280 ANDREW JACKSON 



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." Such is the anecdote told by 

 H. M. Brackenridge, who was Jackson's secretary in 

 Florida (Parton, II. 354). At this time the general 

 felt old and weak, and had made up his mind to spend 

 the remainder of his days in peace on his farm. Of 

 personal ambition, as ordinarily understood, Jackson 

 seems to have had much less than many other men. 

 But he was, like most men, susceptible to flattery, and 

 the discovery of his immense popularity no doubt 

 went far to persuade him that he might do credit to 

 himself as President. 1 On the 4th of March, 1824, he 



JACKSON, CRAWFORD, AND ADAMS IN 1824 



(Extract from a manuscript letter of John A. Dix, dated Washington, 22d February, 



1824) 



"Mr. Calhoun's chances of success depended on the course of Pennsyl- 

 vania. This state, it appears, will support the hero of New Orleans, and 

 Mr. Calhoun's fate is sealed. My opinion is that the West will renounce 

 Mr. Clay's persuasion, and will very generally support Gen. Jackson. Mr. 

 A., Mr. Crawford, and Gen. J. therefore remain the strong competitors. 

 Between these three I have certainly a very decided choice. Mr. Craw- 

 ford's connection with the Radical party, his doubtful principles and disin- 

 genuous course in the administration forbid me to desire his elevation. 

 Mr. A. has extraordinary merits. His extensive acquirements, incorrupti- 

 ble morals, and devotion to his country's service furnish him with the 

 strongest and most indisputable claims. But he is, I fear, little fitted for 

 popular government. No man would administer an absolute system bet- 

 ter, because he would never prostitute the possession of power to corrupt 

 or tyrannical ends. But I am apprehensive that he will be found to pos- 

 sess very little talent for managing men, which is the most important of all 

 qualities under a government where the people have so immediate a par- 

 ticipation, as under ours, in the business of administration. I fear, there- 

 fore, should he be elected, that his administration will be disturbed by 

 dangerous and distracting feuds. Swayed by apprehensions like these, 

 ... I am strongly inclined to wish for Gen. Jackson's success. The 

 character of this great man is not at all understood. He has been induced 

 to adopt violent measures for the attainment of useful ends, but I am con- 

 vinced by what I have seen this winter, that he is a good man, and that he 



