Andrew Jackson

by H. W. Brands

  “did with force and arms”: Jackson for Randolph County, March 1788, PAJ, 1:11–12.

  “Paid at the battle of New Orleans”: Bassett, 1:13. Lister’s daughter presented the bill to Jackson in the White House; he denied that he owed it (ibid.).

  “I often met him . . . any other young man”: Buell, 1:68–69.

  4. AWAY WEST

  “Took our departure from the fort . . . by Capt. Robertson and his company”: Heiskell, 1:157–65.

  “Extend the sphere”: Federalist, 61.

  “The people had a coffin . . . the fruits of it”: Main, 122–34.

  “A neighbor might as well ask”: Franklin to John Jay, October 2, 1780, Franklin, Writings, 1029.

  “The leading characters of Kentucky . . . in eternal oblivion”: Wilkinson memorial to Miró and Navarro, September 5, 1787, quoted in Shepherd, 501.

  “until the Kentuckians attain the independence . . . hope of remuneration”: Summary of meeting of Spain’s Supreme Council of State, November 20, 1788, Wilkinson, “Papers,” 749–50.

  “That section of the country . . . to great embarrassment”: Wilkinson to Miró, September 18, 1789, ibid., 765–66.

  “The cause was going”: Parton, 1:161–62.

  “When a man’s feelings”: Jackson to Avery, August 12, 1788, PAJ, 1:12.

  “My father was no duelist . . . friendly ever after”: Parton, 1:162.

  “I had my saddlehorse”: Buell, 1:71–72.

  5. SHADOWED LOVE

  “beautifully molded form”: Heiskell, 3:279.

  “The old lady told me . . . to restore harmony”: Parton, 1:148–49.

  “Not many months elapsed . . . reasonably be expected”: Ibid., 1:149–50.

  “I had the pleasure of seeing . . . peace with the savage”: Jackson to Daniel Smith, February 13, 1789, PAJ, 1:16.

  “June 2d, 1791”: Parton, 1:139.

  “that the defendant hath deserted”: “An Act Concerning the Marriage of Lewis Robards,” December 20, 1790, PAJ, 1:424.

  Spanish and other records reveal: Remini, Jackson and Course of American Empire, 64–65; Burstein, 243–44; Toplovich. These three sources are the basis for the reconstruction of events that follow.

  At that time he had sworn the oath of allegiance to Spain: Remini, “Andrew Jackson Takes an Oath.”

  “My Dearest Heart”: Jackson to Rachel Jackson, May 9, 1796, PAJ, 1:91.

  “To this suggestion”: Parton, 1:152.

  6. REPUBLICANS AND REVOLUTIONARIES

  “to make a county”: Buell, 1:93.

  “If any one attacks you”: Parton, 1:159–60.

  “contingent expences”: Account of freight expenses, May–August 1795, PAJ, 1:58.

  Its inventory included butcher knives: Account book, 1795, PAJ, 1:455ff.

  “to bear an equal proportion”: Partnership agreement with Overton, May 12, 1794, PAJ, 1:46.

  contracted to purchase 15,000 acres for 500 pounds (and subsequent details of transactions): Calendar of transactions and agreements, 1770–1803, PAJ, 1:429ff.

  “candid and unreserved . . . as few difficulties”: Overton to Jackson, March 8, 1795, PAJ, 1:54.

  “To my sad experience . . . almost unto death”: Jackson to Overton, June 9, 1795, PAJ, 1:59–60; agreement with David Allison, May 14, 1795, PAJ, 1:56–57.

  “They have not the smallest expectation . . . forward the boat on”: Donelson to Jackson, June 29, 1795, PAJ, 1:62–63.

  “We are sorry so soon”: Meeker, Cochran & Company to Jackson, August 11, 1795, PAJ, 1:64.

  “His note therefore”: John B. Evans & Company to Jackson, January 4, 1796, PAJ, 1:79.

  He acquired what appears to have been his first slave (and subsequent slave transactions): Calendar of Jackson transactions, PAJ, 1:432–47.

