by Jon Meacham
22 “My inclinations as well as my duty” Ibid.
23 the day he returned to the White House Andrew Donelson to Stockley Donelson, July 21, 1835, Donelson Family Private Collection, Cleveland Hall, Nashville. Andrew wrote: “I came back last evening from the Rip Raps where I left Uncle and all our family in good health.”
24 “I see that the Republican” Ibid.
25 “It would be just as reasonable” Ibid.
26 “But I have no time” Ibid.
27 “I have noticed” Andrew Donelson to Stockley Donelson, July 24, 1835, Donelson Family Private Collection, Cleveland Hall, Nashville.
28 In July, the paper kept raising the stakes Nashville Republican, July 14, 1835.
29 “It has been the professed object” Nashville Republican, July 18, 1835.
30 Jackson was behind the frank Ibid. On the same day, the paper also asked: “Is it not exhibiting him as the anxious and active friend of Mr. Van Buren? Is it not degrading the Chief Magistrate of a great nation into a warm and reckless partisan—the mere tool of his supple but wily inferior?”
31 The Republican’s true agenda Nashville Republican, July 28, 1835. Donelson was one proxy target, Blair another.
32 “That the Editor of the Globe” Ibid.
33 “Always supposing” Ibid.
34 denouncing the charges as “a vile calumny” September 1, 1835. The Republican was responding to the Globe’s coverage of the events.
35 “Does he know” Ibid.
36 The letter he wrote to rebut Andrew Donelson to Stockley Donelson, August 18, 1835, Donelson Family Private Collection, Cleveland Hall, Nashville.
37 “drawn up in most haste” Ibid.
38 “It is painful to me” Ibid.
39 “not so much because my course” Ibid.
40 “The Major, like all weak persons” Nashville Republican, September 8, 1835.
41 “But we cannot afford” Ibid.
42 Blair tried his hand Nashville Republican, July 25, 1835.
43 Donelson began to read aloud Ibid.
44 “It must be apparent” Ibid.
45 “In the progress” Ibid.
46 “a charge of dictation” Ibid.
47 “The indelicacy, presumption” Ibid.
48 “It is evident” Ibid.
49 a “worthy pair” Ibid.
50 “You may rest assured” Andrew Donelson to Stockley Donelson, September 21, 1835, Donelson Family Private Collection, Cleveland Hall, Nashville.
51 “violence of party strife” Ibid.
52 “It will be among” Ibid.
53 “The Calhoun, the Eaton, and the ancient opposition” Andrew Donelson to Stockley Donelson, August 18, 1835, Donelson Family Private Collection, Cleveland Hall, Nashville.
54 One night at the shore Parton, Life, III, 601–2.
Chapter 31: Not One Would Have Ever Got Out Alive
1 Sunday, August 16, 1835 EDT, II, 88.
2 First mapped by the Spanish in 1519 Harry Hansen, ed., Texas: A Guide to the Lone Star State (New York, 1969), 30–47, is a straightforward telling of Texas history originally written in 1940 as part of the Federal Writers’ Program of the WPA. For overviews of the history of Texas and Jackson’s interest in it, see, for instance: Richard Bruce Winders, Crisis in the Southwest: The United States, Mexico, and the Struggle over Texas (Wilmington, De., 2002); Remini, Jackson, III, 352–68; and Howe, What Hath God Wrought, 658–73.
3 had long tantalized Americans Hansen, ed., Texas, 37.
4 “a most delicious country” Ibid., 39.
5 Stephen Austin Ibid., 38.
6 An 1826 rebellion Ibid., 39–40.
7 the Texas Revolution had begun Ibid., 40–43.
8 “I cannot remember” Ibid., 41.
9 maneuvered to win Texas, dispatching an envoy Remini, Jackson, III, 352–53. See also Winders, Crisis in the Southwest, 76–77.
10 A land speculator in Texas Quinton Curtis Lamar, “A Diplomatic Disaster: The Mexican Mission of Anthony Butler, 1829–1834,” The Americas 45 (July 1988), 5.
11 Jackson regarded Butler’s time Remini, Jackson, III, 218–19.
12 (“A. Butler: What a scamp”) Ibid., 220.
13 Butler was simply Remini makes this point clearly: “It would seem that the President was inviting his minister to gain the cession of Texas by encouraging Mexican greed” (ibid., 220).
14 “This must be an honest transaction” Ibid., and Papers, VII, 489.
15 sent Mexico into “a perfect tempest” Correspondence, V, 381.
