Argumentative Essay: The Death Of Andrew Jackson

On this very winter night of February 1837, the Washington D.C. Chief of Police regrets to inform you that President Andrew Jackson has been murdered. His body was found this evening in the White House garden. Through countless hours of scouring the premises, we have stumbled upon a satchel containing a number of clues which have lead us to those at fault for this treacherous act. A note inside read “Today’s the day my friends. I know we can do it.” In light of this large amount of evidence to sort through, we have come to the conclusion that there were four accomplices behind this operation, those of whom we know far too well. Mr. John Quincy Adams, Mr. Daniel Webster, Mr. John C. Calhoun, and Mr. Henry Clay have all found themselves entangled

in this mess. For a long time before the murder, these men have had it out for Jackson, whether it be political grudges or opposition to views on Jackson’s policies or beliefs. In any case, Jackson is dead and each of these men is going down for his death.

John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson have been at odds since their political careers really started to kick off. In 1824, they both ran for president, against John C. Calhoun, William Crawford, and Henry Clay. When it came to the day of the election, Jackson polled more votes both with the popular and what he had hoped to be the electoral vote as well. In the end, the race came down to him and Adams, and with Calhoun, Crawford, and Clay out of the race, Clay’s vote was able to sway the electoral vote in favor of Adams. He was very against Jackson and agreed with Adams’ policies on tariffs and public works. The results were a big shock to Jackson and angered his supporters. When Adams was in office, he elected Clay as his Secretary of State, to which Jackson and his supporters deemed a “corrupt bargain.” Throughout Adams’ term as president, Jacksonian Democrats spewed out their disgust with his “corrupt deal” and cost Adams the reelection. This certainly gives Adams motive to get revenge upon Jackson for ending the peak of his political

career so soon, with Clay as a close accomplice. Many of the clues we are in possession of in the satchel relate back to Adams. An engraved hand towel from the “Court of St. James” was found, which most likely would’ve been Adams’ possession as he served as the United States Minister to the Court of St. James from 1814 to 1817. A copy of David Walker’s Appeal could have belonged to Adams, as it was published in 1828 in Boston, MA where after his presidency, he returned and entered the House of Representatives for Massachusetts.

His growing opposition to slavery would put him in favor of Walker’s Appeal. The Coffin Handbill directly relates to the feud between Jackson and Adams. It was a series of anti-Jackson pamphlets that were printed by John Binns at the ex Democratic Press of Philadelphia, accusing him of crimes such as adultery and murdering Indians. Adams was painted in a much more positive light. However, the pamphlet proved to be unsuccessful with Jackson’s triumph over Adams in the election. Additionally, Adams’ affiliation with the anti-Masonic party set him apart from Jackson’s religious views. A note reading “X the M” could be interpreted as “Kill the Mason”, which views he also shared with Daniel Webster. The article on the disappearance of William Morgan, can also be associated with Adams’ dislike for the Masons. William Morgan was said to have attempted to join the Freemasons, though was denied. In revenge, he wrote about the maliciousness of Freemasonry, which then lead them to kill him. This sparked an increase of the Anti-Masonic movement, which both Adams and Webster are part of. The Baltimore Athenaeum ticket stub dating September 26, 1831, is also part of the Anti-Masonic movement, which Adams and Webster could’ve been present

at. The first Anti-Masonic national convention took place on that day for the election of 1832, where Adams was almost nominated to run, though the Anti-Masonic party feared that his unpopular image destroyed by Jackson would cost the party the election. In the year 1832, Adams was serving as a Representative in Congress from Massachusetts. The dates July 3rd and July 10th were circled on a calendar from 1832. These days marked the approval of the United States Bank Charter by the House of Representatives, and later Jackson’s veto of the reauthorization. These dates relate to both Adams and Clay as they were both part of the House of Representatives at the time. A dog eared map of Chestnut Street, the location of the First US National Bank, could’ve been part of a plan to restore the bank after Jackson’s murder, with the help of Clay. Adams’ motive to kill Jackson is simple; political vengeance in light of shortening his presidential career, and having opposing views in regards to political parties.
An additional, though lesser involved, accomplice in Jackson’s murder we have discovered to be Daniel Webster. Webster, like Adams, was a member of the Anti-Masonic political party and would’ve wanted Jackson dead due to his