including one from Harry
a slave owned byPolk and hired out as a blacksmith in Mississippi. âIhave been betting and lousing on you for the last severalyears but I have made it all up now
â Harry wrote. âI amin hopes that you will come to this state before you goto the white house & let me see you once more before Idie.â 45James K. Polk
demonstrating the unwavering self-righteousness that would mark his presidency
embracedthe slim victory as a mandate. Like Old Hickory
hebelieved his election reected the will of the virtuouscitizenry. Polk would ensure that their will would bedone.Nor was it only Polk who saw a mandate in the 1844election results. On February 26
1845
after elaboratemaneuvering and several dubious promises made onbehalf of both Tyler and Polk
Congress passed a jointresolution to admit Texas as a state. It was acontroversial tactic
since a joint resolution enabledpassage with a simple majority in both houses ofCongress
as opposed to the two-thirds of the Senateconstitutionally required for the adoption of treaties.Democrats had failed to muster the support of two-thirds of senators and might not have gained a majorityof both houses were it not for the fact that so manyopponents of annexation understood further objectionsas futile once Polk became president-elect. On March 1
just days before leaving oce
a vindicated John Tylerinvited Texas to join the United States.
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