To the popular apprehension, Mr.Clay had changed his ground, and his new position really left little difference between himself and his opponent on the absorbing question of Texas annexation, but it still gave to Mr.Polk all the advantage of boldness.

The latter was outspoken for the annexation of Texas, and the former, with a few timid qualifications, declared that he would be glad to see Texas annexed.

Besides this, Mr.Polk's position on the Oregon question afforded some compensation by proposing to add a large area of free territory to offset the increase of slave territory in Texas.

Under such arguments the Abolition party grew rapidly and steadily until, at the election, they polled for Mr.Birney 58,879 votes.

This vast increase over the vote of 1840 was very largely at the expense of the Whig party, and its specific injury to Mr.Clay is almost a matter of mathematical demonstration.