Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/175

 Mac Donald : Jacksoiiian Democracv 165 Natioitality. This initial analysis introduces the successful candidate of 1828, the first Allegheny mountaineer to take his seat in the White House, as a typical frontiersman, with all the characteristic virtues and vices of that mountain people, impulsive, affectionate, quarrelsome, uneducated yet not ignorant, masterful, and impatient of theoretical restraints. Says our author, " Of all the men whom the winds and cur- rents of American life had thus far thrown to the surface, none had less respect for the past, less breadth of culture or personal experience, less self-restraint than Andrew Jackson." Before Jackson became an object of political idolatry and sniffed the incense of popular adulation with increasing zest, if we may believe a story in Parton's life of him (still the most interesting biography of " Old Hickory"), he was himself in substantial agreement with the opin- ion quoted above. " Do they suppose ". said he, " that I am such a damned fool as to think myself fit for President of the United States? No, sir ! I know what I am fit for. I can command a body of men in a rough way ; but I am not fit to be President." The first chapter in this volume that begins the specific discussion of Jacksonian Democracy (chap, iv.) is appropriately devoted to the spoils system in the national civil service. Two chapters (vii., xiii.) tell the story of the destruction of the Bank of the United States and the removal of the deposits. One chapter to each topic tells (xviii.) how the development of roads and canals at federal expense was checked, (x.) how the Indian tribes were removed across the Mississippi, (xii.) how the pending controversies with England concerning the West India trade and with France and a company of smaller nations were all favor- ably settled, and finally (xi., xvii.) how Calhoun was thrown over- board and Martin Van Buren was placed in command of the Demo- cratic ship of state by the iron will of this iron man. These events, together with the payment of the public debt, were the great triumphs of Jackson's administration. Three chapters (v., vi., ix.) are devoted to the tariff and nullification controversy, out of which Jackson derived much personal credit, but which was unfortunately a drawn battle and no triumph. In two chap- ters (xiv., XVI.) there is an examination of what may be called the failures of Jackson's administration, such as his efforts to make the Pres- ident ineligible for re-election, to secure a constitutional amendment, providing for the election of President and Vice-president by popular vote, to bestow a sensible plan of government upon the District of Columbia (which was not done until 1871), and, finally, his attempt to require the payment of specie for the purchase of public lands, which brought on the panic of 1837. Chapter xv. reviews the internal history of the states during these eight years, with especial reference to constitutional changes and polit- ical affiliations. The prominence of the New York leaders is recognized, but perhaps the importance of the Equal Rights faction as an element