16 Santa Anna, the powerful leader of Mexico Winders, Crisis in the Southwest, xxviii, 10–11.
17 “perfectly furious” Correspondence, V, 381.
18 was convinced the Americans had fomented Ibid.
19 “would in due season” Ibid.
20 Sam Houston was advertising Hansen, ed., Texas, 41.
21 “Volunteers from the United States” Ibid.
22 Osceola led the Seminole war party John K. Mahon, History of the Second Seminole War, 1835–1842 (Gainesville, Fla., 1985), 91–92; John Missall and Mary Lou Missall, The Seminole Wars: America’s Longest Indian Conflict (Gainesville, Fla., 2004), 89–92. Prucha, Great Father, 229–33, is a good overview. See also, for instance, Milton Meltzer, Hunted like a Wolf: The Story of the Seminole War (Sarasota, Fla., 2004), 78–79; Herbert J. Doherty, Richard Keith Call: Southern Unionist (Gainesville, Fla., 1961), 93–108; Remini, Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars, 272–77.
23 (murdered a rival) Missall and Missall, Seminole Wars, 92.
24 escaped slaves were finding sanctuary Mahon, History of the Second Seminole War, 93–94.
25 a Florida militia wagon train at Kanapaha Remini, Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars, 274; see also Mahon, History of the Second Seminole War, 101.
26 180 Seminoles routed Missall and Missall, Seminole Wars, 96–97.
27 “I have been confined” Remini, Jackson, III, 310–11.
28 “Let the damned cowards” Ibid., 311–12.
29 completing the work of Cherokee removal Prucha, Great Father, 233–42. See also Heidler and Heidler, Indian Removal, 39–41, and Satz, American Indian Policy in the Jacksonian Era, 99–101.
30 the Treaty of New Echota Heidler and Heidler, Indian Removal, 68–76. See also Anderson, ed., Cherokee Removal: Before and After, 55–72, and Wilentz, Andrew Jackson, 142.
31 Ross, who represented Satz, American Indian Policy in the Jacksonian Era, 100.
32 an estimated 4,000 of the 16,000 Cherokees Anderson, ed., Cherokee Removal: Before and After, 75–95, contains a fascinating account of the origin of the 4,000 figure. The essay, by Russell Thornton, examined the demography of the Trail of Tears and found that, as he put it, “A total mortality figure of 8,000 for the Trail of Tears period, twice the supposed 4,000, may not be at all unreasonable” (ibid., 93).
33 “I fought through the Civil War” Satz, American Indian Policy in the Jacksonian Era, 101.
34 “the philanthropist will rejoice” Prucha, Great Father, 242.
35 a large party for Christmas Day Mary Donelson Wilcox, Christmas Under Three Flags (Washington, D.C., 1900), 17–45. See also EDT, II, 90–97. My account of the Christmas festivities is heavily indebted to Wilcox’s rendering, and to Burke’s rerendering. It is worth noting that Wilcox was writing nearly seven decades after the event, during the Victorian era, when the colorful pageantry of Christmas took on a more central role in American culture; this may have influenced her memory of that Christmas morning.
36 Emily dispatched the invitations Ibid., 18.
37 a warm, sunny winter day Ibid., 25.
38 they were to meet him EDT, II, 91.
39 were “always granting” Wilcox, Christmas Under Three Flags, 23.
40 “To the Orphan Asylum” Ibid.
41 (The petition to incorporate) Holly C. Shulman, ed., “The Dolley Madison Digital Edition: Dolley Madison and the Founding of the Washington Orphan Asylum,” University of Virginia Press,
http://rotunda.upress.virginia.edu:8080/dmde/editorialnote.xqy?note=all#n3.
42 the children quizzed “Uncle” Ibid., 24.
43 Arriving at the Asylum Ibid., 25.
44 still-green parks Ibid.
45 “a hand-painted” Ibid., 25–26.
46 the president was up early Ibid., 28.
47 “Spare the rod and spoil the child” Ibid., 35.
48 At four that afternoon Ibid., 38–40.
49 supper began Ibid., 43.
50 filled with flakes of snow Ibid., 44.
Chapter 32: I Fear Emily Will Not Recover
1 a Philadelphia merchant named George W. South Correspondence, V, 382.
2 a shipment of furnishings for the rebuilt Hermitage Ibid., 382–83.
3 three sets of wallpaper Ibid., 383.
4 a favorite of Jackson’s Jackson had purchased a copy of the book during his White House years. Papers, VII, 403.
