Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) to Benjamin F. Butler
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05271 Author/Creator: Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) Place Written: Hermitage, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 February 1844 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 25 x 20 cm Order a Copy
Thanks Butler, who in 1815 defended Jackson's actions at New Orleans. Says that no matter how the Senate rules he knows the measures he took were necessary and that "I acted in the defence of New Orleans with the purest principles of a patriot." Relates his poor health and confidence that Van Buren will be the Democratic Nominee for President. When Jackson was defending the city of New Orleans he imposed martial law, ignored habeas corpus, executed deserters, and suspended the state legislature, actions for which Judge Hall fined him $1,000. The Louisiana legislature chose to refund the fine, a measure which they were debating at the time of the letter. Van Buren unexpectedly lost the Democratic nomination to Polk.
Butler was a prominent member of the Democratic party and a friend of Jackson's. (Not the Civil War General Benjamin Franklin Butler.)
Hermitage
February 22nd,.1844. -
My dear Sir,
With what sincere pleasure I have received & read, and now acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter of the 10th instant, & [struck: to] learn that you, & your amiable family, are in the full enjoyment of that greatest of blessings, good health.
The account given you by my friend Capt Izack of the state of my health was very correct - I am still greatly afflicted, labouring under great debility of body, and my eye sight failing me - But I am perfectly resigned to the will of that gracious providence that has so long, and through so many vareagated service thus far preserved me, submissive to his summons whenever it may call, & with, I trust, great submission, & cheerfulness obey it, trusting to the [struck: short] atonement made by our precious redeemer upon the cross, for the sins of a lost & ruined world, with the hope, that he died for me.
Your letter before me gives me a lively hope, that if I live, we will have the pleasure of seeing you at the Hermitage, providence permitting, by the 15th of April, - Nothing could afford me more pleasure, and I assure you, that you will meet with a most hearty welcome, not by me alone, but by every inmate of the Hermitage.
I thank you kindly for the perusal of the views [2] you took in 1815, of the subject now before the U.S. Senate to refund the fine composed by judge Hall for preserving the city of New Orleans from the ruthless hands of a British army, and now return it as desired. I had seen it in the public journals of that day, but from whose friendly hand I was indebted for that defence & refutation of the slanders with which I was surrounded at that [struck: day] [inserted: time,] I never knew until now, which adds to that friendship which has hitherto been cherished for you in my bosom, for your character & virtue - because in that defence you have shewn a disinterested love of Justice and truth, [struck: for] and the value of character, and your abhorrence of slander. - The concommitant of all just & noble minds. What the [strikeout] Senate may finally do in this matter I cannot tell, but nothing it can do, can deprive me of the consolation, that I acted in the defence of New Orleans with the purest principles of a patriot, adopting the only means within my power to save the city, & I am sure I never can regret that I adopted them. The large vote in the House of Representatives against that odious amendment of Mr Stephens of Ga. & for the bill is a great gratification to me, of which I cannot be deprived, let the result in the Federal Senate be what it may - my gratitude is due to all those who have by their votes shewn their willingness to shield my memory from the slander unjustly imposed upon it by the decision of a vindictive Judge sitting in his own cause, from whose decision there was no appeal. I must not pursue this subject, it allways excites me & my strength is failing me.
Surrounded as I am with affliction and [3] debility, I am not regardless of the political movement of the day - I never had a doubt but Mr V Buren would be the nominee for the presidency, it was only in him that the outrageous frauds, slanders, & humbugeries used to defeat him can be rebuked. The opposition charged him with extravagance, & corruption, if the democracy took up any other, and elected him, would it not be used as a confirmation by the opposition that the democracy had confirmed their charges by taking up another Justice [inserted: therefore] to the purity, & character of Mr Van Buren requires that he shoud, as I am confident he will, be the nominee, and that he will be triumphantly elected, notwithstanding the apostacy of Wm C. Rives? How the mighty is fallen. My weakness admonishes me to close with [struck: our] the sincere regards of myself & Houshold to you, & your amiable family, and kind salutations to Capt Izack, believe me sincerely yr friend.
Andrew Jackson -
Benjin,, F. Butler Esqr ,
City of N York -
[docket]
A. Jackson
Feb. 22d. 1844
[free frank]
- Free -
[address leaf]
Andrew Jackson -
B.F. Butler Esqr
Attorney of Law
City of N,.York
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