ABSTRACT
National factional battles were carried forward mainly in the national conventions, during the conduct of presidential campaigns, and in connection with the national party chairmanship. The national convention had special guidance from congressional sources. On January 24, 1848, rather than the national committee, conference of Democratic senators and representatives, with Senator Sam Houston of Texas as chairman, issued the call setting the time and place of the national convention. The Van Buren forces, in control of many state organizations, assumed that the nomination could be theirs if the national convention were held as early as possible and if they left delegation voting procedure to the judgment of each state delegation. Among the annexationists were Calhoun’s followers, rabidly opposed to Van Buren; Calhoun himself had entered Tyler’s cabinet just prior to the Democratic national convention. The national convention had special guidance from congressional sources. The party’s national chairman, as had Robert Walker before him, was expected to produce campaign propaganda.
