…Be not too suspicious, but never take a man to your bosom as a confidant, until you are certain he merits it". These are the fatherly words of advice Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson gave to his ward, Edward GW Butler, in this handwritten letter dated March 3rd, 1823. Jackson wrote this letter on the eve of his return to the Senate, having been elected for the second time in 1823 to represent Tennessee. Primarily known as being belligerent and violent, this handwritten letter shows a more tender side of Jackson, with him dispensing life advice, book suggestions, and comments on the current geopolitical climate regarding European encroachment on the New World.

Andrew Jackson was a land-owning slave owner who represented Tennessee as Congressman from 1796-1797 until he was elected to the Senate in 1797. He would resign from the Senate after only serving a year and would not return to the Senate until 1823. He would achieve national fame and glory after defending New Orleans from British attack During the War of 1812, on January 8th, 1815. The battle occurred after the British and Americans signed The Treaty of Ghent on December 24th, 1814, and word of the treaty had not yet reached the Americans or British of the signing of the treaty until after the battle occurred.

Jackson would ride the fame of this battle first to the Senate in 1823, and then to the White House in 1829, where he would serve two-terms, running on a populist platform that sought to move power from the elites to the people. A polarizing figure during his presidency, Jackson is the only president to pay off the national debt. Yet, his mistreatment of Native Americans led to the displacement of 45,000 Native Americans during his administration. Jackson supported slavery and owned upwards of 300 slaves during his lifetime.

This handwritten letter offered is from Andrew Jackson to Edward GW Butler, written on the eve of his return to the Senate, on March 3rd, 1823. Butler was assigned to the Army Artillery Corps, and it is presumed that this letter is congratulatory in nature. Butler's father had served under Jackson at New Orleans and became his guardian after his father's death. Jackson strikes a more paternal tone in this letter, a far cry from the public image of a dueling, belligerent, and difficult war hero. Jackson recommends to the young Butler a book about William Wallace. He implores Butler to be aware of treachery, lest he falls to the same mistakes made by Wallace during the War for Scottish Independence. Jackson also offers his reasons for turning down an ambassadorship to Mexico due to political instability within the country and Jackson's assertion that he could "could be of no benefit to the country there". Jackson offers his ruminations on the current state of political affairs, with opinions on the possibility of England dominating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, of which he was vehemently opposed.

Jackson also updates on some legal business concerning another member of the Butler family, though the circumstances of the news are unknown. Jackson also names his friend and political supporter, Samuel Houston, citing an unknown request made on Butler's behalf to Jackson's old friend from Tennessee. Jackson strikes a loving tone towards the end of the letter, offering sincere wishes to Butler and commenting on his appreciation of their friendship, signing "Affectionately your friend" at the end. We have transcribed this as best as we can decipher. The letter displays some toning, edging, and corner-wear, with some creases. The address appears on the back of the letter and is addressed "LT GW Butler Corps of Artillery, City Of Washington," and a stamp "March 5th" appears in black ink above the address. The handwritten letter comes with a LOA from Beckett Authentication.

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