Of all the Presidents of the United States Andrew Jackson was, perhaps,
the most peculiar. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, his parents coming to
this country in 1765 from Ireland and settling in the northern part of
South Carolina on the Waxhaw Creek. They had been very poor in the old
country, his father tilling a small farm while the mother was a weaver
of linen. His father never owned land in America, and died soon after he
arrived in this country, little Andrew being born about the time of his
death. One would hardly be justified in supposing young Jackson would
one day be ruler of a great nation, rising as he did from such a
beginning, yet such are the possibilities in our glorious republic.
His mother wished to make a preacher of him, but his boyhood is
represented as mischievous; to say the least, his belligerent nature
breaking out in childhood, and his mother's fond hope was signally
defeated. He was passionately fond of athletic sports, and was excelled
by none of his years. The determination he evinced in every undertaking
guided by his maxim of "Ask nothing but what is right--submit to nothing
wrong," seemed to be the key-note of his success, for he was not
addicted to books, and his education was limited.
Being an eye-witness of the horrible massacre perpetrated by the bloody
Tarlton at the Waxsaw settlement his patriotic zeal was terribly
awakened, and at the tender age of thirteen we find him among the
American forces, and his military career begins at Hanging Rock, where
he witnesses the defeat of Sumter, and he is soon a prisoner of the
enemy. The English officer ordered him to black his boots; at this all
the lion in young Jackson is aroused, and he indignantly refuses,
whereupon the officer strikes him twice with his sword, inflicting two
ugly wounds, one on his arm, the other on his head. He had the small-pox
while a prisoner, but his mother effected his exchange, and after a long
illness he recovered, but his brother died of the same disease.
Soon after his mother was taken from him--his other brother was killed
at Stono; thus left alone in the world he began a reckless course, which
must have been his ruin but for a sudden change for the better, when he
began the study of law at Salisbury, North Carolina, and before he was
twenty was licensed to practice.
Being appointed solicitor for the western district of North
Carolina--now Tennessee--he removed to Nashville, 1788. His practice
soon became large which, in those days, meant a great deal of travel on
horseback. He made twenty-two trips between Nashville and Jonesborough
during his first seven years, and dangerous trips they were, too, for
the Indians were numerous and hostile. When he came to Nashville he
entered, as a boarder, the family of Mrs. Donelson, a widow.
A Mr. and Mrs. Robards were boarders at the same home. Mr. Robards
becoming foolishly jealous of young Jackson applied to the legislature
of Virginia for an act preliminary to a divorce. Jackson and Mrs.
Robards, thinking the act of the legislature was a divorce of itself,
were married before the action of the court. Judge Overton, a friend,
was himself surprised to learn that the act of the legislature was not a
divorce, and through his advice they were again married in the early
part of 1794. The fact that Captain Robards' own family sustained Mrs.
Robards in the controversy with her husband must strongly point to the
groundlessness of the charges; while it is further conceded that Andrew
Jackson was not the first victim of the suspicious nature of Captain
Robards. However, this can never be regarded otherwise than a most
unfortunate period in the life of Andrew Jackson, it being the immediate
cause of more than one of the many obstacles with which he was obliged
to contend in after years.
He was appointed district attorney of Tennessee when that country became
a federal territory, and in 1796 when Tennessee became a State, he was a
man of no small wealth. On January 11th, 1796, a convention met at
Knoxville to draft a constitution for the new State, and Jackson was
chosen one of five delegates from Davidson county to meet the other
members from over the State. He was appointed on the committee to draft
that important document. Having been elected to represent his State in
the popular branch of Congress he accordingly took his seat in that
legislative body in December, 1796. As Jackson entered the house on the
eve of the retirement from public life of Washington, he voted on the
measure approving Washington's administration; and, as he could not
conscientiously vote otherwise, not approving some of Washington's
measures, he is recorded among the twelve who voted in the negative.
He at this time belonged to the so-called Republican party, now
Democratic, which was then forming under Jefferson, the incoming
vice-president, under the Federal Adams. His record in Congress is made
exemplary by his action on three important bills, namely: Against buying
peace of the Algerians, against a needlessly large appropriation for
repairing the house of the president, and against the removal of the
restriction confining the expenditure of public money to the specific
objects for which said money was appropriated.
As would be natural, such a course was highly approved by his
constituents, and he was made a senator in 1797, but his senatorial
career was not so fruitful, as it is believed that he never made a
speech nor ever voted once and resigned his seat in less than a year. He
was elected a justice of the supreme court of Tennessee, but he did
nothing remarkable here either as none of his decisions remain. Nothing
of note occurred for some time except his becoming involved in a quarrel
with Governor Sevier, which came to a crisis in 1801, when Jackson was
made Major-General of militia over Sevier. Jackson suspected Sevier of
being involved in certain land frauds, and a duel was averted only by
the influence of friends.
About this time Jackson became financially embarrassed. Thinking himself
secure, he sold a large amount of land to a gentleman in Philadelphia,
and, taking his notes, bought goods for the Tennessee market, depending
on these notes for payment. The failure of these threw him into great
difficulties; but his firm will came to his aid once more and saved him.
