Timeline
1848 Peace, Politics and Gold
The first few months of the year saw Woodruff and the Arkansas Democrat devote time to promoting Borland since Ashley was secure in his position. When the Mexican War ended, Senator Sevier, who served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, resigned to become Commissioner to Mexico. Sevier hoped a friend would be appointed by governor Drew to hold his Senate seat, but Drew appointed Borland, who immediately announced his intention to remain in the position and seek election.
On April 29, death again altered Arkansas politics. Senator Ashley died in Washington, and Drew appointed William K. Sebastian to his seat. Although Woodruff would remain in the newspaper business nearly five more years, the death of his closest friend depleted much of his spirit.
An artillery salute greeted the steamboat COTTON PLANT when it arrived in Little Rock on May 27. The festivities honored C.C. Danley's return from the Mexican War, but the COTTON PLANT also brought home the body of Chester Ashley. Ashley was buried in Mount Holly Cemetery, which he and Roswell Beebe had donated to the city in 1843.
Having completed his mission to Mexico, Ambrose Sevier sought election to his old Senate seat, but his health was failing. The General Assembly elected Borland and Sebastian to the Senate seats they held by appointment, giving Sevier his first political defeat in more than 25 years of public service. Sevier died at the home of his father-in-law, Benjamin Johnson, on December 31, weakened by defeat and disease.
Governor Drew, reelected without real opposition, announced he would retire after the adjournment of the seventh session of the General Assembly. John Selden Roane, a veteran of the war, received the Democratic Party nomination at the convention in December.
Nationally, peace with Mexico filled the news and Zachary Taylor (Whig) rode his popularity as a war hero to the White House. Taylor won in the first election conducted on a uniform election day, November 7.
Concern for reforms in American society expressed itself at the Seneca Falls Convention held in New York during July. The Convention adopted several women's rights resolutions including a demand for women's suffrage and for less discrimination in employment and education.
While lead mining generated local interest in Arkansas, gold mining in California became an international obsession. Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in January and, by December, Fort Smith was gearing up as a jumping-off place to the gold fields.
