Want to save this letter now that you've found it?
It's easy - just create your own collection of letters after signing up for a free account.
MY DEAR SIR:
I have the pleasure to acknowledge your very friendly letter of the 26th May last. It reached me in due course of mail, and such has been my debility and afflictions, that prevented me from the power of acknowledging it until now, and even now it is with great difficulty I write.
In return for those kind expressions with regard to myself, I have to remark that I shall ever recollect my dear General, with great satisfaction, the relations, both private and official which subsisted between us during the greater part of my administration. Having full confidence in your abilities and republican principles I invited you to my Cabinet, and I never can forget with what discretion and talents you met those great and delicate questions which were brought before you whilst you Presided over the Department of War which entitled you to my thanks and will be ever recollected with the most lively feelings of friendship by me. But what has endeared you to every true American was the noble stand you took as our Minister at Paris against the Quintuple Treaty, and by your talents, energy and fearless responsibility defeated its ratification by France a treaty intended by Great Britain, to change our international laws and make her mistress of the seas, and destroy the national independence, not only of our nation but all Europe, and become the tyrant on every ocean. Had Great Britain obtained the sanction of France to this treaty, with the late disgraceful treaty of Washington so disgraceful to our national character, and injurious to our national safety in war &c &c then, indeed we might have hung our harps upon the willows and resigned our national independence to Great Britain. But to your talents, energy, and fearless responsibility we are indebted for the shield you threw over us from the impending danger [which] the ratification by France would have brought upon us. For this act of yours the thanks of every true American is yours, and the applause of every true republican; and for this noble act I tender you my thanks.
I admired the course of Dr. Limo in the Senate, last Congress in urging his Oregon Bill, and I hope his energy will carry it into a law next Session of Congress. This will speak to England a language that she will understand, that we will not submit to be negotiated out of our territorial rights, hereafter.
I hope your amiable family have united with [you] to whom please present the kind salutations of me and mine and receive for yourself assurance of my friendship and esteem.
ANDREW JACKSON
To the HON. LEWIS CASS
