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Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1832, by Clapp and Benton, in the Clerk's office of the District of Connecticut.

PREFACE.

THIS Volume is not presented to the public in ignorance of the fact, that at a period of high political excitement like the present, its reception by many will be rather ungracious. Of this, we are not disposed to complain, although it has been our studious endeavor in the preparation of this work to avoid every thing obnoxious to the political opponents of Andrew Jackson; unless, indeed, the defence of his public acts, interwoven with the detail of them, should produce this effect.

It may be a matter of inquiry, why another volume, detailing the leading incidents in the life of an indidual so favorably and universally known as that of Andrew Jackson, should be added to the multiplicity of works that have already appeared upon the same subject. Under circumstances differing from those in which it appears before the public, an answer to the inquiry could not perhaps be satisfactorily made. But it will be recollected that the biographical details of his public life, of any note, heretofore published, appeared immediately after the termination of his brilliant military career. The important advantages which the exercise of his talents and courage had achieved for

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nis country in the fortunate termination of the border wars with the savage nations on our southwestern frontier, and those of a still greater magnitude resulting from his single triumph over our civilized foes, were then almost universally appreciated by his countrymen. They saw, they felt and acknowledged, that the benefits his valor had won, were of no puerile or ordinary description, and with the fulness of their appreciation of them, their gratitude was commensu

rate.

The mutterings of censure were indeed occasionally heard, but they were soon silenced by the light of truth and the wholesome rebuke of public sentiment. But emotions of gratitude for favors received, are often weakened by time, or supplanted by interest or prejudice, which may account for the fact of subsequent attempts being made, to depreciate the merits of one of America's most distinguished sons, and of whom the nation may be justly proud. His acts, and the motives which prompted them, have been denounced, and before the tribunal of public opinion been subjected to the severest scrutiny and the strictest investigation; and his fame has passed the ordeal, with a lustre still brighter and more imperishable. Our object has been to present a history of his actions in the light in which this investigation has placed them; to what extent we have succeeded, an impartial public will decide.

“When the community entertain different views of the conduct or motives of an individual, who has acted in a highly responsible capacity, it is extremely difficult to concentrate opinion by presenting a series of truths. Prejudice operates with peculiar force on one class, while the other, however well convinced of

their error, are unwilling to be thought inconsistent, and, therefore, never acknowledge the falsity of the course of reasoning they have once adopted." We are not, therefore, unaware of our exposure to censure, in the publication of this work, from those who may not subscribe to the character delineated of its subject. But the task has been begun and completed with purity of motive and honesty of purpose, and whatever animadversion may fall to our share, we trust will be met in a becoming spirit of forbearance. We have not the vanity to believe that any thing it contains will influence a solitary individual in his opinion of the merits or demerits of Andrew Jackson for the station he now occupies; yet we have the satisfaction of reflecting, that the suspicion of being influenced by such a motive, can with no degree of justice be imputed to us, for its circulation, whatever it may be, will have only commenced before his political destiny will have been decided.

For the imperfections of this work, our readers will undoubtedly exercise a proper degree of indulgence -It is before them, and will have its day-it will receive its meed of approbation and censure, and be forgotten; but the fame of the illustrious man, who is the subject of it-his exalted patriotism-his Roman virtue—his unyielding firmness when surrounded by the most disheartening and inveterate difficulties -his skill and energy in planning and completing the defence of his country, in the seasons of her greatest peril his daring courage in the day of battle— his upright and fearless discharge of the highly responsible duties appertaining to the presidency of this mighty communion of states, will live, as noble ex

amples, inspiring the love of glory and virtue, long after the present generation of men, their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, are mingled with the dust of buried ages.

For the materials which compose this work, we have availed ourselves of every thing within our reach, whether furnished by friends or enemies. For the defence of several of General Jackson's public acts, we are indebted to an able writer of Virginia. A small portion of the detail is in the language of others who have heretofore written on the same subject, and which has been used without the usual mark of credit; other characteristics, however, will readily distinguish it. An appendix had been contemplated, for an amplification of some of the parts which constitute the body of the work: the extension of the volume, however, beyond its original design, has rendered its omission necessary.

Hartford, Oct. 1st, 1832.

THE AUTHOR.