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| President Harrison |
President William Henry Harrison
A native of Virginia, was born into a family that owned slaves back in 1773. His father, Benjamin Harrison V, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. During his teenage years, Harrison briefly attended an academy in Southampton County where he became involved with the antislavery Quakers and Methodists. This did not sit well with his pro-slavery father, who then had him transferred to Philadelphia to study medicine under Dr. Benjamin Rush. However, Harrison did not find an interest in medicine and did not complete his training due to his father's passing shortly after he arrived in Philadelphia in 1791, leaving him without funds for further education.
Following the death of his father, 18-year-old Harrison joined the US Army as an ensign. Two years later, in 1793, his mother passed away, and Harrison inherited a portion of the family's estate, including approximately 3,000 acres of land and several slaves.
In 1801, Harrison relocated to the Indiana Territory
Where he was appointed as Governor. In 1803, he advocated for the repeal of Article 6 of the Northwest Ordinance in Congress, which would permit slavery in the territory. Harrison argued that this change was necessary to attract settlers and contribute to the territory's economic viability. He successfully persuaded Congress to suspend the article for 10 years, granting the territories covered by the ordinance the right to decide on slavery themselves. However, Harrison faced opposition when he attempted to fully legalize slavery in 1805 and 1807, causing controversy in the territory. In 1809, as the abolitionist party gained power through popular elections, they thwarted Harrison's plans for slavery and nullified the indenturing laws he had previously enacted. Despite President Thomas Jefferson being a slaveholder, he did not support the expansion of slavery into the Northwest Territory. Anti-slavery churches in Indiana rallied citizens to sign petitions and organize politically to defeat Harrison's efforts.
In 1836, Harrison became the Northern Whig! Northern Whig?
Candidate for president, marking the first intentional nomination of multiple candidates by a major political party in American history. He campaigned in all the free states, except Massachusetts, as well as the slave states of Delaware, Maryland, and Kentucky. The strategy aimed to prevent Van Buren from securing a majority in the electoral college, but it ultimately failed. When Harrison ran as the Whig candidate again in 1840, he faced off against incumbent President Van Buren. He centered his campaign on his heroic military record and the struggling U.S. economy resulting from the Panic of 1837. Despite his origins in a slaveholding Virginia family, he presented himself as a humble frontiersman,
reminiscent of the popular Andrew Jackson.
Harrison won the presidential election but tragically served only 31 days in office, making it the shortest presidency in U.S. history, before his untimely death. During his brief tenure, Harrison was unable to implement any policies regarding slavery or civil rights. Based on his record as Governor of Indiana, slave-holding states likely perceived him as a kindred spirit and advocate for their cause. He was the 9th President!
President John Tyler
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| President Tyler |
For the first time in our nation's history!
The Vice-President of the United States, through a constitutional provision, assumed the Presidency. As I take my oath as President of this Confederacy, I humbly pray to the all-wise and all-powerful Creator who made me, to guide me in fulfilling the principles of the Constitution that I have sworn to protect, preserve, and defend.
Following the funeral of President Harrison, President Tyler and his family moved into the Executive Mansion. While little documentation exist regarding the household staff, fragments of evidence suggest that both free and enslaved African Americans served at the Tyler White House.
In the book "The Underground Rail Road" by abolitionist William Still!
Slavery
The experiences of African Americans who escaped slavery and sought freedom were recounted. One of these stories includes James Hambleton Christain, who claimed to be the half-brother of First Lady Letitia Christian Tyler and was born into slavery on Robert Christian's plantation.
Newspaper reports from that time also allude to the presence of enslaved individuals working at the White House. Just days before the Princeton explosion, an investigation was initiated into an alleged robbery at the President's House. The Daily National Intelligencer reported that a woman named Mary Murphy, described as a "colored woman," was charged with stealing silver tableware belonging to the United States. Additionally, it was mentioned that "a colored servant belonging to the President is also implicated in this theft."
According to the 1844 D.C. Criminal Court records, George Avery and Susan Goodyear faced initial charges of larceny, which were later reduced to receiving stolen goods. John Tyler, Jr. attended their court appearances, likely as a witness on behalf of his father. One newspaper article reported that Susan Goodyear was acquitted, while George Avery, who had testimonials vouching for his character, was also acquitted. Interestingly, James Hoban, Jr., the son of the architect who constructed the President's House, served as Avery's public defender.
Despite President Tyler's call for a "lofty patriotism¨
Unity against factionalism, he soon found himself in conflict with Cabinet members and leaders in the Whig Party. The president's veto of legislation aimed at reviving the Second Bank of the United States triggered strong reactions from politicians and citizens alike. In the middle of the night, an angry mob converged on the White House, loudly banging on drums and kettles while hurling obscenities towards Tyler. They even burned an effigy of him, chanting "down with Tyler," "hurrah for Clay," and demanding the establishment of a bank.
Tyler's dissent from the Whig Party resulted in his expulsion, with most of his Cabinet resigning in response to the controversy. The situation escalated further on July 22, 1842, when Virginia Representative John Minor Botts presented a petition calling for Tyler's resignation. In the event of his refusal, the petition prayed for his impeachment based on his alleged ignorance of the nation's interests and his perceived lack of qualification for the presidential office. Although unsuccessful, this marked the first instance of Congress attempting to impeach a president in American history.
His passing also ushered in a new era of uncertainty for the enslaved individuals bound by the Tyler family. In 1864, Union soldiers descended upon Sherwood Forest, presenting the enslaved community with an opportunity to break free. Alongside their departure, the troops wreaked havoc on the property, pillaging the house and confiscating or destroying Tyler's documents. Consequently, our understanding of those who were enslaved by the Tyler family remains limited - yet we remain hopeful that further research will shed light on their experiences.
President John Tyler drew his final breath on January 18, 1862..
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