it by anybody.

"Tyler deems himself qualified to perform the duties and exercise
the powers and office of President, on the death of President
Harrison, without any other oath than that which he has taken as
Vice-President; yet, as doubts might arise, and for greater caution,
he will take and subscribe the oath as President. May the blessing
of Heaven upon this nation attend and follow this providential
revolution in its government! For the present it is not joyous, but
grievous.

"The moral condition of this country is degenerating, and especially
through the effect of that part of its constitution which is
organized by the process of unceasing elections. The spirit of the
age and country is to accumulate power in the hands of the
multitude: to shorten terms of service in high public places; to
multiply elections, and diminish executive power; to weaken all
agencies protective of property, or repressive of crime; to abolish
capital punishments and imprisonment for debt. Slavery,
intemperance, land-jobbing, bankruptcy, and sundry controversies
with Great Britain, constitute the materials for the history of John
Tyler's administration. But the improvement of the condition of man
will form no part of his policy, and the improvement of his country
will be an object of his most inveterate and inflexible opposition."

In September, 1841, one Alexander McLeod was imprisoned at Lockport, in
the State of New York, under an indictment for murder. The following
circumstances were the occasion of these proceedings. A steamer, called
the Caroline, owned and fitted out at Buffalo, had been engaged in
aiding certain insurgents against the Canadian government with military
apparatus and provisions; and an expedition, sent by the British
authorities, had cut the Caroline out of the port of Buffalo, set her on
fire, and sent her floating over the Niagara Falls. In the fight which
occurred one of the men on board the Caroline was killed.

The excitement was general and excessive throughout the State of New
York. McLeod was the leader in this expedition, and having, after the
lapse of some time, visited that state, he was arrested, imprisoned,
indicted, and the popular voice was clamorous that he should be
_hanged_. Notwithstanding the British government had declared that he
had acted under their authority as a military man, simply obeying the
order o