Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. I.djvu/317

ANDREW JACKSON 261 of his many quarrels had their source. His devo tion to Mrs. Jackson was intense, and his pistol was always ready for the rash man who should dare to speak of her slightingly. In January, 1796, we find Jackson sitting in the convention assembled at Knoxville for making a constitution for Tennessee, and tradition has it that he proposed the name of the "Great Crooked River" as the name for the new state. Among the rules adopted by the convention, one is quaintly significant: "He that digresseth from the subject to fall on the person of any member shall be sup pressed by the speaker." The admission of Ten nessee to the Union was effected in June, 1796, in spite of earnest opposition from the Federalists, and in the autumn Jackson was chosen as the single representative in congress. When the house had assembled, he heard President Washington deliver in person his last message to congress. He was one of twelve who voted against the adoption of the address to Washington in approval of his ad ministration. Jackson s chief objections to Wash ington s government were directed against two of its most salutary and admirable acts the Jay treaty with Great Britain, and Hamilton s financial measures. His feeling toward the Jay treaty was that of a man who could not bear to see anything but blows dealt to Great Britain. His condemna tion of Hamilton s policy was mingled with the not