want no man to stand between me and my assailants, and none to take revenge on my account. Had I been prepared for this cowardly villain's approach, I can assure you all, that he would never have the temerity to undertake such a thing again."

General Jackson had for some time been firmly impressed with the belief that the public deposits with the United States Bank were far from being safe, and in the summer of 1833 he decided to cause them to be removed. At the close of the previous session of Congress, a resolution was adopted in the House of Representatives, declaring that they might be safely continued with the bank; but, in the vacation, circumstances transpired connected with the speculations of the bank, which, as the president thought, called for prompt action. Mr. Duane, the Secretary of the Treasury, refused to carry out the wishes of the president, and he was forthwith removed, to make room for Mr. Taney, then Attorney-General, and afterwards Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The deposits were withdrawn from the bank in October, and the contest between the friends of that institution and the adherents of General Jackson was renewed with increased asperity and violence. At the next session of Congress the subject was brought up, and for weeks formed the principal topic of discussion. Several very able speeches were made by the leading politicians belonging to the two parties. On the 28th of March, a resolution was adopted in the Senate, which had been offered by Mr. Clay, expressing the opinion that the president, in his proceedings in relation to the public revenue, had "assumed upon himself authority and power not conferred by the constitution and laws, but in derogation of both." On the 15th of April following, the president sent a message to the Senate, respectfully protesting against their impeachment of his official acts, and requesting his communication to be entered on the journals.* The controversy between the president and Senate was carried so far, that that body refused to confirm a large number of his appointments, in many instances solely upon political grounds. At several

* See page 284.

subsequent sessions, the removal of the deposits was discussed in Congress. Mr. Benton, of Missouri, at an early day, made a movement in favor of expunging the resolution of censure from the journals of the senate. After several ineffectual attempts, a vote to that effect was adopted in the Senate, in conformity with the expressions of several public meetings, and the instructions of the legislatures of different states. The resolution was ordered to be expunged, by drawing black lines across and around it.

In his annual message on the 3d of December, 1833, General Jackson informed Congress that the French government had failed to pay the instalment required by the stipulations of the convention concluded on the 4th of July, 1831. At the next session he again called their attention to the continued delay in the payment of the money, and recommended the passage of a law authorizing reprisals upon French property, in case provision should not be made for it at the appiching session of the Chamber of Deputies. The prompt and decisive tone of the president's message startled the chivalric feelings of the French nation. The passports of the American minister were tendered to him, and a serious rupture was confidently anticipated. The unyielding firmness of General Jackson, and the sense of justice which soon prevailed in the French Chamber, averted the danger, and restored the peace and harmony previously existing between the two nations.

Nothing of unusual interest occurred during the administration of General Jackson, after the amicable settlement of the difficulty with France. The severe panic which followed the derangement of the currency, consequent upon the efforts of the bank to procure a renewal of its charter, was followed by a season of unexampled prosperity. In 18:35, the public debt was entirely liquidated; and on the final retirement of General Jackson to private life, in the spring of 1837, he issued a farewell address to the American people, setting forth the principles upon which he had conducted the affairs of government, and congratulating them on the peace and happiness which they enjoyed.*

* See page 350.

CHAPTER XII.

1837. Ill health of General Jackson-Arrival at the HermitageInfluence with his party-Friendly to the annexation of Texas His occupations-Embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs-Refunding of the fine imposed by Judge Hall-Failure of his health-His last illness-His Christian resignation and death-Honors paid to his memory-Remarks of Reverdy Johnson-Speech of Daniel Webster-Character of Jackson-His qual fications as a soldier and statesman-Attachment to his friends-His personal appearance His patriotism. 1845.

A SHORT time previous to the termination of his official career, General Jackson was attacked with a severe hemorrhage of the lungs, which for some days incapacitated him from attending to business. He recovered, however, sufficiently to be present at the inauguration of his successor, and take part in the ceremonies of the day. On his arrival at the Hermitage he was quite weak and infirm, but the relaxation from mental labor, and the kind attentions of his adopted children, soon restored him to comparative strength and health, though he'still suffered much from the diseased state of his lungs. The various questions of public policy which afterwards agitated the country, and the movements of the two great political parties in the nation, did not fail to excite his attention. His influence was silently exerted and felt in our national politics up to the day of his death. He was still regarded as the leader of the party which had so long looked up to him as its head, and on all important occasions was consulted with as much veneration as were the oracles of olden time. He was, from the first, the warm and steadfast friend of the annexation of Texas to the Union. In the settlement of the Oregon boundary question he took a deep interest, though he did not live to see the boundary finally adjusted,