KNOXVILLE, May 16th, 1883. DEAR SIR: Your letter under date of the 20th ult. was received a few days ago. You state that in your district a story is circulated that you are unfriendly to the present Administration and wish upon that subject a statement from me.

In answer to this point I can only say, that so far as has come to my knowledge you have always in Washington and elsewhere avowed yourself friendly to President Jackson and his Administration, and I have never doubted the sincerity of your declarations. Entertaining no doubt that you were a sincere supporter of the Administration, I state in candor that I was surprised when I heard of your vote against the bill to enforce the collection of the revenue.

My recollection of the passage of that bill, and the one to modify the tariff, is different from yours. You think the bill to modify the tariff was first passed, and thereby the other rendered unnecessary.

also sent to the House,

1

My impression is that the bill to enforce the collection of the revenue was first passed in the Senate and sent to the House of Representativės. Then Mr. Clay's bill to modify the tariff was passed by the Senate and The House then took up the Tariff Bill reported by the Committee of Ways and Means, and amended it by striking the whole of it out and inserting the bill which had been sent by the Senate, and thus amended the House passed the Tariff Bill and sent it to the Senate, not having finally acted on the bill to enforce the collection of the revenue which had been first sent. The Senate took up the Tariff Bill which had been sent from the House and passed it twice and let it lie for a third reading until it was informed the House had finally passed the bill to enforce the collection of the revenue. Upon receiving this information the Senate took up and finally passed the Tariff Bill. So that according to my recollection the Force Bill, as it is called, finally passed the House before, and not after, as you suppose, the bill to modify the tariff.

But as to myself, I repeat I never doubted the sincerity of your attachment to the Administration, nor do I now, although I differ with you in opinion as to the propriety and necessity of passing a bill to enforce the collection of duties.

With sincere esteem,

Your obedt, servt.,

HU. L. WHITE.

CHAPTER XIV.

HIS RELATIONS TO GEN. JACKSON.

THE first recorded account of the association of Gen. Jackson and Judge White, is at the bar of Tennessee. They were both of ScotchIrish descent. Both were Carolinians by birth. Both were Tennesseans by adoption. Gen. Jackson being six years the senior, was on the supreme bench of the State, while Judge White was a practising lawyer. Here a personal friendship sprang up between them, which lasted many years. The latter, who was never a man of words, but of deeds, exhibited the warm attachment he felt for his friend, on many trying occasions. The first manifestation we have of it, is in the severe trials he encountered in his trip to the Creek nation, and the important services he there rendered him..

Next, when Gen. Jackson was on a trial before the Senate of the United States, and his destruction was sought by his enemies, in the highest tribunal in the nation; when the committee reported unfavorably, concerning the manner in which the Seminole war was conducted, Judge White boldly espoused his cause, and avowed the opinion that Gen. Jackson deserved praise rather than censure; incurring by so doing the displeasure of some of the most prominent members of the government.

In 1824, when Gen. Jackson was first a candidate for the Presidency, a majority of the legislature of his State wished to send him to the Senate. Judge White was in Murfreesboro' (then the seat of government), and remonstrated against such a movement as impolitic, for the reason that his election to the Senate must necessarily diminish his chances for the Presidency. A majority however differed with him, and chose to run Gen. Jackson for the Senate. Judge White found no fault with them for so doing, but uniformly urged the propriety of acquiescence by the voters of East Tennessee in the decision. He steadfastly believed in Gen. Jackson's honesty; considering that he possessed qualities which would make him highly useful to the

country, when associated with honest, honorable, and well-informed men; and on all occasions and at all places, unfalteringly supported the General's claims to the Presidency, both in 1824 and in 1828. Of the estimation in which Gen. Jackson held Judge White, before, at, and even after the time of the elevation of the former to the Presidency, abundant evidence is extant in the General's own handwriting, and in that of his well-known confidential friends. In truth, as a well-informed friend of both parties has said, "the entire policy of the Jackson administration was directed by Judge White, so far as currency and Indian emigration West were concerned-which embraced two-thirds of the Jackson policy now memorable."

Major J. H. Eaton writes him as follows, February 23d, 1829, while arrangements were being made for the organization of the cabinet and for the determination of the course of the Administration:

DEAR SIR: A letter received some time ago from Gen. Jackson, stated he desired you, or me, to be near him, In a recent conversation with him, he remarked that he had had a full and free conversation with you; and at the close remarked that he desired to have me with him. I presumed, without inquiring, that he had probably talked with you on the subject, and that you had declined accepting any situation, as you before had told me would be your feelings. Nothing definite has taken place on this matter between General Jackson and myself, and I hope you know me well enough, and my regard and friendship for you, to know this, that I should never permit myself to stand in competition with any desire you may entertain. If you have any desire, say so to me in confidence, and it shall so be received. If you have none, then in reference to every and all considerations I should consent to any such appointment. Think of this, and give me your opinion frankly.

