G ENERAL JACKSON'S administration was one of the most important in the history of the country; and its strong features resulted from the decided character of the man. His immense personal popularity and his unflinching determination enabled him to carry every important measure which he proposed. He was always in advance of his party in his opinions on public policy; and in the cabinet, as in the field, he led where others hardly dared to follow. On his first accession to office he boldly dismissed a larger number of the public functionaries than usual on a change of administration, and filled the vacancies thus created with his political friends. Regarding the management of internal improvements by the general government as of dangerous tendency, the President on the 27th of May, 1830, refused to sign the bill authorizing a subscription to the stock of the Maysville and Lexington Road Company in Ken tucky; and thus pronounced the subsequent policy of the govern ment on this important question. In 1832, he adopted the same course with reference to the rechartering of the United States Bank, and thus prevented its being rechartered as a national institution, with features which are now considered exceptionable by all parties in the country. In the spring of 1832, the Sacs, Foxes, and Winnebagoes in Wisconsin Territory commenced a war under the direction of Black Hawk, which was speedily terminated by the vigorous action of the government, and the chief was captured and taken to Washington. During the same eventful year, the State of South Carolina, in convention, assumed a position of direct antagonism to the general government on the tariff question, and threatened a withdrawal from the Union. The President boldly met the issue; and his proclamation announcing his determination to enforce obedience to the laws received the cordial approval and support of Mr. Webster and the other great leaders of the opposition. To advocate the position which South Carolina maintained with ability, her most distinguished statesman, Mr. Calhoun, resigned his office of Vice-Presi dent, and was elected to a seat in the Senate. The period was one of intense excitement, and men were hourly expecting to see the first bloodshed of a civil war. Fortunately for the country, Mr. Clay, the great statesman of Kentucky, introduced his celebrated compromise bill, providing for the gradual reduction of duties till the year 1843, when they were to reach to the level of twenty per cent. This measure enabled the opponents of the tariff to retire with dig nity from the menacing position which they had assumed, and the vexed question was laid at rest for a season. On the 4th of March, 1833, General Jackson entered upon the second term of his Presidency; Martin Van Buren being Vice-President. In 1833, the commercial and monetary affairs of the country were considerably disturbed in consequence of the misunderstanding between the President and the managers of the United States Bank Each party charged the other with disregarding the interests of the people in the struggle for victory. The President was very strongly solicited to restore the government deposits which he had caused to be removed from the bank; but having become convinced that the continued existence of the bank itself, constituted and managed as it was, would be injurious to the country, he remained firm in his purpose to separate it from all connection with the government. The bank obtained a new charter from the State of Pennsylvania, and subsequently failed. In his determination to oppose the bank, the President was strongly supported in both houses of Congress; Mr. Benton, in the Senate, being particularly active in the cause. In 1834, the President informed Congress that the French Chamber of Deputies had rejected the bill for indemnifying the United States for losses sustained under the action of the Berlin and Milan decrees. His message on the subject suggested retaliatory measures, breathing throughout a determination to insist upon indemnification. The French resented this language, and withdrew their minister; but subsequently paid the indemnity. In the summer of this year some unhappy disturbances occurred with the Florida Indians, and a small force under General Clinch was ordered against them. Little was done by either party until the 28th of December, when Major Dade, with a detachment of seven officers and one hundred and two privates was surprised by a body of Indians and negroes, the whole number, except four, mur. dered, and the dead bodies subsequently stripped and mutilated. This was followed by like outrages on a smaller scale, which, during the whole of Jackson's second term, rendered the territory of Florida a field of bloodshed. At the presidential election in 1836, Martin Van Buren was chosen President, and Richard M. Johnson Vice-President. HE spirit of speculation, which seems periodically to visit great commercial countries, had been abroad in the United States during the latter part of General Jackson's administration. The consequent revulsion commenced on the very day when he left the chair of state. The usual consequences followed. Thousands of merchants failed, and the banks throughout the country suspended specie payments. The new President thought that the emergency warranted an extraordinary session of Congress, which, accordingly, commenced in September, 1837; and, during a session of forty days, passed several bills for the relief of the government, which had itself become embarrassed. The issue of treasury notes was authorized, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to establish what is called an independent treasury, transacting its affairs in specie, and having no connection with banks. The war in Florida was continued during the whole of this administration, but finally was ended, by the subjugation of the Seminole tribes, and their subsequent removal west of the Missis sippi. In 1837, the border conflicts, originating from the sym pathy of many of our citizens with the Canadian patriots, increased 67 2 Y 529 |