His nomination
was due to the disposition to balance the ticket by selecting one of
the candidates from each wing of the party--and there are always two
wings to a party.
Of poetry the Whig writers furnished much more than was enjoyed by
Democrats. An effort was made to stay the tide in favor of Harrison
by poetry as well as by argument. The effort was fruitless. The
contest of 1840 had its origin in the most distressing financial
difficulties that ever rested upon the country, and it was conducted
on the part of the Whigs by large expenditure of money, for those days,
and with a degree of hilarity and good nature that it is difficult now
to realize. This may have been due to general confidence, and to a
consequent belief that a change of administration would be followed by
general prosperity.
The Whigs were not under the necessity of submitting arguments to their
followers, and the arguments of Democrats were of no avail. The Whig
papers in all parts of the country contained lists of names of
Democrats who were supporting General Harrison. Occasionally the
Democratic papers could furnish a short list of Whigs who declared for
Van Buren in preference to Harrison. The most absurd stories were told
of the administration, and apparently they were accepted as truth.
Charles J. Ogle, of Pennsylvania, delivered a speech in the House of
Representatives in which he marshaled all the absurd stories that were
afloat.
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