relations with Callava grew steadily more strained until finally, with
a view to obtaining possession of certain deeds and other legal
papers, he had the irate dignitary shut up overnight in the calaboose.
Then he fell upon the judge of the Western District of Florida for
issuing a writ of habeas _corpus_ in the Spaniard's behalf; and all
parties--Jackson, Callava, and the judge--swamped the wearied
officials at Washington with "statements" and "exhibitions" setting
forth in lurid phraseology their respective views upon the questions
involved. Callava finally carried his complaints to the capital in
person and stirred the Spanish Minister to a fresh bombardment of the
White House. Monroe's Cabinet spent three days discussing the subject,
without coming to a decision. Many were in honest doubt as to the
principles of law involved; some were fearful of the political effects
of any stand they might take; all were inexpressibly relieved when,
late in the year, word came that "Don Andrew Jackson" had resigned the
governorship and was proposing to retire to private life at the
Hermitage.




CHAPTER IV


THE DEATH OF "KING CAUCUS"

On a bracing November afternoon in 1821 Jackson rode up with his
family to the Hermitage free for the first time in thirty-two years
from all responsibility of civil and military office. He was now
fifty-four years old and much broken by exposure and disease; the