HISTORY

14

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

BY

JAMES SCHOULER.

VOL. IV.

1831-1847.

WASHINGTON, D. C. :

WILLIAM H. MORRISON.

1889.

595674

XD GU

HARVAR

FEB 15 1889

LIRBAPY

Brigit Fund

COPYRIGHT, 1889,

BY JAMES SCHOULER.

Rights of Translation and Abridgment reserved.

AUTHOR'S NOTICE.

IN preparing this fourth volume I have availed myself, as before, of all library facilities and all historical collections to be found in Boston and Washington. Among the many works which are cited in these pages, I desire to make especial mention of Hubert H. Bancroft's History of the Pacific States, which throws much light upon our Mexican relations and the conquest of Texas and California; also of the Lives of the Tylers, by John Tyler's sons.* I have, besides, gained valuable information upon important points from Secretary Bayard, of the State Department; from William Allen Butler, the custodian of the Van Buren papers; and from the venerable George Bancroft, the last survivor of Polk's momentous administration.

One more volume, which I hope to prepare as speedily as my other engagements may permit, will bring the narrative to the spring of 1861, and complete this work according to the plan I proposed at the outset. As I enter into the era of the great political struggle in our American Union between freedom and slavery I am impressed the more strongly with the grave responsibility I have undertaken, and my misgivings increase lest many of my readers who have thought well of former volumes cease to confide in my good judgment and discrimination. But I have still endeavored to learn the whole truth as others have not learned it before, and to state my conclusions as

*See, also, the Joel R. Poinsett papers, in Pennsylvania Magazine. of History and Biography, October, 1888, as to the "nullification" troubles.