Sold – Andrew Jackson on the Qualities Necessary in a President

Presidential candidates were initially nominated by caucus, a private meeting of party leaders, rather than by convention or primary. This system had been under fire for years as being undemocratic, and the issue reached its peak in 1824. That year there were several candidates as serious contenders. The official caucus-selected Democratic-Republican candidate, William H. Crawford, lacked the backing of much of the party, which preferred Andrew Jackson. Challenging Crawford and Jackson were opposition candidates Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams.

James Tallmadge (1778-1853) was a former Congressman who in 1824 was a member of the New York State Assembly. He advocated having presidential electors chosen by the people rather than state legislatures, and submitted a bill to that effect in August 1824. In 1825 he became lieutenant-governor of New York. With so many candidates it was clear early in 1824 that no single one might receive enough electoral votes to win, and questions arose about agreements between candidates should no one prevail and the issue be thrown into the House of Representatives. Tallmadge wrote to the two principal candidates, Adams and Jackson, asking them for their opinions on these questions.

An Andrew Jackson Autograph Letter Signed to Tallmadge, 3 pages large 4to, Washington, March 12, 1824. “Your friendly letter of the 6th of March was yesterday rec’d. and as candor is the language by me always admired, I thank you for the freedom with which you have spoken your sentiments. The subject on which you have written is indeed one of interest to the American people; the feelings they evince, & the excitement manifested through the nation is confirmatory of the fact. I am well pleased to see it, in as much as there is evidence in it that they are awoke to the rights that belong to them, nor disposed with passive submission to yield them. On the subject brought to my consideration by your letter, I have all along foreborne to speak, for the reason of its delicacy, & because everything to be said by me might be imputed to selfish considerations; if however I know anything of myself, no such feeling has or shall control me. To you however I will speak, as you have done, freely and without reserve.

The principles which have governed me through life will, I hope, not forsake me in the present situation in which I am placed. I remember not ever to have solicited an office. My country it is true has been kind to me, & perhaps beyond any merit of mine, but it has been through her own voluntary motion, and not for any solicitation of mine, and when my name was presented to the nation for the important and highly responsible office of chief magistrate, none certainly less expected it and none desired it less than I did. I was aware that, even if elected, the trouble and fatigue which would necessarily devolve would add nothing to my quiet or happiness; while judging from the past, I foresaw that every little error and indiscretion of life would be treasured and magnified by enemies of the deepest die.

A portion of my country, however, & not through any solicitation of mine, have thought proper to consider me worthy of this high post, and acting on the principles which have always governed me, I am content for her to decide without any sort of interference on my part.

Should she call me to act I shall, as I always have done, act with that decision and judgement of which I am capable, without any regard to the benefit or injury to be produced to myself; and should the choice fall on any other, believe me, my dear sir, that not one moment’s displeasure shall be felt by me. I shall then be a private citizen, and in that character shall understand my duty better than were I to be placed in an high and elevated situation. On the subject of your letter, therefore, I can give no opinion, other than what is already offered, that my mind will rest contented at any decision which my country may freely & of her own accord pronounce. Could I procure success to myself, by any sort of combination, management or intrigue, I disclose to you most truly it would not be resorted to. Let my friends everywhere therefore adopt that course which they may believe will best conduce to the interest of the country, & whatever it may be, I assure them I shall rest contented…”

When the popular votes were counted, Jackson led both in the popular vote and the Electoral College. However, he did not have a majority of the electoral votes, so the House of Representatives had to choose the President from among the top three electoral vote getters: Jackson, Adams and Crawford. The also-ran, Clay, happened to be the Speaker of the House and was very influential there. He strongly endorsed Adams and his supporters followed, making Adams president.