to move in this sphere of action. Without any extrinsic advantages to promote his advancement, he had solely to rely upon intrinsic worth, and decision of character, to enable him to rise rapidly. He commenced the practice of law in Nashville, at the age of twenty-one, and soon distinguished himself among his competitors. His stern integrity, and unremitting attention to business, recommended him to the notice of government, and procured for him the appointment of Attorney General of the territory. This office he sustained for a considerable length of time, with much reputation to himself.

state.

The South West Territory, in 1796, was admitted a Sovereign and independent state into the Union, and took the name of Tennessee. The people were then called upon to exercise a highly responsible act of self-governmentthat of forming a constitution, as the supreme law of the Mr. Jackson was chosen a member of the convention, called to discharge this important duty. Although he had become known to the most distinguished citizens of the country, his exertions in this convention brought him into more universal notice, by the distinguished part he tcok upon this important subject. The course of his studies had previously led him to the investigation of the science of government, from the earliest ages down to the period in which he lived. With the rise, progress, and termination of the ancient republics, he had made himself familiarly acquainted; he had witnessed the operation of the American constitution, and those of the different states, from their first establishment to the period in which he acted. With a mind thus prepared to meet the important discussion, he took lead in the debates upon the different articles of the proposed constitution. To those who are acquainted with the constitution of the state of Tennessee, the precision with which the legislative, the

judiciary, and executive powers are designated; the care manifested in securing to the people their civil rights; the freedom allowed in the exercise of the rights of conscience, must be obvious, and much credit is due to Mr. Jackson, for his efforts in producing so desirable a result. As a proof of their approbation of his services, the people of Tennessee elected him their first representative in Congress. His popularity continued to increase, and in 1797 he was elected to the Senate of the United States. His congressional life was distinguished for a firm adherence to republican principles; and in the senate, he voted for the repeal of the alien and sedition laws. His affairs in Tennessee requiring his attention, induced him to resign his seat in the senate before the session closed. He accordingly returned; and soon after, contrary to his inclinations, he was appointed judge of the Supreme Court. After discharging its duties for a while, he resigned the station, and retired to private life.

It was during the recess between this period, and the commencement of Mr. Jackson's brilliant military career, that the Union was agitated by the development of the famous Burr conspiracy. Mr. Jackson has by no means escaped the missiles of malice and detraction, which are usually aimed at men of distinguished attainments. It was not until a recent period, that Mr. Jackson was accused of being a participator in this conspiracy. This charge was most triumphantly refuted as soon as preferred; and though it is not our intention to notice the many unfounded charges that have been exhibited against him, yet we should deem it the greatest injustice to our readers, as well as to our illustrious subject, should we fail here to record the ample proofs which so effectually wipe out the stain, which is intended to blot the fair escutcheon of a much injured patriot. Mr. Jackson was charged with the

erime of treason-of being connected with Aaron Burr in a conspiracy to sever the union of these states.

Before we proceed with the evidence in refutation of this unprincipled calumny, we will premise that General Jackson, while in the Senate of the United States, became well acquainted with Col. Burr; that then and long after, Col. Buir stood high in the favor and estimation of the republic in party in the United States; that he had acquired the good feelings of the West, by his great attention to its interests, and particularly of Tennessee, by his activity in procuring her admission into the Union; and that up to the month of November, 1806, nothing like suspicion of treason, or of any project unfriendly to the peace or integrity of the United States, had any existence in this country; though Mr. Jefferson, in his message of January 22nd, 1807, declared, "that he had received intimation that designs were in agitation in the Western country, unlawful and unfriendly to the peace of the Union, and that the prime mover in these, was Aaron Burr, heretofore distinguished by the favor of his country." The grounds of these intimations being inconclusive, the objects uncertain, and the fidelity of the country known to be firm, the only measure taken was to urge the informants to use their best endeavours, to get further insight into the designs and proceedings of the suspected persons, and to communicate them to the President.

A full development, however, of Burr's designs, soon became manifest. "It appeared that he contemplated two distinct objects, which might be carried on jointly or separately, and either one or the other, as circumstances should direct. One of these was the severance of the Union of these States by the Allegany Mountains; the other an attack on Mexico. A third object was provided, merely ostensible, to wit, the settlement of a pretended purchase of a tract of country on the Washita, claimed by Baron

pre

Bastroph. This was to serve as the pretext for all his parations, an allurement for such followers as really wished to acquire settlements in that country, and a cover under which to retreat in the event of a final discomfiture of both branches of his design."

"He found at once, that the attachment of the Western Country to the union was not to be shaken; that its dissolution could not be effected with the consent of its inhabitants, and that his resources were inadequate, as yet, to effect it by force. He took his course then at once, determined to seize on New Orleans, plunder the bank there, possess himself of the military and naval stores, and proceed on his expedition to Mexico, and to this object all his means and preparations were now directed. He collected from all the quarters where himself or agents possessed influence, all the ardent, restless, desperate, and disaffected persons, who were ready for any enterprise analogous to their characters. He seduced good and well-meaning citizens, some by assurances that he possessed the confidence of the government, and was acting under its secret patronage; a pretence which procured some credit, from the state of our differences at that time with Spain, and others by of fers of land in Bastroph's claim on the Washita."

This was the state of the information, received by President Jefferson, towards the close of November, 1806; and on the 27th of that month, in consequence of the receipt of intelligence of the conspiracy by Gen. Wilkinson's letter, he issued his proclamation. The President not being apprized at that time, that any boats were building on the Cumberland river, the effect of this proclamation was for some time trusted to in the state of Tennessee; but on the 19th of December, similar communications, and instructions, with those to the neighboring states were dispatched by express, to the governor and general officer of the Western Division of the state; and on the

23d of December, the confidential agent of the government left Frankfort for Nashville, to put into activity the means of that state also.

Although some might suspect Colonel Burr to be engaged in schemes of pecuniary or personal aggrandizement, and might disapprove of them, and he might then have become a subject of suspicion, to some extent, yet no one suspected them to be in any degree hostile to the government of the United States; and most persons in the West believed that his designs were countenanced, and in their execution would be supported by the government. This idea was supported by the existing state of our relations with Spain, and the belief that a war with that power was impending a war which, at that time, would have been popular in the Western States.

The charge against General Jackson, was made by Judge Williams of Tennessee; who stated that sometime before Mr. Jefferson's proclamation, he was told by Ge neral Jackson, that if Williams would accept it, he might obtain the commission of captain in Burr's army; and that at another time, he declared to him that he would find that a division of the United States had taken deep root; and that he would find a number of the members of the House of Representatives deeply involved in the scheme. The lamentable inaccuracy of the statements of Mr. Williams, will, it is believed, appear abundantly manifest from the following well authenticated facts, in relation to the circumstances of General Jackson's situation, at the period of that conspiracy.

We will introduce to our readers, General Jackson's letter to George W. Campbell, then a representative in Congress from Tennessee, dated January 15th, 1807, not because it is first in date of several proofs that will be presented, but because it contains a connected and continuous relation of General Jackson's knowledge, and