5 Written in 1699, the book François de Fénelon, Telemachus (Cambridge, England, 1994).
6 “The whole world” Ibid., 158. Fénelon also writes: “Both his understanding and virtue must be limited and imperfect. He must have passions, humors, habits which he cannot always control. He is surrounded by artful, mercenary men, and cannot find the assistance which he seeks after. Every day he is led into some error, either by his own passions or those of his ministers. Scarcely has he repaired one fault when he falls into another. Such is the condition of kings who are the most enlightened and the most virtuous.”
7 “ ‘True it is’ ” Ibid., 324.
8 “Mentor replied to him patiently” Ibid.
9 “You are assembled” Messages, II, 1367.
10 “There is doubtless” Ibid.
11 “Our happiness” Ibid.
12 “The moral power of the world” Howe, What Hath God Wrought, 512.
13 Angelina Grimké, a native South Carolinian Mayer, All on Fire, 231.
14 Calhoun acknowledged the high price Miller, Arguing About Slavery, 127.
15 petition the Congress in favor Freehling, Prelude to Civil War, 348–57.
16 Congress employed what was called Ibid., 353. See also Wilentz, Rise of American Democracy, 451–52, for Van Buren’s maneuvering in the debate, and 470–73 for John Quincy Adams’s strong objections to the gag rule.
17 devised by South Carolina congressman Ibid., 351.
18 (The Senate did the same) Ibid., 353.
19 John Quincy Adams saw the inherent tensions Miller, Arguing About Slavery, 207–8.
20 An appeal for help from Stephen Austin Correspondence, V, 397–98.
21 Texas declared its independence Hansen, ed., Texas, 43.
22 stormed the Alamo Ibid., 42–43.
23 at Goliad Ibid., 43.
24 Sam Houston rallied his men Ibid., 43–44.
25 the appearance of neutrality Correspondence, V, 398.
26 “a war of barbarism” Ibid., 397.
27 “The writer does not reflect” Ibid., 398.
28 his true feelings on the subject EDT, II, 97.
29 the spring racing season began Ibid., 98.
30 lost a sister in April Ibid., 102–3.
31 “I have intended to write to you” Ibid.
32 was to take three of the four children Ibid., 104–5.
33 he would “have nothing to do” Ibid., 105.
34 reached Nashville on Sunday, June 26 Ibid., 107.
35 at work at Poplar Grove Ibid., 105–6.
36 awaiting her husband and her eldest son Ibid., 105.
37 slowed by terrible rains Correspondence, V, 414.
38 “torn to the quick” Ibid., 418.
39 (Jackson usually spelled it “Salum”) Ibid., 414.
40 “We reached here today” EDT, II, 107.
41 “Jackson is in fine health” Ibid., 108.
42 brought word that Mrs. Mary Ann McLemore Ibid.
43 “not so well” Ibid., 110.
44 “shaking hands,” he said, “with at least 4,000” Ibid., 111.
45 now demonstrably sick Ibid.
46 it would turn out, tuberculosis Cheathem, Old Hickory’s Nephew, 121.
47 “I will be uneasy until I hear from you” EDT, II, 112.
48 Jackson found himself without word from Nashville Ibid.
49 “My mind is sorely oppressed” Ibid.
50 “I pity the Major’s situation” Correspondence, V, 428.
51 “I find much business” Ibid., 429.
52 signs, he wrote, of lung disease Ibid., 428.
53 in “a kind of stupor” Ibid.
54 Jackson spent the evening Ibid., 427.
55 It was “with painful sensations” Ibid.
56 “I trust in the mercy” Ibid.
57 “But my dear Andrew” Ibid.
58 “Still I have a hope” Ibid.
59 could not stay away from politics Ibid.
60 “I can say to you” Ibid., 428.
61 decided to leave her … ten days later EDT, II, 114–15.
62 he asked Roger Taney for help Correspondence, V, 429–30.
63 already trying to assuage his own guilt EDT, II, 114–15.
64 Emily approved Ibid., 114. “It was a call to the colors,” Burke wrote. (Ibid.)
65 “in tears” at the thought Ibid., 117.
66 “I would judge it would be best” Ibid.
67 about eleven o’clock Ibid., 116.
68 knew what she would want to hear Ibid.
69 earned a salary signing public land warrants Cheathem, Old Hickory’s Nephew, 116.
70 “I trust, my dear Emily” EDT, II, 117.
71 a list of clothes Correspondence, V, 433.
