CHAPTER XVII.

Violence of party spirit-General Jackson elected presi dent of the United States-Death of Mrs. Jackson General Jackson declines the acceptance of invitations to public entertainments, on his way to WashingtonHe repairs to the seat of government—His receptionInauguration-Inaugural address-His cabinet-Removals from office-Defence of the measure-His first message to congress.

As the presidential election approached, the hostility of the political parties towards each other increased. Never, it is believed, has a political contest been waged with such a bitter uncompromising spirit—such a total disregard of those principles which almost invariably govern the contests of honorable men for place or pow er, as that of 1828. General Jackson was the candi date of the people; he had devoted his whole life to the advancement of the prosperity and glory of his country, and his fellow-citizens were ready to bestow their favors upon him with a willing hand. His opponents were aware of this, and resolved, if possible, to counteract their intentions. With this end in view, almost every act of his life, either public or private, was represented as embodying some crime which degrades and dishonors our common nature. But his fame passed every ordeal with a renovated brilliancy. In the autumn of 1828, the election took place which resulted in the choice of General Jackson, by a large majority.

In December, he met with a severe affliction, in the death of Mrs. Jackson. She was an amiable and excellent woman, and was greatly beloved by all within the extensive circle of her acquaintance. This melancholy event happened on the evening of the 22d, and the intelligence spread a deep gloom throughout the vicinity of the Hermitage. The following day, being the anniversary of an interesting and important event in the last war, had been appropriately selected to testify the respect and affection of his fellow-citizens and neighbors to the man who was so soon to leave his sweet domestic retirement, to assume the responsibilities and discharge the important duties of chief magistrate of the nation. Preparations had been made the table well nigh spread, at which all was expected to be hilarity and joy; the citizens of Nashville had sallied forth on the happy morning with spirits light and buoyant, and countenances beaming with animation and hope-when suddenly the scene was changed; congratulations were converted into expressions of condolence, tears were substituted for smiles, and a general mourning pervaded a community, where, but a moment before, universal happiness and public rejoicing prevailed.

The funeral of Mrs. Jackson, was attended by an immense concourse of people. Her remains were interred in the lower part of the garden of the Hermitage. The general was supported to the grave by General Coffee and Major Rutledge. It is said by those who witnessed the scene, that the exhibition of grief on the part of the relatives and friends of the deceased was excessive beyond description. Some of her domestics seemed stupified by the event, others wrung their hands and shrieked aloud. These were testimonials of the worth and excellence of the departed, which are seldom discoverable in the solemn pomp and heartless mummery that often attend the obsequies of the illustrious dead.

The severity of the blow upon her partner was heavy beyond conception. A gentleman from Philadelphia who was present at the funeral, wrote thus to his brother :

"After the funeral, the general came up to me, took my hand and shook it. Some of the gentlemen mentioned my name. He again caught my hand with a fervent pressure, but could not speak. I never shall forget his look of grief."

The time was now at hand when it would be necessary for General Jackson to repair to the seat of government. Previous to his departure, he received numerous invitations to pass through various places on his route, and partake of the hospitalities of his friends. The following is a reply to a letter from a committee of the citizens of Lynchburg who invited him to pass through that place, and receive the respects of its inhabitants :

Hermitage, Dec. 9th, 1828. “Gentlemen—I have received your letter of the 22d ultimo, presenting to me the congratulations of my friends in Lynchburg, and its vicinity, and inviting me in their name to pass through that section of country, on my way to Washington, in the event of my election. So lively an expression of regard for my character and services, as that, gentlemen, which you have been pleased to convey on this occasion, is received with every sentiment of respect and I beg leave to offer, in return for it, the grateful assurance that it would afford me great satisfaction to accept the invitation, were it probable that I could comply with it. But as I shall feel myself bound to await the complete ascertainment of the election, before I make any arrangement on this result; and then, in event of my election, would be compelled to take the most expeditious route in order to reach the city by the 4th of March, the pleasure of paying you my personal respects, must be postponed to some future period.

"I pray you to accept for yourselves, and present to those you represent, the assurance of my respect and high consideration, and believe me, very sincerely, your obedient servant, ANDREW JACKSON."

In reply to an invitation from the members of the Pennsylvania legislature, received after the afflictive event of Mrs. Jackson's death, to visit Harrisburgh on his way to Washington, he said: "It having pleased the Author of all mercies, by a late dispensation of his providence, to remove from this world the stay and solace of my life, feelings, of which I need not attempt the description, compel me to decline the invitation with which the members of the Pennsylvania legislature, friendly to my election, have honored me. I am not, however, even in this hour of affliction, insensible to your kindness; and I cannot but feel obliged to you, gentlemen, for the polite and favorable terms in which you have communicated it to me in your letter of the 8th inst. The obligations I owe to the people and legislature of Pennsylvania, for repeated evidences of genuine partiality and support, impress me with a sense of gratitude and deference for that great and patriotic state, which in every vicissitude of life I shall cherish, and which, under less mournful circumstances, I should be proud to manifest by attending her capital, and paying respects in person to her citizens."

Towards the close of January, 1829, General Jackson and suite left the Hermitage for the seat of government. The inhabitants of the places through which he passed assembled and paid him their congratulations; his recent bereavement, however, made him desirous of dispensing with all unnecessary ceremony, a wish which was complied with on the part of his friends, by a delicate forbearance, evincive of their respect for his character, and sympathy in his affliction.

He arrived in Washington early in February, in a

plain carriage, and escorted by only ten or twelve horsemen, and was received with very little ceremony, at his own particular request. It is the great glory of our institutions, that one president retires from and another enters upon the duties of the office, as if without effortor as a natural effect of our republican establishments. It is this more than any thing, that excites the astonishment of king-ridden Europeans. They wonder at the operation of the laws, without the exhibition of force.

After counting the electoral votes, and ascertaining that General Jackson was elected, a committee, consisting of Mr. Tazewell from the senate, and Messrs. Hamilton and Bell of the house, were appointed to notify General Jackson of his election. Soon after they were ushered into the drawing-room, the president elect also came in, when Mr. Tazewell, the chairman, met him, and addressed him to the following effect:

"Sir-In obedience to the orders of the senate and house of representatives of the United States, and by the direction of their joint committee, appointed for that special purpose, it is my duty to notify you, that you have been duly elected president of the United States, for the term of four years, to commence with the 4th day of March next. While performing this act of duty, I beg leave to offer you my own and the cordial congratulations of each of my associates of this committee, on this event, an event which we all very confidently believe, will redound not less to your fame, and to the future benefit of our common country, than any other of those occurrences which have signalized your past life, and secured to you that respect, and esteem, and confidence of your fellowcitizens, which have been so fully illustrated in your recent election. The particulars of this election will be made known to you by the record which I now have the honor to place in your hands."