  In 1796 he purchased: Deed for Hunter’s Hill, March 10, 1796 (summary), PAJ, 1:84.

  “The convulsions in France”: Franklin in Brands, First American, 705–06.

  “liberty of the whole earth” and following description: Brands, What America Owes the World, 3–4.

  “What an alarming situation . . . consented to it”: Jackson to Macon, October 4, 1795, PAJ, 1:74.

  A 1795 census: Heiskell, 1:294–95.

  “counting the whole of the free persons”: Ibid.

  “Jackson, though exerting . . . he was driving at”: Buell, 1:108–11.

  “as sweet a flavor”: Ibid., 1:111.

  “the least imperfect and most republican”: Jefferson quoted in Heiskell, 1:298.

  “’Tis our true policy”: Washington’s Farewell Address, September 19, 1796, American Historical Documents, 246.

  “From the president’s speech”: Jackson to Robert Hays, December 16, 1796, PAJ, 1:103.

  “In my mind, this address”: Jackson quoted in Buell, 1:116.

  “just and necessary . . . to take the field”: Jackson to the House of Representatives, December 29 and 30, 1796, PAJ, 1:106–08.

  Congress appropriated $22,816: Buell, 1:120.

  “That an equal participation”: 29th section of Tennessee bill of rights, Heiskell, 1:98.

  In this letter Blount spoke vaguely . . . “decided opinion respecting it”: Blount to Carey, April 21, 1797, and Senate Committee report, no date given; both ibid., 82–86.

  7. FIGHTING WORDS

  “War is their principal study . . . colours among us”: William Fyffe in Woodward, 33.

  “We cannot live without war”: Unidentified Cherokees in Ramsey, 83.

  “They are more serviceable”: Washington in John Brown, 81.

  “We proceeded”: Marion in ibid., 111.

  “In a few years the Shawnees . . . and destroy them”: Cornstalk in ibid., 144–45.

  “You have bought a fair land”: Dragging Canoe in ibid., 12.

  “You know you began . . . compensation for it”: Heiskell, 1:316–17.

  “At a crisis in the great struggle”: Roosevelt, 3:121.

  “Had the destroying angel”: Ramsey, 428.

  “Viewing, sir, with horror”: Jackson to Sevier, May 8, 1797, PAJ, 1:136.

  “the scurrilous expressions”: Ibid.

  “Why those private letters . . . feelings requires redress”: Ibid.

  “The voice of calumny . . . of mild philosophy”: Sevier to Jackson, May 8, 1797, PAJ, 1:137–38.

  “Facts may be misstated . . . any other person”: Jackson to Sevier, May 10, 1797, PAJ, 1:141.

  “It is painful to hear the cries . . . if not its existence”: Sevier to Jackson, November 26, 1797, PAJ, 1:154–55.

  “The prevention of a settlement”: Ibid.

  “Bonaparte with 150,000 troops”: Jackson to Robertson, January 11, 1798, PAJ, 1:165.

  “No news that can be relied on . . . the right of thinking”: Jackson to Donelson, January 18, 1798, PAJ, 1:167–68.

  “Sticks and spittle are substituted . . . of Eastern quarrels”: Jackson to Blount, February 21, 1798, PAJ, 1:182–83.

  8. RENDERING JUDGMENT

  “His passions are terrible”: Notes of 1824 conversation with Jefferson, Webster, Papers of Webster, 1:376.

  “I feel much alarmed”: Ibid.

  “I mean to retire . . . your affectionate husband”: Jackson to Rachel, May 9, 1796, PAJ, 1:91–92.

  “I must now beg of you”: Jackson to Hays, November 2, 1797, PAJ, 1:152.

  “It is such a neglect”: Jackson to Rachel, January 26, 1798, PAJ, 1:174.

  “I hold myself much indebted”: Ibid.

  “I have come to a conclusion”: Jackson to Ryerson, July 5, 1801, PAJ, 1:249.