He immediately resigned the position of judge, and sold land enough to
clear himself from debt. He is said to have now removed to what
subsequently became known as the "Hermitage," taking all his slaves, and
dwelling in a log house.
He extended his business, being now at the head of the firm of Jackson,
Coffee and Hatchings. This was a trading firm, raising wheat, corn,
cotton, mules, cows and horses, it being a concern whose business
extended to New Orleans, but it lost money, and finally came to an end,
although through no fault of Jackson, as he generally carried to success
whatever he personally managed, and this embarrassment grew out of
reckless proceedings during his absence. We now come upon another dark
page of Jackson's life.
During the year 1806 a quarrel was started, which led to the death of
Charles Dickinson. This is one of his quarrels resulting indirectly from
the manner in which he become married to Mrs. Robards. This Dickinson
had spoken offensively of Mrs. Jackson, he once retracted his words and
renewed them. In the meantime Jackson became involved in a quarrel with
a man by the name of Swann over the terms of a horse race, and Jackson
used some strong language relative to Dickinson, whose name had been
meaningly introduced. Jackson's words were carried to Dickinson, as it
appears he had intended. Afterward the quarrel with Swann resulted in a
bar-room fight, it is said, begun by Jackson.
About this time Dickinson wrote a very severe attack on Jackson and
published it. Jackson challenged him and the parties met a long day's
journey from Nashville, on the banks of the Red River, in Logan county,
Kentucky. Dickinson was a very popular man in Nashville, and he was
attended by a number of associates. Dickinson's second was a Dr. Catlet;
Jackson's, General Overton.
Dickinson fired first and his ball took effect, breaking a rib and
raking the breastbone, but Jackson never stirred nor gave evidence of
being hit. His object was to hide from his adversary the pleasure of
knowing that he had even grazed his mark, for Dickinson considered
himself a great shot and was certain of killing him at the first fire.
Seeing he had missed he exclaimed, My God! Have I missed him? Jackson
then fired and Dickinson fell mortally wounded, dying that night without
knowing his aim had taken any effect. This duel was another most
unfortunate thing for Jackson, and caused him great unpopularity in
Tennessee until his military victories turned popular attention from it.
Jackson lived a comparatively quiet life for the few years following,
nothing of importance happening except his mistaken connection with
Aaron Burr, and quarrel with a Mr. Dinsmore, an agent of the Choctaw
Indians. In 1812 the second war with Great Britain broke out and Jackson
at once tendered his services to the government; they were gladly
accepted and the rest of the year was devoted by him in raising more
troops and organizing them for active service. During the early part of
1813 he started across the country, but for some reason the Secretary of
War ordered him to disband his forces, but he marched them back to
Tennessee. It was on this march that he received the name of "Hickory,"
which afterwards became "Old Hickory."
Arriving at Nashville he tendered his troops to the Government for an
invasion of Canada but the Secretary of War never even answered his
proposal, and finally he disbanded the forces on May 22nd. The
government failed to sustain him and his transportation drafts were
allowed to go to protest. This must have ruined Jackson had it not been
for his friend Colonel Benton, who made an appeal which the government
felt bound to comply with, as it was made plain that it would lose the
service of Tennessee if such a preposterous act was persisted in.
Thus he was saved from what might have been an irretrievable financial
misfortune. Through deceitfulness in others he was led to a disgraceful
quarrel with his intimate friend, Colonel Benton, who had helped him so
much at Washington. The difficulty with the Creek Indians arising;
Jackson with his characteristic energy helped to subjugate them. His
victory over the Indians of Horse Shoe Bend is so familiar to every
American school-boy that it is needless to relate the details. He now
gained a national reputation, and was made a major-general in the United
States army, and soon became the acknowledged military leader of the
southwest.
From now General Jackson's star grew steadily brighter, and he began to
develop the sterling qualities which he unmistakably possessed. During
the progress of the war the Spanish authorities who then controlled
Florida, had neither the power nor disposition to demand of the British
due regard to the rights of neutral territory. They seemed to sympathize
with England, as Jackson could gain no satisfaction through his
correspondence with them, and as neither the Spanish or British could be
induced to change their purpose, Jackson, as was his custom both in
politics and war ever afterward, determined to act without orders.
He immediately moved upon Pensacola, razed the town and drove the
English forces out of Florida. Returning to Mobile he learned of the
plan of the British to conquer Louisiana. He immediately marched to New
Orleans, but the city was miserably defended, and his own forces were a
motley crew, consisting of about two thousand. But Jackson made the most
of his opportunities. He learned the plan of the British from the chief
of a band of smugglers. After a few preliminary battles in which as a
whole the Americans were victorious, the British army, now twelve
thousand strong, was joined by General Packenham, who was a
brother-in-law of the great Duke of Wellington, who changed the plans of
the British army. Jackson, at this time, was joined by about two
thousand more troops, but they were poorly armed.
