WALKER, ROBERT JAMES ( 1801-69). An American political leader and financier, born at Northumberland, Pa. Ile graduated at the Uni versity of Pennsylvania ill 1819, and began the practice of law at in 1822. In 1826 he removed to Mississippi and became prominent as a lawyer and land-speculator. He was active in his opposition to nullification and secession in 1832-33. and through his influence the Legis lature passed an act declaring nullification trea sonable. In 1835 he was elected United States Senator as a Democrat, and at once became known as one of the foremost anti-. layers advo cates in his party. He secured great intlnence over President Tyler, and is generally credited with having been largely instrumental in causing his return to the Democratic Party. While in the Senate he opposed the Bank of the United States and the distribution of the surplus. advo cated gradual emancipation. and introduced the
resolution for Texan independence. From 1S45 to 1849 he was Secretary of the Treasury. The tariff bill of 1846 was adopted almost as it came from his hands. In 1853 he declined the post of commissioner to C'hina. and in 1857, against his will, was appointed Governor of Kansas Terri tory. He resigned in 1S58. declaring that he would not help to force slavery upon the Terri tory. At the beginning of the Civil War he took strong ground in favor of the Union, negotiated a loan in Europe for the United states in 1863 64, was instrumental in preventing the suc cess of the second Confederate loan. on his return he published a number of articles oppos ing the impeachment of President Johnson, ad voeating the :flake treaty, and favoring the construction of the Pacific 11ailroad.