  “It has been communicated to me”: Sevier to Jackson, August 29, 1798, PAJ, 1:209.

  A story was told . . . “and so I did”: Parton, 1:228–29.

  “during good behavior”: Commission as superior court judge, December 22, 1798, PAJ, 1:215.

  “I am in possession . . . would be too great”: Jackson to Hays, August 24, 1801, PAJ, 1:252–53.

  “general wish and opinion . .
. and humble servant”: Robertson to Jackson, September 7, 1803, PAJ, 1:358.

  “Talents like yours . . . struggle with the loss”: Enclosure (1) in Jackson to George Roulstone, October 8, 1803, PAJ, 1:372–73.

  “Retirement to private life . . . voice is obeyed”: Enclosure (2), ibid.

  “if health will permit me”: Ibid.

  “confined me for some days”: Jackson to John Overton, February 23, 1798, PAJ, 1:184.

  “During this distressing scene”: Jackson to Rachel, March 22, 1803, PAJ, 1:326.

  “To do this is not my wish . . . every good citizen in it”: Jackson to Benjamin Bradford, July 19, 1803, PAJ, 1:337–46.

  “Services? . . . young men at Knoxville”: Isaac Avery in Parton, 1:165.

  “The ungentlemanly expressions”: Jackson to Sevier, October 2, 1803, PAJ, 1:367–68.

  “Your ungentlemanly and gasconading conduct . . . me and my meaning”: Sevier to Jackson, October 2, 1803, PAJ, 1:368.

  “This, sir, I view . . . of one hour”: Jackson to Sevier, October 3, 1803, PAJ, 1:368–69.

  “I am happy to find you”: Sevier to Jackson, October 3, 1803, PAJ, 1:369.

  “To all who shall see”: Jackson to the public, October 10, 1803, PAJ, 1:379.

  “I am again perplexed . . . for the campaign”: Sevier to Jackson, October 10, 1803, PAJ, 1:380–81.

  “Sevier replied . . . protect Mr. Jackson”: Statement by Vandyke, October 16, 1803, printed in Tennessee Gazette and Mero District Advertiser, December 21, 1803, PAJ, 1:505–06.

  “Judge Jackson swore”: Affidavit of Andrew Greer, October 23, 1803, PAJ, 1:489–90.

  “Let us ask . . . retreat with credit”: “A citizen of Knox county” to the Knoxville Gazette, November 10, 1803, PAJ, 1:493–94.

  “vulgar and ungentlemanly expressions”: “Veritas” to Tennessee Gazette, December 14, 1803, PAJ, 1:496–501.

  SON OF THE WEST (1805–1814)

  9. CONSPIRACY

  “My own affections”: Jefferson to William Short, January 3, 1793, Selected Writings of Jefferson, 522.

  “If they see their interests”: Jefferson quoted in Abernethy, 4.

  “It is rare that the public sentiment”: Jefferson in Malone, 4:100.

  “There is on the globe”: Jefferson to Robert Livingston, April 18, 1802, Jefferson papers.

  “He is by far not so dangerous a man”: Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott Jr., December 16, 1800, Papers of Hamilton, 25:257.

  “He understands as well”: Burr to Jackson, June 2, 1805, PAJ, 2:59.

  “But notwithstanding . . . and your honor”: Burr to Jackson, March 24, 1806, PAJ, 2:91–92.

  Jackson compiled the list: PAJ, 2:93n3.

  “The certain consequence . . . of acquiring fame”: Jackson to James Winchester, October 4, 1806, PAJ, 2:110–11.

  “This armed force . . . ready to march”: Jackson to brigadier generals, October 4, 1806, PAJ, 2:111–12.

  “The public sentiment”: Jackson to Jefferson, c. November 5, 1806, PAJ, 2:114–15.

  “Their intention was to divide . . . at the head”: Jackson to George Washington Campbell, January 15, 1807, PAJ, 2:148–49.

  “There is something rotten . . . the Union disunited”: Jackson to Claiborne, November 12, 1806, PAJ, 2:116.

