committee, and on the appearance of an article in the National Intelligencer, written by General Jackson himself, triumphantly defending his conduct, all further action upon it was suspended. An attempt was also made in the House of Representatives, to pass a vote of censure, but it was rejected by a decisive majority. While at the east, the general visited Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, in each of which he was welcomed with distinguished honors. He received the freedom of the city of New York on the 19th of February, in a gold box; and there, as well as in Baltimore, the municipal council requested and obtained his portrait, to be placed in their hall.

On the 22d of February, 1819, a treaty was signed be tween Spain and the United States, by which the Floridas were ceded to the latter power. Upon the final ratification of the treaty, Congress passed a law, empowering the president to vest in such person or persons as he might select, all the military, civil, and judicial authority exercised by the officers of the Spanish government. Under this law, the president selected General Jackson to act as commissioner for receiving the provinces, and to assume the government of them. The intimate acquaintance of Jackson with the country, and the energy and decision of his character, specially recommended him for this position. The territory was completely overrun with smugglers, negrostealers, and desperadoes of every description; and it required the exercise of no little firmness and rigor to restore quiet and good order. The general reluctantly accepted the office, and on the 1st of July, 1821, he issued his proclamation at Pensacola, announcing that he had taken possession of the territory in the name of the United States, and that all citizens were required to yield obedience to her authority. Prompt measures were adopted for enforcing the laws, and securing the due administration of justice. Courts were immediately organized, and a system of internal police instituted.

By the treaty with Spain it was expressly stipulated, that all the archives and documents relating to the property and sovereignty of the provinces should be delivered up to the American authorities. A case soon occurred un

der this clause of the treaty, which called out all Gener Jackson's well-known firmness and promptitude. On the 22d of August, he received a petition from certain individuals, setting forth that certain papers of great importance to the rights of several orphan females, whose inheritance was under litigation, had been feloniously retained by the Spanish Ex-governor, Callava, and that they were in the hands of a man named Sousa. Jackson forthwith ordered three officers to wait upon Sousa, and demand the documents. He exhibited them to the officers, but refused to give them up, as they had been intrusted to him by Callava. On being summoned to appear before Jackson with the papers, Sousa returned for answer that they had been sent to the house of the Ex-governor. Two officers were directed to repair thither and demand them; and if Callava refused to deliver them up, to arrest both him and his steward, who had received them, and bring them before the governor. After considerable parleying, Callava finally refused, in the most positive terms, to surrender the documents, whereupon he was conducted, under a guard, to the office of Jackson. Arrived there, he persisted in his refusal, and commenced protesting against the course pursued by the general, who instantly committed him to prison.

The box containing the papers was obtained the next morning, and opened by officers specially commissioned for that purpose. The papers sought for were found, together with decrees which Callava had made, in favor of the heirs, but corruptly suppressed. The object of his imprisonment having been gained, the Ex-governor was released from custody. Previous to his discharge, a writ of habeas corpus was issued to extricate him from his confinement, by Mr. Fromentin, who had been appointed judge by the United States government, with a jurisdic tion expressly limited to cases arising under the revenue laws, and the acts of Congress prohibiting the introduction of slaves. At this time, the general judiciary act had not been extended to Fiorida, and General Jackson possessed, in his own person, by the terms of the law under

which he was appointed, the supreme judicial power uniformly exercised by the Spanish governors, captains-general, and intendants. He, of course, refused to obey the writ, and reprimanded Mr. Fromentin, in severe terms, for his interference. Callava afterwards attempted to excite a prejudice against General Jackson, by an exposition which was published in some of the American papers; but the statements made by him were shown to be so grossly false, that he obtained little sympathy. The proceedings of Jackson underwent the rigid scrutiny of a committee of the House of Representatives, and the result was his complete justification. Although the measures he adopted appeared harsh, the American people were ready to approve his conduct, when it was ascertained that it originated in a desire to carry out his own noble sentiment, that "the great can protect themselves, but the poor and humble require the arm and shield of the law."

Several Spanish officers who had remained with Callava, published an article in a Pensacola paper, after his discharge, in which they accused the general of violence and tyranny. It was stipulated in the treaty that all Spanish officers should be withdrawn from the territories, within six months after its ratification. More than this term had elapsed. Jackson issued a proclamation without delay, commanding them, as trespassers and disturbers of the public peace, to depart in the course of a week. They wisely obeyed the order and left the territory. About the same time, the Ex-governor of East Florida attempted to retain a number of important documents which should have been delivered up. When the fact came to his knowledge, the general tramsmitted his orders to take them by force, if they were withheld. The order was carried into effect; the ex-governor protested against the act, but received little sympathy or encouragement.

The ill health of General Jackson compelled him to resign his position in a few months. On the 7th of October, he delegated his power to his secretaries, and returned to Nashville. In his valedictory address to the

citizens of Florida, he informed them that he had completed the temporary organization of the two provinces, and justified and defended the acts of his administration. It was with great regret that the people of the territory saw him depart, and the spontaneous manifestations of esteem and gratitude which were exhibited towards him, were both creditable to him and to those whom he had so faithfully served.

CHAPTER XI.

1821. Jackson resigns his office in the army-Testimonials of public respect-A candidate for the Presidency-Defeated in the House of Representatives-Election of Mr. Adams-Course of Jackson's friends-His renomination-Warmth of the contest-Elected president-Death of his wife-Kindness to her relatives-His first message-Veto of the Maysville road bill-Dissolution of the cabinetOpposition to the United States Bank-Veto message-Re-elected president-Difficulty with the nullifiers-Assaulted by Lieutenant Randolph-Removal of the deposits Public excitement-Controversy with France-Retirement to private life. 1837.

THE hardships and privations which General Jackson had experienced in his different campaigns against the Indians, so far undermined his health, that he was compelled to resign his commission in the army of the United States, and retire to private life. But the gratitude of the nation followed him in his retirement, and only waited the opportunity to confer upon him the high reward which was due to his long and faithful services. The citizens of Tennessee were not only proud of the distinguished reputation which reflected so much honor on his adopted state, but they were eager to evince to the world the favorable estimation in which they regarded him. On the 4th day of July, 1822, the governor of the state, by order of the legislature, presented him with a sword, as a testimonial of the high respect entertained for his public services;" and on the 20th of August following, the same body recommended him to the union for the office of president. This recommendation was repeated by the legislature of Alabama, and various meetings of private citizens in different sections of the country. In 1823, the office of Minister Plenipotentiary to the Mexican government was tendered to him by President Monroe;