ALS, one page both sides, 7.25 x 12.5, July 24, 1820. Letter to Secretary of War John C. Calhoun. In full: “Your General Order of June 14th 1820 has just reached me. I have directed it to be promulgated to my Division. Will you permit me to draw your attention to this order, and request you maturely deliberate on it, compare it with the rules and regulations under which the soldier is enlisted, and the rights and emoluments secured to him under his compact to serve the U. States by which is secured to him, his monthly pay & rations–let me then presume to ask you to compare the law with the Genl order of the 14th of June last, and then conclude whether any power exists, competant [sic] to take from the Soldier [next ten words underlined] Eighty five cents out of every hundred of his pay, for the purpose of buying Seeds utensils [‘Seeds utensils’ underlined] &c &c for the cultivation of 'Wheat and other competent parts of the Ration' when by the terms of his compact the Government is bound to furnish the soldier rations at its own expense.
As far as I have been conversant with the law martial, and the rules and regulations for the Government of the army, it does not appear to me that there is any power competent to retain the soldiers pay, save that of a courtmartial, and then only; for the commission of a crime, recognised as such by the rules and regulations for the government of the army. The order for the cultivation of gardens was for the comfort & health of the Troops; the order for the cultivation of wheat, corn &c &c is for the benefit of the government, by saving them the expense of [next five words underlined] componant [sic] parts of the Ration by the labour of the soldiary [sic], hence it would seem to me but Justice, that the seed, utensils & farming tools should be laid in by the Government and not taken from the pittance of the Soldiers pay. I really cannot believe that any power exists of applying the pay of the Soldier to the purchase of farming utensils and seed for the benefit of the Government.
How will the commanding officer collect this from the soldier; Suppose this order a Violation of the compact under which the Soldier was enlisted–how will the officer Justify himself in laying his hand upon Eighty five cents out of every hundred of the Soldier's pay to purchase wheat, seed, corn, axes, wedges &c &c to carry on farming for the benefit of the United States–Suppose the Soldier appeals to the law for redress, to recover his pay; will not the law of the land afford him relief–from this order; nay farther; may it not lead to serious discussion in courts martial, and may not the Soldier, after being deprived of his pay contrary to the terms of his enlistment, on the charge of Desertion, with great force olledge [sic] in his defence, that the Government has Violated the contract with him when enlisted, and from the moment he was desolved [sic] from his enlistment & cannot Justly be punished for [‘deserting’ crossed out] leaving the Service, & may it not happen, that officers acting under oath; may incline, to this opinion, and at once, by their decision, obsolve [sic] all those (whose pay has been thus applied) from the obligation of their enlistment. Be assured that these remarks are made with most friendly Views, to draw your close attention to the order and its consequences, believing that you have not well considered the subject before the order was issued.”
In very good condition, with a few separations along intersecting folds, one vertical fold through the first stroke of signature, folds expertly reinforced on the reverse, and a few spots of toning.
As Secretary of War in the Monroe administration, Calhoun was considered a competent administrator who oversaw a review of departmental operations and accounts. Jackson, however, saw him as a political adversary. In this correspondence between the two rivals, Jackson defends his men, challenging the Secretary of War over a recent order that he claims violated the soldiers’ enlistment agreements. Confronting Calhoun, he asks “whether any power exists, competent to take from the soldier eighty five cents out of every hundred of his pay” against their rations. Despite their dislike for each other, Jackson and Calhoun were forced to campaign together as running mates in the 1828 election. Their working relationship soon disintegrated, however, as they continually clashed over policies. Relations became even more strained when Jackson discovered that Calhoun, during his tenure as Secretary of War, had encouraged Monroe to censure Jackson after he invaded Spanish Florida in 1818. A remarkable letter demonstrating why the beloved military leader garnered such devotion from his men. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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