Whigs hold their national convention in Harrisburg and nominate William Henry Harrison of Ohio for President with 148 votes. Henry Clay received 90 and Winfield Scott had 16. John Tyler was unanimously selected as Harrison's Vice-President
Outgoing President James Buchanan sends a distressed State of the Union message to Congress. In it he states that secession is unconstitutional, says the federal government lacks the authority to prevent it and calls for a constitutional amendment allowing Southern states to retain slaves as property.