Title:  A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents Section 1 (of 2) of Volume 3:  Andrew Jackson (Second Term)

Author:  James D. Richardson

Release Date:  February 21, 2004 [EBook #11202]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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A COMPILATION OF THE MESSAGES AND PAPERS OF THE PRESIDENTS

BY JAMES D. RICHARDSON

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STATE OF TENNESSEE

VOLUME III

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS 1902

Copyright 1897

BY JAMES D. RICHARDSON

Prefatory Note

The second volume of this compilation, issued a few weeks since, was received with the same degree of favor as the first volume.  It was a matter of surprise that only sixteen years of our history, or eight Congresses, could be comprised within the second volume, while the first covered twenty-eight years, or fourteen Congresses.  There is greater surprise that this volume includes only the period covered by the four years of the second term of Andrew Jackson and the four years of Martin Van Buren’s term—­eight years in all, or four Congresses.  However, it will be found almost, if not quite, as interesting as the preceding ones.  In it will be found the conclusion of the controversy over the United States Bank, including President Jackson’s reasons for the removal of the deposits from that bank; his Farewell Address, and other important papers, all of which are characteristic of the man.  It was during the second Administration of President Jackson that the act changing the ratio between the gold and silver dollar was passed.

This volume contains President Van Buren’s message recommending the independent treasury or subtreasury, and the discussion of that subject, which terminated in what has been termed “the divorce of the bank and state in the fiscal affairs of the Federal Government,” and which President Van Buren considered a second Declaration of Independence.  The controversy with Great Britain in relation to the northeastern boundary of the United States is also included in Van Buren’s Administration, and will prove highly interesting.

The omission of indexes to Volumes I and II has been commented on.  The answer to such comments is, it was deemed best to omit the index to each volume and publish a general and comprehensive index to the entire work, in a separate volume.  This index will be ready for distribution soon after the issuance of the last volume.