97, but his senatorial
career was not so fruitful, as it is believed that he never made a
speech nor ever voted once and resigned his seat in less than a year. He
was elected a justice of the supreme court of Tennessee, but he did
nothing remarkable here either as none of his decisions remain. Nothing
of note occurred for some time except his becoming involved in a quarrel
with Governor Sevier, which came to a crisis in 1801, when Jackson was
made Major-General of militia over Sevier. Jackson suspected Sevier of
being involved in certain land frauds, and a duel was averted only by
the influence of friends.

About this time Jackson became financially embarrassed. Thinking himself
secure, he sold a large amount of land to a gentleman in Philadelphia,
and, taking his notes, bought goods for the Tennessee market, depending
on these notes for payment. The failure of these threw him into great
difficulties; but his firm will came to his aid once more and saved him.
He immediately resigned the position of judge, and sold land enough to
clear himself from debt. He is said to have now removed to what
subsequently became known as the "Hermitage," taking all his slaves, and
dwelling in a log house.

He extended his business, being now at the head of the firm of Jackson,
Coffee and Hatchings. This was a trading firm, raising wheat, corn,
cotton, mules, cows and horses, it being a concern whose business
extended to New Orleans, but it lost money, and finally came to an end,
although through no fault of Jackson, as he generally carried to success
whatever he personally managed, and this embarrassment grew out of
reckless proceedings during his absence. We now come upon another dark
page of Jackson's life.

During the year 1806 a quarrel was started, which led to the death of
Charles Dickinson. This is one of his quarrels resulting indirectly from
the manner in which he become married to Mrs. Robards. This Dickinson
had spoken offensively of Mrs. Jackson, he once retracted his words and
renewed them. In the meantime Jackson became involved in a quarrel with
a man by the name of Swann over the terms of a horse race, and Jackson
used some strong language relative to Dickinson, whose name had been
meaningly introduced. Jackson's words were carried to Dickinson, as it
appears he had intended. Afterward the quarrel with Swann resulted in a
bar-room fight, it is said, begun by Jackson.

About this time Dickinson wrote a very severe atta