CHAPTER III.-THOMAS JEFFERSON... His Name in the First Rank-A Synonym of Democracy -A Ripe Scholar, Linguist, Architect and Musician-Early Public Career and Marriage--Writes the Declaration of Inde- pendence-Minister to France-Secretary of State under Washington - Elected President - His Plain Manners-Pur- chase of Louisiana-Style of Speaking and Writing. CHAPTER IV.-JAMES MADISON................ ...................... ............164 Early Advantages-Political Services to Virginia-Views on Formation of Federal Government-On Rights of the States- Birth and Early Military Service-Studies Law and is Sent to Congress-Minister to France-United States Senator- Secretary of State for President Jefferson-Elected Presi- CHAPTER VI.-ANDREW JACKSON........ Birth and Parentage-Early Privations-A Young Soldier- Lawyer and Judge-Singular Marriage-Defends His Wife's Character-A Fatal Duel-Aaron Burr's Schemes-Indian Wars-Battle of New Orleans-Governor of Florida-Habeas Corpus-Seizes a Spanish Fort-Hangs Two Englishmen- Candidate for President-Defeated-Elected in 1828-Stran- CHAPTER VII.-ALEXANDER HAMILTON.................. 189 Founder of the Federal Party-Early Military Services -An Able Financier-Finished Speaker and Writer-Quar- Early Training of a Good Mother - Emigrates to Ken- tucky-Opposes Slavery in that State-Elected to United States Senate-Opposes United States Bank-Advocates War of 1812-Peace Commissioner to Europe-Favors Protection and United States Bank-Secures Admission of Missouri- Duel with John Randolph-Often Unsuccessful Candidate Difficulty in Writing of Him-Birth and Parentage-Close Student-Graduates at Yale College-President Dwight's Pre- diction-Secretary of War-Frequent Changes of Party Poli- tics-Nullification Schemes-Hostility to President Jackson -Co-operates with the Whigs-Secretary of State for Tyler -Secures the Annexation of Texas-Schemes for Balance of Slave Power-Retaliation-Exemplary Private Life-Reflec- tions. Born of Patriotic Stock-Works His Way Through Col- lege-Sent to Congress-His Abilities at Once Recognized- Important Law Cases and Great Orations-In United States Birth and Parentage-Early Privations and Habits-Occupa- tions-Sent to Congress-A Whig in Politics-Elected Presi- POLITICAL FACTS. PART I. CHAPTER I. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. Meaning and Origin of Democracy-Its Immemorial Principles Unfolded in the Declaration of Independence-Maintained in the Revolution and Embodied in the Constitution-Discussions on the Adoption of the Constitution-Two Parties Developed-Democrats and Federalists -State Rights-Early Significance of the Term-Jealousy of the Small States-Alien and Sedition Laws-Bitter Party Spirit-The Hartford Convention-Secession-Curious Somersaults of Public Men -John C. Calhoun-Forcing the Issue of Slavery-Measures of President Jackson's Administration-Strong Opposition to the Electoral College-Nullification. THE word Democrat, derived from two Greek words, demos Krateo,-the people to govern-has been applied to those men, who, from time immemorial, have contended for the right of the individual to participate in the government of the nation, or community, of which he forms a part. At first indirectly, and by the inculcation of such rules for conduct as made aggression on the rights of others appear wrong, they exerted only a moral influence. For, the direct tendency of the great maxim, "Do unto others as you would that they should do to you,"-(taught by Confucius, by Moses, and by Christ), is to prevent men from infringing on the rights of others. And, though these liberal-minded men have had to encounter the most formidable opposition, the dungeon, the scaffold, and the rack, yet these principles have emerged from every conflict brighter and more firmly established. Of all the wars undertaken to defend the principle (the right of the people to govern themselves), that which resulted in the separation of our country from Great Britain is the most notable. For, though many years before, the English barons had wrung from King John his unwilling consent to the "Magna Charta"-the first ray of light of constitutional liberty that broke through the clouds of the dark ages; and though Cromwell's iron-clad soldiers had, with strange persistency, driven every vestige of royalty out of England, after beheading an unfortunate king, yet it was not until our own revolutionary forefathers set the example, that the world beheld the spectacle of an intelligent people taking up arms in the defence of the right of self-government, and having achieved success, also knew how to secure the substantial fruits of liberty. Yet the idea was not a new one. It had been practiced upon in ancient lands thousands of years ago. In the transitions from primitive to the advanced states of human society, the experiment had been successfully tried and then discarded, as fruit drops from the tree when decay |