Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-03-26
Historical.
OLD-TIME POLITICS.
The Quarrel Between Calhoun and Gen.
Jackson The Acquisition Of Flori-
da-Gen Jackson's First Nomination
for President.

supporter of the war of 1879, and was for a
term Secretary of War under the admins
tration of Mr.. Monroe.
VIM. III. Crawford, of Georgia, then Sec
rotary of the Treasury under Mr.. Monroe,
was nominated by a Congressional Caucus
for President John Quincy Adams and
General Jackson were presented by their
friends, as was also Mr.. Clay. AS the cam
paign progressed Mr.. Calhoun decided to
run for the Vice Presidency, in the hope Of
making it stepping-stone to the Presidency
For this office Nathan Sanford, Of New
York, was Mr.. Calhoun's chief opponent
received but 30 Mr.. Calhoun 22l, and was
elected For President there was no elec.
ton by the people. General jackson re.
ceived the highest number of electoral votes
John Quincy Adams the second, and VIM
Crawford was the third highest; and out Of
these, the three highest, the choice had tc
be made by the House OF Representatives
which resulted in the election ofJohn Quincy
Adams.
At the next Presidential election lin 1928
Mr.. Calhoun ran on the jackson ticket fol
reelection, and was elected. Between Mr.
Calhoun and General jackson during that
campaign, and Previous the best of feeling
prevailed. AS Secretary of War Mr.. Cal.
houn, in difficulty between General Jack.
son and General Scott and former Score.
tary Of War, Mr.. Calhoun had decided the
question at issue in favor of General Jack.
son, although it stripped the War Depart
ment of portion of its heretofore undisputed
power.
In his support of General Jackson in 1928
when he was elected, the belief, supported
by his after conduct, is, that Mr.. Calhoun
acted the part he did for the reason that he
believed General jackson would be success
full, and in the hope that, at the end Of his
first term as President, Jackson would retire
and not again be candidate, The fierce
opposition to his administration engendered
by his, the fierce and desperate struggle
made by the United States Bank to coercc
rctracton, forced Mr.. jackson, greatly
against his wel-known wishes for retire
ment, TO be again'a candidate for President
Mr.. Calhoun had served two terms in the
Vice Presidential chair-there were no third
term men in that day, even for the second
office-and hence he could not be candi-
Il ata Ear Ia
of Jackson's candidacy there grew up cool
ness on the part Of Cahoun's friends against
General jackson.
The friendship ayowed by Mr., Calhoun
for General jackson was not sincere--that
of General Jackson for Mr.. Calhoun was
decidedly 50. 1t was founded on gratitude
to Mr.. Calhoun, for the supposed part Mr..
Calhoun had taken, as Secretary Of War, not
only in the case named above, in which the
difficulty with General Scott was had, but
in matter that the General deemed Of vital
importance to him and his military standing,
when it was gravely discussed in President
Monroe's Cabinet whether General Jackson
should he censured or brought to trial for
his invasion Of Florida, at that time prov
incc Of SPAIN during the Indian war Of 1917
10, with the Creek and Seminole Indians.
The facts leading to that invasion seem, at
this late day, to be but little known, except
10 the student Of American history, and are
necessary to a full understanding of the
causes which led TO the first breach between
General Jackson and Mr.. Calhoun.
In the autumn Of 1917 the Seminole and
Creek Indians commenced depredations ON
the frontiers Of Alabama and Georgia. Gen
eral Gaines was dispatched with n large
force TO conquer peace with these powerful
succeed in his mission, and General Jackson,
then MajorGeneral in the United States
army, was ordered TO take the field with a
force that enabled him in battle 10 whip the
Indians and 10 overrun the Indian country.
AS the Indians were routed they rctreated
over the line into Florida, where they were
received by the Spanish authorities, fed and
succored by Spanish officials, and furnished
with munitions Of war to again invade the
territory of the United States. Finding this
an unequal contest-one that could be pro
longed ndefinitey-General Jackson wrote
To President Monroe, az General Gaines had
previously done, stating the facts and call
| ing his attention to the law of nations, which
made such conduct on the part Of Spain "a
much cause of war as if Spain had formally
declared it.
While General Gaines WAS in command
the orders from Washington were not to cross
the line with his troops into Florida The
evidence becoming stronger that the Spanish
authorities were giving aid and comfort n
the Indians in their warfare against the
United States, the War Department, Mr.
Calhoun at lis head instructed Gaines t1
Exercise a sound discretion a. 10 the ncces-
sity Of crossing the line" A new act Of in
structions directed him b. consider himself
cat liberty 10 march across the Florida line, -
but 10 halt and report To the Department IN
case the Indians should shelter Themselves
under a Spanish fort" The massacre Of the
whites continuing, General jackson was or
dered 10 supercede General Gaines, and his
orders were 10 adopt the necessary measures
10 put an end 10 the conflict, without regard
10 territorial "lines" or Spanish forts.
These orders, with those ~ proceed imme-
dately b. the scene Of strife, were received
by him al Eashyilc IN January, 1919, and
the General Immediately assumed command.
Immediately after receiving the order 81
take command, General JaeksOn wrote 10 the
President stating biz objections b the order
issued to General Gaincs Ia cross the line
and then 10 report ~ the Department for fur
thcr orders. "Suppose the case wrote Gen
era Jackson, " that the Indians are beaten
they take refuge either in Pensacola or s.
Augustine, which open their gates 10 them.
10 profit by his victory General Gaines pur.
sues the fsgitiyes, aud has to halt before the
garrison until be can oommunicaie with his