A Dialogue between Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay - Research Paper Example

A Dialogue between Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay Introduction: The present study aims to enter into dialogue between two renowned political figures of the USA i.e. Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay. The main objective behind elucidating their policies includes the exploration of their views and opinions in defense of the schemes they exercised on different occasions as important political figures according to the prevailing political, economic, social and diplomatic circumstances of their motherland. Before embarking upon the dialogue, it would be advisable to present a brief introduction of both the personalities under discussion. Andrew Jackson serves as one of the most influential statesmen the USA has ever produced. By dint of his talent, wisdom and foresight, he achieved the height of triumphs against his political opponents and was elected to be the seventh and eighth President of America. Jackson adopted courageous strategic policies and combated with several internal and external challenges in a successful manner. However, his economic policies are aptly criticized by the opponents to be inadequate ones. Similarly, Henry Clay is also regarded to be a considerable personality in the early history of America, who served as senator, speaker of the House of Representatives and US Secretary of State, who demonstrated his diplomatic skills while serving at the same position. He entered into conflict with President Jackson, and was among the most dominant personalities laying the foundation stone of a new political group under the title Whig Party in 1833, which was to become an important political faction against the Jacksonian Democracy. The Dialogue: Jackson: As you know it very well sir that I had won the popular votes during 1824 elections, though I had not obtained majority votes (Nye & Morpurgo, 1955: 214). However, instead of supporting me on bagging electoral votes, you put your weight in favor of John Adam, who was not a popular leader, you see. You just gave him support for personal gains, as President Adams would appoint you as the secretary of state in order to return your favor subsequently. Clay: Mr. Jackson! It is right that I had voted in favor of President Adams, which was my right actually to let the candidate elected which I considered to be the most apposite one for this key position. However, I did not cast my vote for personal gains; rather, my appointment as the secretary of state was actually the acknowledgement of my talent and services as statesman. It is therefore there appeared many diplomatic achievements in my career as secretary. I voted against you due to your unauthorized invasion on Spanish West Florida in 1818, during which you exercised cruelty and even did not hesitate to set the houses of the British and Spanish to fire as you thought that both these groups were involved into providing the Indians with financial and moral aid (Watson, 1998:31). Thus, targeting me by applying false allegations of selling my political position for personal benefits does not appear to be an appropriate way of criticism altogether. Jackson: Invasion on Spanish Florida was not my personal decision; rather President Monroe had appointed me as military governor in order to crush the revolt raised by the traitor Indians and slaves of Florida backed by the British and Spanish enemies of the country. I had the powers to crush the revolt that could put the solidarity of my country at grave jeopardy. It is therefore I applied all the methods that I felt inevitable for purifying the region from traitors and foes at large (Remini, 1999: 286). Since no serious revolt launched by the enemies of the country could be tarnished by applying kind and considerate measures, use of force and some cruelty was essential for gaining control over the area. Had I not dealt with this challenge in a rational manner, the USA could have lost the entire area subsequent to the revolt, you see. On the other hand, your support to President Adams could not earn any popularity t him. As a result, he could not be re-elected in the next elections, and I defeated him by a considerable margin (Remini, 1999: 288). Clay: You surely won the election in 1828, and even defeated me in the next elections in order to complete two successive presidential terms. Somehow, your economic policies turned out to be challenging ones for the future of the country. You not only ruined the life of hundreds of people, including Richard Lawrence, by pushing them towards the hell of unemployment and poverty, but also paved the way towards creating an environment of uncertainty and joblessness, which turned the masses strictly against you in such a way that they started making plans of taking your life. It is therefore, Lawrence had made an attempt to your life in 1835 (Watson, 1998:31). Jackson: Your words endorse my opinion about you that you have always been in search of excuses that could abate my popularity in the hearts of my beloved nation. You are well acquainted with the bitter reality that internal threats regulated by the external enemies had created the situation of unemployment in the country; consequently, I took immediate steps and introduced necessary measure in order to eradicate the awkward clutches of poverty with an iron hand. It was me to earn a respectable place in society for the poor and downtrodden people including the laborers, planters, mechanics, farmers and workers. I not only introduced reforms in agriculture sector, but also took necessary measures to promote and develop industry in the country. Consequently, the economy flourished and industrialization witnessed tremendous boost in the wake of the steps I took for the welfare of the farmers and industrial workers at large (Nye & Morpurgo, 1955: 227). Clay: You treated your political opponents very harshly, and were determined to hang renowned South Carolinian politician and my close aide i.e. John C. Calhoun, though you could not turn your dream into reality till your last day in office as the President (Borneman, 2008:6). You were also strictly against me, and also wanted my exit from the American politics. Jackson: I did not handle my political opponents in an adverse manner, though I tried to corner those who either had personal grudge against me, or were working against the interests of the country. I did not intend to hang Calhoun for personal grudges; on the other hand, I found his politics harmful for the American subjects, as my country could not afford such turn coats like him, as Calhoun did never try to stick to one single policy, and changed his favors in the light of his personal needs and requirements instead of displaying permanent loyalty to one single party or political group at large. However, I always regretted on not issuing a decree for shooting such a traitor and opportunist politician like you, who broke into the Democrat Party, and causing the division of the party into factions in the name of establishing a new Whig Party with the false claim of striving for the uplift of democratic institutions, though you just formed new political party in order to rise to power as the president of the country, which actually could never be achieved at all. Clay: You are absolutely wrong in declaring me as traitor and turn coat, as my country seldom produced such a brilliant and shrewd statesman like me. History provides several strong evidences in favor of my struggle for the projection and promotion of justice and equality in the country. I strived for the cause of slaves, and worked for winning freedom for them. On the contrary, you just kept hundreds of slaves in your possession, and never gathered courage to set them free throughout your life. Consequently, it was your death, which gave the poor slaves the message of freedom and liberty from the cruel grip of exploitation of the African Americans, who were leading the life of misery and gloom under the subjugation of their white masters. You pretended yourself as the torch-bearer of equality, though you did not play important part for the cause of slavery until Abraham Lincoln arose at the horizon of the politics to abolish slavery from the USA by announcing unconditional freedom to all black slaves without discrimination. Jackson: Every step is taken at some appropriate time; it was actually my attempts for the abolishment of slavery from America, which turned out to be reality only one and half decade after my death. Actually I had paved the way towards the same, which was executed by another Democrat only few years after my exit from the helm of the governmental affairs. References Borneman, Walter R. (2008) Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America. New York: Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6560-8 p. 36. Nye, R.B. & Morpurgo, J. E. (1955) A History of the United States Volumes I & II Penguin Books pp.79-465 Remini, Robert V. (1999). The Battle of New Orleans New York: Penguin Books. pp. 281-91 Watson, Harry L. (1998) Andrew Jackson vs. Henry Clay: Democracy and Development in antebellum America St. Martin’s Boston ISBN 0312177720 Read More