Causes that led to the Seminole war-General Jackson invades Florida -Is censured for it-Defence of the measure-His letter to the go- vernor of Georgia-Detail of the causes which elicited it-Destruc- General Jackson arrives at Fort St. Marks-Captures it-Censures of him for his operations in Florida-Circumstances justifying his acts —Arbuthnot and Ambrister-Their agency in producing the Semi- nole war-Justification of their punishment-Detail of the particu- General Jackson returns to Nashville-His reception-Cession of the Floridas to the United States-General Jackson appointed governor of them-Delicacy of his situation—His proclamation to the people -Spanish officers-Colonel Callava-His measures in relation to General Jackson resigns the government of the Floridas-Is nomina- ted by the Tennessee legislature for the presidency-Is elected to the senate of the United States-Lafayette visits him at the Hermitage -President elected by the house of representatives-Mr. Adams chosen-General Jackson again nominated-Resigns his seat in the senate in consequence-His address to the Tennessee legislature on that occasion-Visits various towns in Tennessee-His replies to addresses made to him by his fellow-citizens-Receives an invitation to attend the celebration of the 8th January at New Orleans -Des- Violence of party spirit-General Jackson elected president of the United States-Death of Mrs. Jackson-General Jackson declines the acceptance of invitations to public entertainments, on his way to Washington-He repairs to the seat of government-His reception —Inauguration—Inaugural address -His cabinet-Removals from office-Defence of the measure-His first message to congress. 310 Approbation of the Message-Maysville Road Bill-Returned to the house by General Jackson, with his objections-Mr. Barbour's de- fence of this official act-Meeting of Congress in 1830-General Jackson's Message-Remarks upon it-Correspondence between him and Mr. Calhoun-Developments made by that correspondence—Its Dissolution of the cabinet-Letter of resignation from the secretary of state-General Jackson's reply-Causes which led to the dissolution -Its effects-Re-organization of the cabinet-Meeting of the 22d congress-President's message-Remarks upon it-Rejection by the senate of Mr. Van Buren's nomination-Motives that led to it- Bill for re-chartering the United States bank, passes both houses of congress-Is presented to the president-He returns it with his veto CHAPTER I. Introductory Remarks-Birth of Mr. Jackson-His parentage-War of the Revolution-He engages in the war-Is taken prisoner-Resists the command of a British officer-Mrs. Jackson-Her virtues— Her death-Mr. Jackson an orphan-Studies law· Admitted to the bar-Removes to the South West Territory—Appointed Attorney General-Member of the Tennessee Convention-A representative in Congress-A senator in Congress-Judge of the Supreme Court-Burr's conspiracy-Charges against him refuted. WHENEVER an individual, by the force of his own peculiar talents and energy, has raised himself from obscurity to the highest attainable summit of earthly distinction, a curiosity, very natural in itself, is engendered, to learn something of his early history; to trace the first workings of a mind, whose conceptions have laid the foundation, and whose perseverance has raised before the admiring gaze of the world, a monument of undying fame. This indulgence often proves unsatisfactory, as instances are numerous of men whose maturity has developed powers that have commanded the admiration of the world, who, in early life, gave no indication of future greatness. The province of the biographer, however, in commencing the life of his subject, is always the same, whether the early years of his hero were rife with spirit-stirring indi cations of exalted intellect, or exhibited nothing above the ordinary endowments of men. Andrew Jackson was born at Waxaw, district of Marion, in the state of South Carolina, on the 15th of March, 1767. His father was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to America with his family, a wife and two sons, in 1765. The object of his emigration was, to escape from the oppressions which were at that period heaped by the English government upon the middle and lower classes of that ill-fated country. He died about two years after his emigration, and thus escaped British tyranny; which, unsatiated with its victims in Europe, followed soon after, and planted its hideous front upon the American shores. He left three sons, of whom Andrew was the youngest, in a strange land, in the helplessness of infancy and childhood, to the care of their widowed mother, who executed the arduous task of nurturing her children, in a manner that reflected the highest credit upon her persevering fortitude, and exemplary devotedness to the exercise of the best impulses of the human heart. Her pecuniary resources were limited; yet, by judicious management, she was enabled to give her two eldest sons the rudiments of a common education. Andrew she designed for the ministry; and, with this view, he was admitted as a student in an academical institution, where the languages and the higher branches of literature were taugin. Here he commenced the study of the classics; and he would probably have proceeded to effectuate the object designed, had he not been interrupted by a train of events, which constitute the brightest era in American history. We allude to the war of the Revolution. The history of the world furnishes no parallel, in which a contest has been maintained between high handed oppression, and ictal disregard of |