The British captured a whole fleet of gun-boats. This left the way
clear, and it is thought that had the British pushed in then, as Jackson
would have done, nothing could have saved the day for America. Jackson
fell back and threw up earth-works, cotton-bales and sand-bags for
protection, and waited for the enemy. On the memorable day, the eighth
of January, the army advanced; Ridpath says, "They went to a terrible
fate."
Packenham hurled column after column at the American breast-works only
to return bleeding and torn. The Americans were well protected while
the veterans of England were exposed to the fire of the Tennessee and
Kentucky riflemen and the result was awful, the enemy losing not only
General Packenham, their commander, but also General Gibbs, leaving only
General Lambert to lead the forces from the field, General Keen being
wounded. The loss of the enemy was about two thousand killed, wounded,
and prisoners. The Americans' loss was eight killed and thirteen
wounded.
This battle was a most fortunate thing for Jackson for the reputation
this gained for him added to that already gained in deciding forever the
white man's supremacy in America, undoubtedly made him President of the
United States. He became Governor of Florida when that Territory was
ceded to the United States by Spain in 1821, but he held the position
only a few months. In 1828 the Tennessee Legislature made him a Senator,
and later he was nominated for the Presidency. This at first was not
regarded seriously, as many had misgivings as to his capability as a
legislator, although all admitted his military power. The election
proved that he had great political strength as well, receiving the
largest number of electoral votes, 99, to 84 for Adams, 41 for Crawford,
and 37 for Clay. As no one had a majority the case was decided by
Congress, who gave the place to Adams.
The opposition to the administration united under Jackson, and in the
next election he was triumphantly elected, receiving 178 electoral votes
to 83 for Adams. In this campaign Jackson's private life was bitterly
assailed, especially was the manner in which he came to be married
misrepresented. His wife died only a short time after his election, it
is said, from the influence of the vile stories which were circulated
regarding her.
He entered upon his duties as President, with his characteristic
firmness. A rupture soon arose between him and the Vice-President, Mr.
Calhoun, and this was intensified when Calhoun's nullification views
became known. The Democratic party outside of South Carolina supported
the administration. The cabinet was soon changed. During his
administration over seventeen hundred removals from office were made,
more than had occurred in all previous administrations. His appointments
gave much offence to some, and with a degree of reason, it must be
admitted, as they were selected wholly from his political friends,
notwithstanding his previously avowed principles, which were implied in
his advice to Mr. Monroe in the selection of his Cabinet. However, some
allowance should be made as Jackson had a seeming rebellion on hand, and
one hardly could blame him for desiring men on whom he knew he could
depend in the promised hours of peril.
The tariff laws were especially obnoxious to South Carolina, of the
Southern States. Now Jackson was opposed to the tariff laws himself, but
as long as the laws remained he proposed that they should be enforced
and when South Carolina met at Columbia and passed resolutions to resist
the existing laws and declaring in favor of State rights, he promptly
sent forces to quell the promised rebellion. Seeing what kind of a man
they had to deal with the nullifiers were glad to seize the excuse for
not proceeding, which Clay's Compromise Bill afforded. This bill reduced
the duties gradually until at the end of ten years they would reach the
standard desired by the South. His re-election was even more conclusive
than the former, inasmuch as it was found that he had carried every
State save seven. His principal opponent was Henry Clay, who represented
the party in favor of renewing the charter of the United States bank.
Jackson was bitterly opposed to this institution, vetoed the bill to
re-charter the bank, and an effort to pass the bill over his head
failing to receive a two-thirds vote, the bank ceased to exist.
He conceived the idea of distributing the surplus left by the bank,
about ten millions, among certain banks named for that purpose. He had
no acknowledged authority for this but he believed himself right and
acted independently, as was characteristic in such cases. A panic
ensued, and the Whigs claimed that this measure of Jackson's was the
cause, while the Democrats were equally confident that the financial
troubles were brought about by the bank itself, which was described as
an institution too powerful and despotic to exist in a free country.
A powerful opposition was formed in the Senate against him, headed by
such men as Calhoun, Clay and Webster, and finally a resolution
condemning his course was adopted by a vote of 26 to 20, but was
afterward expunged through the influence of his intimate friend, Colonel
Benton. The House sustained the President throughout, or he must have
been overthrown. The foreign relations of our Government at the close of
Jackson's administration was very satisfactory indeed. The national debt
was extinguished, and new States were admitted into the Union.
He issued a farewell address to his country, and retired to private life
at the Hermitage, where he lived until his death in 1845. There is much
in the life of Andrew Jackson that can be profitably copied by the
American youth of to-day; notably his fixedness of purpose, indomitable
will, and great love of truth. There are other things that would be well
to pass by and give little promise, such as his sporting propensities.
Lossing says: 'The memory of that great and good man is revered by his
countrymen next to that of Washington.' His imposing statue occupies a
conspicuous place in President's Square, Washington, where it was
unveiled in 1852, being the first equestrian statue in bronze ever
erected in America. It is certain that he exercised a marked influence
in shaping the affairs of the generations that were to follow his
administration.