lector of the Port of Salem, Massachusetts. The leading Jackson
Democrats in Massachusetts petitioned the President for his removal
as incompetent and a political opponent, and they presented the
name of a stanch Jackson Democrat for the position. The appointment
was made, and the name of the new Collector was sent to the Senate
for confirmation. Colonel Benton, who had been made acquainted
with the facts, requested that no action be taken until he could
converse with the President. Going to the White House the next
morning, he said to General Jackson, "Do you know who is the
Collector of Customs at Salem, Mr. President, whom you are about
to remove?" "No, sir," replied General Jackson; "I can't think of
his name, but Nat. Green and Ben. Hallett have told me that he is
an incompetent old New England Hartford Convention Federalist."
"Mr. President," said Colonel Benton, "the man you propose to turn
out is General Miller, who fought so bravely at the battle of
Bridgewater." "What!" exclaimed General Jackson, "not the brave
Miller who, when asked if he could take the British battery,
exclaimed 'I'll try,'" "It is the same man, Mr. President,"
responded Benton. General Jackson rang his bell, and when a servant
appeared, said, "Tell Colonel Donelson I want him, quick!" When
the private secretary entered, the President said, "Donelson, I
want the name of the fellow I nominated for Collector of Salem
withdrawn instantly. Then write a letter to General Miller and
tell him that he shall be Collector of Salem as long as Andrew
Jackson is President."

Learning that some of the Pension Agents had been withholding
portions of the pensions due to Revolutionary veterans, General
Jackson had the charges thoroughly investigated, and a list of the
pensioners printed, showing what each one was entitled to receive.
This disclosed the fact that some of the Pension Agents had been
continuing to draw the pensions of deceased soldiers for years
after their death, besides retaining portions of the pensions of
others. Robert Temple, Pension Agent in Vermont, on hearing of
the proposed investigation, hastened to Washington, where he
endeavored to bribe a clerk to falsify the list made out for the
printer. The clerk obtained from him a list of sixty names of
deceased soldiers whose pensions he had continued to draw, and gave
it to the Secretary of War. Temple, on learning this, committed
suicide.

There were a few veteran office-h