Your friend

J. H. EATON.

Gen. Jackson's wish to have him in his cabinet, upon his first accession to power, and the anxiety manifested by both him, and his friends, in 1831, that Judge White should take charge of the War Department (though, from Mr. Tazewell's account, he seems not to have been in full communion with the party at that time), prove the President's unlimited confidence in his integrity and his capacity for business. These honors were not tendered to Judge White in compensation for any favors he had shown the Administration, or its members. Both General Jackson and his friends expressly stated that it was for the benefit of the Administra

tion and of the country that they urged him to accept; knowing full we, that such motives only would govern him. Judge White, however, declined to accept in the first instance, for reasons best known to himself. The cause which led to the dissolution of the cabinet in 1831, and which he relates in his "Address to the Freemen of Tennessee," was a scheme, which he would not have sanctioned for a moment, under any circumstances, and was doubtless one cause of his refusing to go into the cabinet at that time.

He earnestly desired to retire from the Senate in 1829-30 and 31; but, to please Gen. Jackson, and his friends, who assured him they could not dispense with his services in that body, he remained; and while there gave Gen. Jackson his hearty support on all measures, which were not at variance with his professed principles.

The following quaint letter from General Jackson will exemplify the terms in which the continuance of Judge White's services in the Senate, or his acceptance of higher office, was sought, or acknowledged by the President:

MY DEAR SIR:

WASHINGTON, Oct'r 12th, 1829.

I have rec'd your letter from Nashville, 26th ult., and am pleased to learn from it your determination to remain in the Senate a little longer. Your services there, for the present, is* all-important to your country, and your continuance in the Senate very gratifying to me. The severe affliction by the loss of so many of your children, I was aware, made public life a burden to you; still, I knew the high estimation in which your public services were held by your country, and that you would find it difficult to obtain the consent of your constituents to retire; am truly happy that you have consented to continue, for I had a hope that I would have your aid in the Senate so long as I remained in the executivė. Both of us, I do suppose, would be more contented and happy in private life; but the lord hath willed it, and we must submit.

How grateful I feel to you for your kind and friendly visit to the Hermitage, where lies all that made life desirable to me, and whose loss I can never cease to mourn, and over whose tomb I would like to spend the remnant of my days in solitude, preparing to meet her in a happier and a better world.

Be pleased to present me kindly to every branch of your family, and believe me your friend,

ANDREW JACKSON.

So written in the original.

+ So written in the original.

Judge Overton, a confidential friend of the President, writes in a similar strain :

*

NASHVILLE, Oct. 5th, 1880.

I pray God that you may be able to get along amidst your accumulated misfortunes, without resigning your seat in the Senate. The Gen'l* and myself are sensible of your value to the country at all times and under any circumstances; but now, my friend, your presence in the Senate, is all-important * *The times, especially as respects

the Senate are peculiarly delicate and hazardous.

One staunch, undeviating and intelligent friend there now, is a jewel of the first water, and without its compeer. I have always, and so does the Gen'l, viewed you as such. But if there be any other, I do not know him. * * *

Your friend as usual,

J. OVERTON.

The following letter, of later date, refers to the Secretaryship offered to Judge White when General Jackson was reorganizing his cabinet, with reference to the support of Mr Van Buren as his successor in the Presidency.

NASHVILLE, 3d May, 1881.

DEAR SIR: We have just received in handbills the account of a general dissolution of the cabinet at Washington, by resignation of all the principal secretaries. I suppose you have seen the same, and probably more, as rumor says the new cabinet has been designated, and that you are one of them. The friends of the President here are highly pleased with the arrangement, and more particularly that you will be with him. My dear sir, I know, that you are not desirous to be placed in such a situation. We all know that you have ever refused to accept of appointments to leave home. But at this particular crisis, when all seems to be at stake, and nothing but a firm steady course, to be well marked out, and steadily pursued, by the Administration, will or can support us, and prevent division in the republican ranks, I hope you will make the sacrifice of feelings, and accept of appointment if called on by the President; and I feel assured that in his present situation, his attention would first and very naturally turn toward you, in whom he can confide. You and he have grown up together, and have passed from youth to mature and some what advanced age; your friendship has been uninterrupted: you understand each other, and I believe your political views are the same;

Jackson; with whom Judge Overton was very intimate.