"When
a Christian people feel themselves to be overtaken by a great public calamity, it becomes them to humble themselves under the dispensation of
Divine Providence ..."
stated
John Tyler in his first act as President, April 13, 1841.
President John Tyler continued his Proclamation of a
National Day of Fasting and Prayer:
"... to recognize
His righteous government over the children of men, to acknowledge
His goodness in time past, as well as their own unworthiness, and to supplicate
His merciful protection for the future ...
the people of the United States of every religious denomination ... according to their several modes and forms of worship...observe
a Day of Fasting and Prayer by such religious services ...
... to the end that on that day we may all with one accord join in humble and reverential approach to
Him in whose hands we are,
invoking Him to inspire us with a proper spirit and temper of heart and mind under these frowns of
His providence and still to bestow
His gracious benedictions upon our Government and our country."
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States.
He was born MARCH 29, 1790.
John Tyler was the first Vice-President to assume the Presidency when
President William Henry Harrison died after only one month in office.
In his first address, April 9,
President John Tyler stated:
"For the first time in our history the person elected to the Vice-Presidency of the United States ... has had devolved upon him the Presidential office ...
...
My earnest prayer shall be constantly addressed
to the All-wise and All-powerful Being who made me, and by whose dispensation I am called to the high office of President ...
Confiding in the protecting care of
an ever-watchful and overruling Providence, it shall be my first and highest duty to preserve unimpaired the free institutions under which we live and transmit them to those who shall succeed me."
Get the book PRAYERS AND PRESIDENTS-Inspiring Faith from Leaders of the Past
President John Tyler continued
Democrat President Andrew Jackson's fight against
The Bank of the United States, vetoing a bill to reinstate the Bank, August 16, 1841:
"An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Fiscal
Bank of the United States ... has been considered by me ...
I can not conscientiously give it my approval ...
I took an oath that I would 'preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States' ...
I could not give my sanction to a measure of the character described without
surrendering all claim to the respect of honorable men, all confidence on the part of the people, all self-respect,
all regard for moral and religious obligations ..."
Tyler continued:
"Let the history of
the late United States Bank aid us in answering this inquiry ...
The immense transactions of the bank in the purchase of exchange ... in the line of discounts
the suspended debt was enormous and
proved most disastrous to the bank and
the country.
... Its power of local discount has in fact proved to be a fruitful
source of favoritism and corruption, alike
destructive to the public morals and to the general weal."
Jefferson described the
Bank of the United States "as a machine for the corruption of the legislature."
James Madison refused to recharter the
Bank, and as British financiers owned two-thirds of the
Bank's stocks, the
War of 1812 began.
The Interesting History of Income Tax
President Andrew Jackson vetoed the
Bank of the United States' renewal charter, July 10, 1832, stating:
"Some of powers and privileges possessed by the existing Bank are
unauthorized by the Constitution,
subversive to the rights of the States, and
dangerous to the liberties of the people ...
It is easy to conceive that
great evils to our country and its institutions might flow from such a concentration of power in the hands of a few men irresponsible to the people ...
... Their
power would be great whenever they might choose to exert it ... to
influence elections or control the affairs of the nation.
But if any private citizen or public functionary should interpose to curtail its powers or prevent a renewal of its privileges, it cannot be doubted that he would be
made to feel its influence ..."
Jackson continued:
"Controlling our currency, receiving our public moneys, and holding thousands of our citizens in dependence,
it would be more formidable and dangerous than the naval and military power of the enemy."
Another Democrat who had vigorously
opposed the Bank of the United States and "paper money" was U.S. Senator
Thomas Hart Benton from Missouri.
Thomas Hart Benton had joined
President Andrew Jackson in fighting the establishment of the
Bank, though he had earlier shot
Jackson in a duel:
"Yes, sir, I knew him, sir; General Jackson was a very great man, sir. I shot him, sir. Afterward he was of great use to me, sir,
in my battle with the United States Bank."
President John Tyler stated in his 2nd Annual Message to Congress, December 6, 1842:
"We have continued reason to express our profound gratitude to
the Great Creator of All Things for the numberless benefits conferred upon us as a people ...
Such are the circumstances ... lead us to unite in praise and thanksgiving to that
Great Being who made us and who preserves us as a nation ....
The schoolmaster and the missionary are found side by side."
In December 1843, in his Third Annual Message to Congress,
President John Tyler stated:
"If any people ever had cause to render up thanks to
the Supreme Being for parental care and protection ... we certainly are that people.
From the first settlement of our forefathers on the continent, through the dangers attendant upon the occupation of a savage wilderness, through a long period of colonial dependence, through the War of the Revolution ...
it becomes us humbly to acknowledge our dependence upon
Him as our guide and protector and to implore a continuance of His parental watchfulness over our beloved country."
President John Tyler settled the border between
Maine and
Canada.
He pushed for years to have
Texas admitted to the Union.
The city of
Tyler, Texas, is named for him.
The annexation of
Texas was completed during the term of the next President,
James K. Polk, whose Vice-President was
George Dallas, for whom Dallas, Texas, was named.
Considering the Federal Government as having grown too powerful, taking away rights from the States,
John Tyler joined the Confederacy, though he died before any fighting began.
In his last Annual Message before leaving the Presidency,
John Tyler stated December 3, 1844:
"The
guaranty of religious freedom, of the
freedom of the press, of the
liberty of speech, of the
trial by jury, of the
habeas corpus ... will be enjoyed by millions yet unborn ...
Our prayers should evermore be offered up to
the Father of the Universe for
His wisdom to direct us in the path of our duty so as to enable us to consummate these high purposes."
Who is the King in America? -And Who are the Counselors to the King? An Overview of 6,000 Years of History & Why America is Unique
Schedule Bill Federer for informative interviews & captivating PowerPoint presentations: 314-502-8924 [email protected]
American Minute is a registered trademark of William J. Federer. Permission is granted to forward, reprint, or duplicate, with acknowledgment.