  “A difference exists . . . to New Orleans”: Jackson to Smith, November 12, 1806, PAJ, 2:117–19.

  “He is meditating the overthrow”: Anonymous letter to Jefferson, December 1, 1805, quoted in Abernethy, 38.

  “Spanish intrigues”: Daviess quoted in ibid., 90.

  In August Jefferson . . . from Spanish control: Ibid., 63, 184–85.

  “an express pledge of honor”: Jackson to Claiborne, January 8, 1807, PAJ, 2:140–41.

  “Should danger threaten you”: Ibid.

  “Burr’s chief agent here . . . the national interests”: Wilkinson to Jackson, December 19, 1806, PAJ, 2:126.

  “a numerous and powerful association . . . an auxiliary step”: Wilkinson to Jefferson, October 20, 1806, in Abernethy, 150–51.

  “Everything internal and external . . . glory and fortune”: Burr to Wilkinson, July 22–29, 1806, Papers of Burr, 2:986–87.

  “Burr’s enterprise is the most extraordinary”: Jefferson to Charles Clay, January 11, 1807, Jefferson papers.

  “He might be hid”: Wilkinson to Jackson, December 19, 1806, PAJ, 2:126.

  “Burr said surely”: Jackson testimony to grand jury, June 25, 1807, PAJ, 2:168–69.

  “I am more convinced . . . pass with impunity”: Jackson to William Anderson, June 16, 1807, PAJ, 2:167–68.

  10. AFFAIR OF HONOR

  “one bay horse”: Appraisal of horse, December 12, 1783, PAJ, 1:9.

  Jackson solved Verell’s financial problem: Memorandum of agreement between Jackson and Verell, May 11, 1805, PAJ, 1:57.

  “a damned liar”: Swann to Jackson, January 3, 1806, PAJ, 2:78.

  “The harshness of this expression”: Ibid.

  “Let me, sir . . . with an anodyne”: Jackson to Swann, January 7, 1806, PAJ, 2:79–80.

  “As to the word coward”: Dickinson to Jackson, January 10, 1806, PAJ, 2:81–82.

  “Think not . . . receive of another”: Swann to Jackson, January 12, 1806, PAJ, 2:82.

  “not suffer passion . . . avoiding a duel”: Robertson to Jackson, February 1, 1806, PAJ, 2:83–84.

  “On Thursday the 3rd”: Clover Bottom race notice, March 1, 1806, PAJ, 2:90.

  “the largest concourse . . . the fate of Ploughboy”: Jackson to John Hutchings, April 6, 1806, PAJ, 2:94.

  “I declare him”: Dickinson to editor of Impartial Review, May 21, 1806, PAJ, 2:97.

  “Your conduct and expressions . . . will point out”: Jackson to Dickinson, May 23, 1806, PAJ, 2:98.

  “If you can not obtain pistols”: Overton to Catlet, May 23, 1806, PAJ, 2:99.

  “For god’s sake”: Overton to Catlet, May 24, 1806, PAJ, 2:99–100.

  “not now be convenient”: Catlet to Overton, May 24, 1806, PAJ, 2:100.

  “It is agreed”: Statement by Overton and Catlet, May 24, 1806, PAJ, 2:100.

  “I should have hit him”: Jackson quoted in Parton, 1:297. The outlines of the duel as given here follow Parton, who got details from those close to the event.

  11. ALL MUST FEEL THE INJURIES

  “There is a few long faces”: John Overton to Jackson, June 1, 1806, PAJ, 2:100–01.

  “The thing is so novel”: Jackson to Thomas Eastin, June 6, 1806, PAJ, 2:101, and headnote to same.

  “To dupe the citizens”: Jackson to Watkins, June 15, 1806, PAJ, 2:102.

  “He observed that he was not”: Caffery to Jackson, August 25, 1806, excerpted in PAJ, 2:103n.

  “every circumstance in the affair”: Statement by Catlet, June 25, 1806, PAJ, 2:104.

