細節
JACKSON, ANDREW, President. Letter signed ("Andrew Jackson") to John Y. Mason, Secretary of the Navy, the text in the hand of Jackson's nephew Andrew Jackson Donelson, Hermitage, 1 August 1844. 4 1/2 pages, 4to. Fine condition.
THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT, 1844: JACKSON PREDICTS THE ELECTION OF POLK AND THE "REVIVAL OF JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRACY"
An unusually long and informative letter, quite revealing about Jackson's view of the Tyler administration and the candidacy of James K. Polk, a Democrat. Jackson has received Mason's "letter marked private & confidential...and although worn down from a bad cough, pain in my left side and shortness of breath, I shall endeavour to answer it. Whilst I sincerely thank you for your kind attention to my request in favor of the youth John Adams [see Jackson's letter, preceding lot], I do assure you, that I highly approve of your course not to permit...an infraction of the law. To obey the law is the imperious duty of all officers in our Republican Government.
"Regarding you always as a real Republican, I observed with pleasure your call to the cabinet. Mr. [John] Tyler had given evidence that he desired to administer the Government on pure Jeffersonian principles: and hence, it seemed to me the duty of the Democrats not to withold aid from him....I trust that Mr. Tyler may continue to act in such a manner as will prove him throughout his administration worthy of the confidence of the Democracy: but to do so it seems to me he ought not to occupy the position he now does as a candidate for the Presidency: and as you have requested the frank disclosure of the considerations on which this opinion rests I will briefly state them....1st Because he has no possible chance of election, the great body of the Democracy being pledged to the nomination of Messrs. Polk & [George Mifflin Dallas [candidates for President and Vice-President] 2nd. Because of his position on the question of annexing Texas to the United States [which Tyler opposed]. His enemies have charged that his course...was dictated by a desire to enhance his popularity and make capital for his election to the Presidency. His withdrawal [from the Presidential campaign] will remove this imputation and thereby disencumber the question of much of the prejudice which has been thrown around it by such demagogues as there are who ascribe our conduct in the south to sectional feeling alone.
"3d. His withdrawal is necessary to relieve him of the imputation of holding on to the canvass [the electoral votes he might gain] to strengthen [Henry] Clay. Should the Democracy be defeated this will be a serious charge and will separate him forever from the party. But whatever may be the result of the present election if Mr. Tyler retires or rather withdraws from the canvass in good time, and makes such an appeal to the country as his good sense might suggest, all true Republicans will thank him and take a pride in numbering him as one that has performed a noble part in resisting th encroachments of the Federalists. His popularity will be increased and those who are now supporting him for the Presidency will have no reason to oppose the nomination of the Democratic Party.
"I have already asked many of the personal friends of Mr. Tyler who are anxious for the success of the Republican party and therefore will vote for Mr. Polk, what will be Mr. Tyler's course? [note to printer, preceding 6 words should be double underlined, if possible]. I have always said he will withdraw - he will not endanger the election - he will not expose himself to the imputation of helping Clay and his British allies....Mr. Tyler must withdraw...if he does not he will forfei the confidence of the Republican party. If he retires with a suitable address calculated to arouse his country to the dangers which threaten the Republic if Mr. Clay succeeds, his popularity will be increased and his reputation will become the property of the friends of Jefferson. If on the contrary he perseveres as a candidate thereby dividing the Republican party, he is as effectually joined to the Whigs as he could be...."
Mason has asked Jackson whether he himself should resign his cabinet post if Tyler does not withdraw. This does not follow," Jackson responds, for "we know that your principles are too pure to be contaminated by Whiggism, or conservatism, and no suspicion can therefore attach to you....It is but a few months to the election - to the election of Polk & Dallas from whom I trust we may expect the revival of Jeffersonian democracy in the support of which we have always been faithful." In closing, Jackson reiterates his belief that Tyler must withdraw from the race, adding that "the sooner he does so the better it will be for him & the country."
The predictions of the infirm and aged politician proved uncannily accurate. Tyler had fatally alienated himself from the Whig party by abandoning some of their traditional policies. At the Whig convention in May 1844, Clay won the nomination on the first ballot. Tyler declined to make a third-party bid for the Presidency because he feared he might undermine the candidacy of James K. Polk, the Democrats dark-horse compromise choice, and thereby facilitate the election of Henry Clay. Polk, referred to as "Young Hickory" for his early support of Jackson, was widely labeled a tool of Jackson in the bitter campaign which followed. In the election, a third-party candidate, James G. Birney of Michigan, running on the Liberty-Abolition ticket, drew enough of the abolitionist vote to take the state of New York - 2 of the electoral vote - swinging the election to Polk. Jackson, in spite of his age and infirmities, campaigned actively for Polk in Tennessee. Published (with significant differences, from a draft) in Tennessee Historical Magazine, 3(1917):137-138 and in extract in Bassett, Correspondence of Jackson, 6:305-306.
THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT, 1844: JACKSON PREDICTS THE ELECTION OF POLK AND THE "REVIVAL OF JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRACY"
An unusually long and informative letter, quite revealing about Jackson's view of the Tyler administration and the candidacy of James K. Polk, a Democrat. Jackson has received Mason's "letter marked private & confidential...and although worn down from a bad cough, pain in my left side and shortness of breath, I shall endeavour to answer it. Whilst I sincerely thank you for your kind attention to my request in favor of the youth John Adams [see Jackson's letter, preceding lot], I do assure you, that I highly approve of your course not to permit...an infraction of the law. To obey the law is the imperious duty of all officers in our Republican Government.
"Regarding you always as a real Republican, I observed with pleasure your call to the cabinet. Mr. [John] Tyler had given evidence that he desired to administer the Government on pure Jeffersonian principles: and hence, it seemed to me the duty of the Democrats not to withold aid from him....I trust that Mr. Tyler may continue to act in such a manner as will prove him throughout his administration worthy of the confidence of the Democracy: but to do so it seems to me he ought not to occupy the position he now does as a candidate for the Presidency: and as you have requested the frank disclosure of the considerations on which this opinion rests I will briefly state them....1st Because he has no possible chance of election, the great body of the Democracy being pledged to the nomination of Messrs. Polk & [George Mifflin Dallas [candidates for President and Vice-President] 2nd. Because of his position on the question of annexing Texas to the United States [which Tyler opposed]. His enemies have charged that his course...was dictated by a desire to enhance his popularity and make capital for his election to the Presidency. His withdrawal [from the Presidential campaign] will remove this imputation and thereby disencumber the question of much of the prejudice which has been thrown around it by such demagogues as there are who ascribe our conduct in the south to sectional feeling alone.
"3d. His withdrawal is necessary to relieve him of the imputation of holding on to the canvass [the electoral votes he might gain] to strengthen [Henry] Clay. Should the Democracy be defeated this will be a serious charge and will separate him forever from the party. But whatever may be the result of the present election if Mr. Tyler retires or rather withdraws from the canvass in good time, and makes such an appeal to the country as his good sense might suggest, all true Republicans will thank him and take a pride in numbering him as one that has performed a noble part in resisting th encroachments of the Federalists. His popularity will be increased and those who are now supporting him for the Presidency will have no reason to oppose the nomination of the Democratic Party.
"I have already asked many of the personal friends of Mr. Tyler who are anxious for the success of the Republican party and therefore will vote for Mr. Polk, what will be Mr. Tyler's course? [note to printer, preceding 6 words should be double underlined, if possible]. I have always said he will withdraw - he will not endanger the election - he will not expose himself to the imputation of helping Clay and his British allies....Mr. Tyler must withdraw...if he does not he will forfei the confidence of the Republican party. If he retires with a suitable address calculated to arouse his country to the dangers which threaten the Republic if Mr. Clay succeeds, his popularity will be increased and his reputation will become the property of the friends of Jefferson. If on the contrary he perseveres as a candidate thereby dividing the Republican party, he is as effectually joined to the Whigs as he could be...."
Mason has asked Jackson whether he himself should resign his cabinet post if Tyler does not withdraw. This does not follow," Jackson responds, for "we know that your principles are too pure to be contaminated by Whiggism, or conservatism, and no suspicion can therefore attach to you....It is but a few months to the election - to the election of Polk & Dallas from whom I trust we may expect the revival of Jeffersonian democracy in the support of which we have always been faithful." In closing, Jackson reiterates his belief that Tyler must withdraw from the race, adding that "the sooner he does so the better it will be for him & the country."
The predictions of the infirm and aged politician proved uncannily accurate. Tyler had fatally alienated himself from the Whig party by abandoning some of their traditional policies. At the Whig convention in May 1844, Clay won the nomination on the first ballot. Tyler declined to make a third-party bid for the Presidency because he feared he might undermine the candidacy of James K. Polk, the Democrats dark-horse compromise choice, and thereby facilitate the election of Henry Clay. Polk, referred to as "Young Hickory" for his early support of Jackson, was widely labeled a tool of Jackson in the bitter campaign which followed. In the election, a third-party candidate, James G. Birney of Michigan, running on the Liberty-Abolition ticket, drew enough of the abolitionist vote to take the state of New York - 2 of the electoral vote - swinging the election to Polk. Jackson, in spite of his age and infirmities, campaigned actively for Polk in Tennessee. Published (with significant differences, from a draft) in Tennessee Historical Magazine, 3(1917):137-138 and in extract in Bassett, Correspondence of Jackson, 6:305-306.