the 1st day of July of each year. Oct. 2-The U. S. sloop of war Concord lost on the rocks in the Mozambique channel.

Nov. 26-Robert Smith, a member of the cabinet under Jefferson and Madison, died in Baltimore, aged 85.

1843.

March 3-Congress make an appropriation of $30,000 to enable S. F. B. Morse to erect an experimental telegraph between Washington and Baltimore. This was the first electric telegraph in the world.

March 8-Com. Porter, of the United States navy, but at this time American minister to Turkey, died at Constantinople.

April 1-John Armstrong, a prominent officer of the Revolutionary war, and Secretary of War under Madison, died at Red Hook, N. Y.

June In this month the Dorr rebellion broke out in Rhode Isl

and.

Aug. 26-The United States frigate Missouri, lying at anchor at Gibraltar, Spain, took fire and was consumed.

Dec. 18-Smith Thompson, a judge of the U. S. Supreme Court, died at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., aged 76.

1844.

Feb. 28-A very large wrought-iron gun burst on board the U. S. steamer Princeton, while firing a salute, and killed Abel P. Upshur, then Secretary of State, and a number of other distinguished gentlemen who were on board.

May 1-Henry Clay nominated for President, and Theodore Frelinghuysen for Vice President, by a Whig convention assembled at Baltimore.

"7-Morgan Lewis, a distinguished officer and statesman during the Revolution, died in New York.

"27-James K. Polk nominated by the Democratic convention assembled at Baltimore, for President, and George M. Dallas for Vice President.

The fifteenth Presidential election occurred during the Fall, and resulted in the election of James K. Polk, of Tenn., over Henry Clay, of Ky.

1845.

Jan. 16-The treaty made by Mr. Cushing, United States minister to China, and the Chinese commissioners, unanimously ratified by the United States Senate.

"28-Congress enact that hereafter all Presidential elections shall be held on the same day in all the States, viz.: on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each year when such election is held.

"25-A joint resolution to annex Texas to the United States passed the House, (it had previously passed the Senate,) by a vote of 120 to 98.

March 1-Texas annexed to the United States by resolution of both houses of Congress.

4-James K. Polk inaugurated the tenth regular President.
3-Florida admitted into the Union, making the twenty-sev-
enth State.

June 18-Andrew Jackson died.

18-A joint resolution passed both houses of the Texan Congress, assenting to the annexation to the United States. Sept. 10-Joseph Story, one of the judges of the United States Su

preme Court, and one of the most able of American jurists, died, aged 66. Dec. 15-A resolution offered by Mr. Cass, in the United States Senate, and a speech made by him, caused much excitement, as they portended a war with England about the boundary line between Oregon and the northwestern British possessions. It was this originated the Democratic saying, "54° 40' or fight."

24-Texas admitted into the Union as a State, making the twenty-ninth.

"28-Iowa, having complied with the conditions imposed upon her by an act of March 3, 1845, was now fully admitted into the Union, making the twenty-eighth State.

1846.

March 28-The American army, 3,500 strong, under Gen. Z. Taylor, post themselves on the Rio Grande, opposite Matamoras. The Mexicans regarded this as an invasion of their territory, and was the immediate cause of the Mexican war. April 24-Hostilities commence between the U. S. and Mexico. 26-First battle, when the Mexicans made an attack on sixtythree United States dragoons, Capt. Thornton, who surrendered, with a loss of 16 men.

66

May 8-Battle of Palo Alto, with 6,000 Mexicans against 2,300 Americans under Gen. Taylor. Mexicans whipped, with a loss of 100 men killed. Americans, 4 killed and 40 wounded. Major Ringgold was killed at this battle.

"9-Battle of Resaca de la Palma. The Mexicans again defeated, and their general (La Vega) taken prisoner. Gen. Taylor commanded the U. S. forces.

"12-Congress passed an act declaring that war existed between the United States and Mexico, by the act of Mexico.

Au

thorized the raising of 50,000 troops, and voted $10,000,000 to carry on the war.

"13-President Polk issued a proclamation that war existed with Mexico.

July 6-Com. Sloat, of the United States navy, took Monterey, on the coast of California, and issued a proclamation that that country was annexed to the United States.

In the same month Com. Stockton took San Diego from the
Mexicans.

"9-Congress retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, back to Virginia.

"17-The treaty between the United States and England respecting the boundary line between Oregon and the English possessions in North America, was ratified in London. "22-Congress authorized the issue of $10,000,000 treasury notes. By this means the loan above mentioned was raised.

July 30-Congress pass a new tariff, reducing the duties on imported goods. This is known as the tariff of 1846.

Aug. 3-President Polk vetoed the river and harbor bill, on the ground that it was unconstitutional, and that the money was wanted to carry on the Mexican war.

"8-He also vetoed the French spoliation bill, on the ground that it had not been sufficiently considered, and that the money could not be spared in time of war.

"18-Gen. Kearney took peaceable possession of Santa Fe, in Mexico, and issued a proclamation absolving the Mexicans from their allegiance to the Mexican government.

"19-Com. Stockton declared all the Mexican ports, south of San Diego, in a state of blockade.

"22-The whole of California was at this time in the military possession of the United States.

Sept. 21, 22, 23, 24-Battle of Monterey between 4,700 United States troops, under Gen. Taylor, and 10,000 Mexicans, under Gen. Ampudia. On the 24th an armistice of eight weeks was agreed to, when the Mexicans surrendered the city.

Oct. 25-Tobasco was bombarded by the Gulf squadron, under Com. Perry, and all the Mexican vessels in the port were captured or destroyed.

Nov. 14-Com. Connor took peaceable possession of the Mexican seaport, Tampico.

Dec. 8-The United States brig Somers was capsized by a squall off Vera Cruz, and sank in ten minutes, with a loss of two officers and thirty-nine men.

"25-Battle of Brazito, near El Passo, between 450 Americans, under Col. Doniphan, and a body of Mexican cavalry, who were defeated.

1847.

Jan. 8-The Mexican Congress voted to raise $15,000,000 for the war against the United States, by a mortgage upon or the sale of the property of the clergy.

Feb. 23-Battle of Buena Vista, with 4,759 United States troops, under Gen. Taylor, and from 17,000 to 22,000 Mexicans, under Gen. Santa Anna, who was defeated, with a loss of 1,5.0 men. United States loss, 756.

"23-On this day, ex-President John Quincy Adams died at Washington.

March 1-Gen. Kearney, by proclamation, absolved the people of California from their allegiance to Mexico, and regarded them as citizens of the United States.

3-Wisconsin admitted into the Union by act of Congress, which took effect on the 29th May, 1848, making the thirtieth State.

9-Gen. Scott landed with 12,000 men at Vera Cruz. On the