  “A report arrived here . . . for better purposes”: John Overton to Jackson, September 12, 1806, PAJ, 2:108–09.

  “British Outrage . . . satisfaction is not given”: Malone, 5:425.

  “made up for war . . . old and the new”: Jefferson to William Duane, July 20, 1807, Jefferson papers.

  “The degradation offered . . . nation is inevitable”: Jackson to Thomas Bayly, June 27, 1807, PAJ, 2:170.

  he led a protest: PAJ, 2:170n. As a tactical measure, the rally endorsed Jefferson’s actions, but the mood was clearly more belligerent than the administration’s.

  “Is it possible”: Jackson to McNairy, January 20, 1808, PAJ, 2:183.

  to pay him $999: Headnote to Jackson to McNairy, January 20, 1808, PAJ, 2:182.

  “Our enemies have long calculated . . . liberty and independence”: Jackson address, January 16, 1809, PAJ, 2:210–11.

  12. MASTER AND SLAVES

  “They are family Negroes”: Wade Hampton to Jackson, June 3, 1810, PAJ, 2:248.

  “Fifty Dollars Reward . . . of three hundred”: Jackson advertisement in Tennessee Gazette, September 26, 1804, PAJ, 2:40–41.

  “1 bottle castor oil”: Jackson
account with John Bedford, October 26, 1809, to September 29, 1812, PAJ, 2:223.

  In 1810 he formed a partnership: This account is from the headnote to Jackson memorandum, May 18, 1811, PAJ, 2:261–62.

  “It was well known”: Jackson to Blount, January 25, 1812, PAJ, 2:277–79.

  “the said Andrew Jackson”: Jackson affidavit, February 29, 1812, PAJ, 2:286–89.

  “A. Jackson amount of proportion”: Entry from Bank of Nashville account book, PAJ, 2:262n1.

  promissory notes: May 18, 1811, PAJ, 2:262–63n1; Jackson to arbitrator, February 29, 1812, PAJ, 2:286–89.

  But no bill . . . appears in the state records: Headnote to account with Bedford, PAJ, 2:218.

  “I arrived at his house . . . not do that”: Benton, Thirty Years’ View, 1:737.

  13. NOR INFAMY UPON US

  “I cannot make out a statement . . . accounts are mentioned”: Jackson to Francis Preston, May 3, 1810, PAJ, 2:243–44.

  “I find it impossible . . . tone of thought”: Jackson to Jenkin Whiteside, February 10, 1810, PAJ, 2:233–34.

  “There is no business . . . during his pleasure”: Caffery to Jackson, May 20, 1810, PAJ, 2:246.

  “The people in this country”: Caffery to Jackson, June 10, 1810, PAJ, 2:249.

  “If you have never visited”: Walter Overton to Jackson, September 26, 1810, PAJ, 2:253.

  “I am well aware”: Jackson to Jenkin Whiteside, February 10, 1810, PAJ, 2:233–34.

  “The only two converts”: Sampson Williams to Jackson, April 25, 1808, PAJ, 2:195.

  “The present Congress . . . amusement or business”: Jackson to Jenkin Whiteside, February 10, 1810, PAJ, 2:233–34.

  “No man in the nation . . . at your feet”: Clay speech of February 22, 1810 (he was still in the Senate at this point), Papers of Clay, 1:449–50.

  “Your Committee . . . appeal to arms”: Calhoun report for Committee on Foreign Relations, June 3, 1812, Papers of Calhoun, 1:121–22.

  “with anxious expectation . . . nobly in the cause”: Jackson to brigadier generals, December 19, 1808, PAJ, 2:203.

  “If he knows his duty”: Jackson to Winchester, March 15, 1809, PAJ, 2:214.

  “Our independence and liberty . . . an invading foe”: Jackson to Blount, February 15, 1810, PAJ, 2:236–38.

  “If the trumpet of hell”: Anderson to Jackson, November 17, 1810, PAJ, 2:255.

  “My friend, Patton Anderson”: Parton, 1:344.