6. With the fall of 1828, Mr. Adams, supported by Mr. Clay, was put
forward for reelection. General Jackson appeared as the candidate of
the opposition. In the previous election Jackson had received more
electoral votes than Adams, but the House of Representatives had chosen
the latter. Now the people had their way. Jackson was triumphantly
elected, receiving one hundred and seventy-eight electoral votes
against eighty-three for his opponent.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
JACKSON'S ADMINISTRATION, 1829-1837.
The new President was a military hero--a man of great talents and
inflexible honesty. His integrity was unassailable; his will like iron.
He was one of those men for whom no toils are too arduous. His personal
character was impressed upon his administration. At the beginning he
removed nearly seven hundred office-holders and appointed in their
stead his own political friends.
[Sidenote: National Bank Abolished.]
[Illustration: Andrew Jackson.]
2. In his first message the President took ground against rechartering
the Bank of the United States. He recommended that the old charter be
allowed to expire by its own limitation in 1836. But the influence of
the bank was very great; and in 1832 a bill to recharter was passed
by Congress. The President opposed his veto; a two thirds majority in
favor of the bill could not be secured, and the new charter failed.
[Sidenote: Nullification Debates.]
3. In the congressional session of 1831-32, additional tariffs were
levied upon goods imported from abroad. By this act the manufacturing
districts were favored at the expense of the agricultural States. South
Carolina was specially offended. Open resistance was threatened in case
the officers should attempt to collect the revenues at Charleston.
In the United States Senate the right of a State to nullify an act of
Congress was boldly proclaimed. On that question had already occurred
the great debate between Colonel Hayne, senator from South Carolina,
and Daniel Webster of Massachusetts.
[Illustration: Daniel Webster.]
4. The President now took the matter in hand and issued a proclamation
denying the right of a State to nullify the laws of Congress. But Mr.
Calhoun, the Vice-president, resigned his office to accept a seat in
the Senate, where he might defend the doctrines of his State. The
President, having warned the South Carolinians, ordered a body of
troops under General Scott to proceed to Charleston. The leaders of the
nullifying party receded from their position, and bloodshed was avoided.
[Sidenote: The Black Hawk War.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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