72 “The Major is working night and day” Ibid.
73 “I am constantly filled” EDT, II, 120.
74 Writing to Andrew on Friday, November 11 Ibid., 122.
75 Jackson “has made but little” Ibid., 123.
76 suffered his own hemorrhage attack Correspondence, V, 439.
77 “Under the circumstances” EDT, II, 123.
78 “You are young” Correspondence, V, 439.
79 linking his own illness with hers Ibid., 439–40.
80 “Your dear papa” EDT, II, 126.
81 “I wish you to attend to your education” Ibid.
82 a few lines jotted to Emily Ibid.
83 had already begun to fail Ibid., 127.
84 a small bird flew into Emily’s room Ibid.
85 came to Jackson in a dream Ibid., 128.
86 is virtually breathless with his fright Ibid.
87 Emily Donelson died Ibid., 129.
88 Her mother delayed the burial Ibid., 130–31.
89 on the morning of Wednesday, December 21 Cheathem, Old Hickory’s Nephew, 123. Burke puts the date of Andrew’s arrival as December 22, according to a letter Andrew sent dated December 23rd (EDT, II, 130), but, as Cheathem points out, this letter is most likely misdated (Cheathem, Old Hickory’s Nephew, 123).
90 “Let me hear from you often” Ibid., 131.
91 “Would to God I had been there” Correspondence, V, 442.
92 taking charge of the now motherless brood EDT, II, 133.
Chapter 33: The President Will Go Out Triumphantly
1 as the returns trickled in Niven, Martin Van Buren, 401.
2 If the vote was sent to the House Ibid., 401–2.
3 by the beginning of December Ibid.
4 Emily’s death had touched EDT, II, 134–35.
5 Jackson had it boxed Ibid., 132.
6 asked Jackson to put it aside Ibid., 137.
7 ordered a supply of cold ham Papers of Isaac Bassett, U.S. Senate Commission on Art, Washington.
8 “the great part of the Senate” Ibid.
9 “The decree has gone forth” Daniel Mallory, ed., Life and Speeches of Henry Clay (New York, 1844), I, 278.
10 “No one, not blinded by party zeal” PJCC, XIII, 361–63.
11 (Bank men) Poore, Perley’s Remini
scences of Sixty Years in the National Metropolis, 142. See also Papers of Isaac Bassett, U.S. Senate Commission on Art, Washington.
12 to send for guns Benton, Thirty Years’ View, 731. See also Papers of Isaac Bassett, U.S. Senate Commission on Art, Washington.
13 “History has been ransacked” Benton, Thirty Years’ View, 721–22.
14 “He came into office” Ibid., 725.
15 “Great has been the opposition” Ibid., 726.
16 “Great is the confidence” Ibid.
17 The motion to expunge carried Parton, Life, III, 619–20.
18 “a storm of hisses and groans” Papers of Isaac Bassett, U.S. Senate Commission on Art, Washington.
19 (the sergeant at arms) Ibid.
20 Jackson invited the senators Parton, Life, III, 620.
21 “head-expunger” Ibid.
22 “All going well here” Andrew Jackson, Jr., to Stockley Donelson, January 31, 1837, Donelson Family Private Collection, Cleveland Hall, Nashville.
23 what Benton called the “crowning mercy” Parton, Life, III, 620.
24 Benton sent Jackson the pen Correspondence, V, 450–51. According to Isaac Bassett, it “was a new pen that had never been used for any other purpose. The President received it with pleasure and informed Mr. Benton that he should preserve it while he lived and at his death bequeath it to him as a mark of his regard” (Papers of Isaac Bassett, U.S. Senate Commission on Art, Washington).
25 “It has been my fortune” Messages, II, 1511–12.
26 “My public life has been a long one” Ibid., 1512.
27 cloudless and warm Parton, Life, III, 628.
28 found the crowd “profoundly silent” Benton, Thirty Years’ View, 735.
29 “In receiving from the people” Messages, II, 1537.
30 on which “the rising was eclipsed” Benton, Thirty Years’ View, 735.
31 “My own race is nearly run” Messages, II, 1527. The Farewell Address was one of the presidential documents he cherished most. In his retirement, a copy of it, framed in gold, hung in the Hermitage, along with his First Annual Message, the Nullification Proclamation, and the Bank Veto Message (author observation; the Office of the Hermitage’s Chief Curator / Director of Museum Services confirmed that the framed documents were in the house in Jackson’s day).
Chapter 34: The Shock Is Great, and Grief Universal
