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Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1832, by R. F Towner, in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New Y

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

WQR 19 FEB '36

his 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 commensurate. 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

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