Prefatory Note

In historic value this volume is equal to, if it does not surpass, any
one of the series which has preceded it. It comprises the eight years of
our history from March 4, 1841, to March 4, 1849, and includes the four
years' term of Harrison and Tyler and also the term of James K. Polk.
During the first half of this period the death of President Harrison
occurred, when for the first time under the Constitution the
Vice-President succeeded to the office of President. As a matter of
public interest, several papers relating to the death of President
Harrison are inserted. A number of highly interesting vetoes of
President Tyler appear, among which are two vetoing bills chartering a
United States bank and two vetoing tariff measures. During President
Tyler's Administration the protective tariff act of 1842 was passed; the
subtreasury law was repealed; the treaty with Great Britain of August 9,
1842, was negotiated, settling the northeastern-boundary controversy,
and providing for the final suppression of the African slave trade and
for the surrender of fugitive criminals; and acts establishing a uniform
system of bankruptcy and providing for the distribution of the sales of
the public lands were passed. The treaty of annexation between the
United States and the Republic of Texas was negotiated, but was rejected
by the Senate.

During the Administration of President Polk Texas was finally annexed to
the United States; Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin were admitted into the
Union; the Oregon boundary was settled; the independent-treasury system
was reenacted; the Naval Academy was established; acts were passed