The Seminole war closed Jackson's military career, and with no inclination of his own he was apin taken into political life. In 1823 the legislature of Tennessee elected him to the U. S. senate, and at the same time nominated him for president. (At that time all nominations for the chief execntive office were made by caucuses of state legislatures.) At the election the next year there were four candidates who received electoral votes as follows: John Quincy Adams 84, Wm. H. Crawford 41, Henry Clay 87. and Jackson 99. No one having a majority the house of representatives elected Adams, and Jackson retired to private life. But four years afterwards he was supported by all the opponents of the administration, and elected by an immense majority—the vote being Jackson 178, Adams 83. The contest was one of the most personal and bitter in American political history. Mrs. Jackson died almost as soon as she knew of her husband's election.
Jackson's eight years' administration of the government was neither better nor worse than had preceded. The chief innovation was in the general sweeping of men out of thlice on account of their party opinions. Up to his time there had been few removals 031 such grounds; but he adopted goy. Barry's doctrine that " to the victors belong the spoil of the vanquished," and it may be added that every party from that day to this has followed in his footsteps. The leading facts of Jackson's administration were the scandal concerning Mrs. Eaton, whereby the cabinet was broken up; the veto of the U. S. bank. charter; the removal of the depoSits of public money from that benk; and particularly the prompt and complete crushing.of the contemplated seces sion of South Carolina in 1882. This movement was started in opposition to a high tariff, and Jackson himself was opposed to such a tariff; but he gave the South Caro linians to know, in language not to be misunderstood, that while the laws remained unrepealed they should be enforced at any hazard. Before any serious acts had occurred the matter was settled through the influence of Henry Clay and others. During his
second term Jackson was engaged in the " bank war." He ordered the secretary of the treasury to stop making deposits of public money in the U. S. bank and its branches. The cabinet were not favorable to such a policy, and Jackson put William J. Duane at the head of tire treasury, but as he declined to do the required service Le" virus displaced and Roger B. Taney was appointed. Taney obeyed Jackson's order, and in retaliation the senate refused to confirm his nomination as secretary. (He was subsequently made chief-justice of the U. S. supreme court.) Feeling ran so high in this bank war that the senate passed a resolution of censure on the president, a proceeding unheard of till then. In 1337 this resolution was by vote expunged from the record. The " bank war" closed in 1836-37- the old bank was not re-chartered ; and after seine time the independent treasury or " sub-treasury" was invented to take its place as a depository for public money. During Jackson's terms the national debt was entirely paid off; the Indians were removed from Georgia, and nearly all of them from Florida, although enough were left to make the second Seminole war; and two states, Arkansas and Michigan, were admitted to the union. The chief disturbing elements were the question of slavery and the great financial panic. which was just begh.ning when he left tire chair in Mar., 1837. On quitting office he published a farewell address and retired to the Hermitage, where he passed the remainder of his life, always, however, taking a deep interest in public affairs. Dropsy was the direct cause of his death; but he had through life been suffering from various diseases, and to these circumstances his friends ascribed much of his irritability of temper. His honesty in intent and act was never doubted; with all his harshness he was charitable; and in Iris later years made a free and open profession of the Christian faith, which lie had always intellectually accepted.