Campaign Trail Results: Game #884846
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1844
- Player Candidate: Henry Clay
- Running Mate: Theodore Frelinghuysen
- Difficulty Level: Impossible
- Winner Take All Mode?: No
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- James K. Polk | 175 | 1,525,524 | 56.24 |
| ---- Henry Clay | 97 | 1,084,301 | 39.97 |
| ---- James Birney | 3 | 102,930 | 3.79 |
| ---- John Tyler | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Answers:
- Do you believe that some revenue should be set aside from our tariffs to finance internal improvements, such as canals and roads?Only a very limited amount, for the most compelling projects. Otherwise the tariff should be for revenue purposes only.
- Martin Van Buren, Democrat and President until 1841, will be making a tour of the country to visit various friends and political figures. Will you extend the invitation for him to stay at your estate for a few days?It might be best if I don't appear overly friendly to leading Democrats. Especially one as unpopular as Van Buren.
- What points will emphasize in your acceptance letter, as you accept the Whig nomination for President?I will avoid any mention of Texas. The main focus of my acceptance will be an elucidation of my economic principles, including a national bank, a tariff, and internal improvemnets.
- What position will you take on the Texas annexation issue?This discussion has grown tiresome, but let me restate that I oppose the annexation of Texas.
- The background of your running mate, Theodore Frelinghuysen, has caused much distress among the Catholics of this country? Will you make any statements on this issue?Of course we denounce rioting and lawlessness, but we do support some attempt to change our naturalization laws.
- There have recently been riots and armed clashes between nativists and Irish immigrants in Philadelphia and elsewhere. Do you have any plans to condemn the Irish violence in these episodes?After a few days have passed and tempers have cooled, let us reemphasize our support for current naturalization laws.
- Cassius Clay, your cousin, has published a letter stating you are in accord with the abolitionist movement. How will you respond to this?We must attack Cassius Clay's statements at once, for the dishonest falsehoods that they are. I am in no way an abolitionist in this debate.
- There are a number of attacks which focus on your fondness for horse-racing, drinking, gambling, female conversation, and the like. Do you have a response to this?There are a lot of places in America where men like that kind of thing. We will win the Yankee Puritan vote in any case.
- Do you plan to make any attacks against the Liberty Party, a radical abolitionist group that is fielding a third party candidate?I am steadfast against the annexation of Texas and the expansion of slavery. I believe that Birney's followers should be made aware of this point.
- Do you still support the idea that the federal government should purchase the telegraph patent and manage the technology?Let's not make any divisive statements on this issue. The public is hardly clamoring for my opinion in any case.
- Was there really a bargain (a “Corrupt Bargain” to many) between yourself and John Quincy Adams which elevated him to the Presidency in 1825?I don't know how many times a man can deny an unjust allegation before fatigue sets in.
- Does it make sense to attack Northern Democrats as enablers and fellow travelers of the Southern slavery expansion?We should attack the Northern Democrats on their opposition to, or flip-flopping on, the issues of tariffs and internal improvements. They are on soft ground in that debate.
- Is there something you can do to give the Southern Whigs political cover from the incessant attacks that they are in league with an anti-slavery party?I am as much in favor of the annexation of Texas as Mr. Polk is. To insinuate otherwise is nothing but dishonesty writ large.
- What should your party's position be on the Tariff of 1842, which increased tariffs?The primary purpose of our tariffs should be revenue. But should a small amount of protection incidentally occur from our tariff policy, that is acceptable.
- What is your current position on the banking system?I support our current free banking system, and I see no need for the Treasury to insulate its operations from the state-chartered banks.
- Do you support an Amendment that would limit the President to a single term in office?I don't think that this is a necessary step, at this time.
- Aside from the issue of Texas, do you support the expansion of the United States in general? Into Oregon, other parts of Mexico, Cuba, etc.?I am against the annexation of Texas. And just to show that this does derive from sectional prejudice, I am also against expansion into Oregon or other regions.
- Do you have any statement to make on John Calhoun's “Packenham Letter”, stating slavery to be a positive blessing, and justifying the annexation of Texas as a pro-slavery move?I would not go to the lengths of John Calhoun, but Texas would certainly help expand the market for slavery in our country.
- Do you support any changes to our current naturalization laws?I support our current naturalization laws as they stand.
- Do you support any effort to establish a unified, national currency?I support an independent Treasury, but not one that would disseminate a national currency.
- Do you agree with Robert Walker's letter, arguing that that slavery issue will be diluted by national expansion?I believe this letter to be disingenuous at best. Further expansion will reopen the debate on slavery rather than suppress it.
- After the unfortunate death of Abel Upshur in the Princeton explosion, John Calhoun succeeded him as Secretary of State. Was this a wise appointment by President Tyler?This is one of the most ill-conceived decisions I have seen in my lifetime.
- Regardless of your personal feelings, would you sign an act which established an independent Treasury for the government's funds?The independent Treasury is a halfway measure, designed to cover for the disaster that was the war against the Second Bank of the United States.
- Do you have any criticism of the authorities in Illinois, regarding their failure to properly protect Joseph Smith before his assassination in June?This is not an issue that we plan to address in our campaign.
- Is there a particular state where your party should concentrate its resources and most talented speakers as the election draws near?New York