Hermitage, T. Capt,. Wm Russell July 8th, 1844 - My dear Sir, I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th of last June - and I am truly happy to know that you and your amiable wife are still in the land of the living, surrounded by your dear children. I can assure you that I have not forgotten you nor the Beans - They were amongst my first acquaintances in Tennessee - amonghst my first compatriots in [inserted: arms & in] the field, from Whom, I allways, and on the most trying occasions, received the most prompt & efficient aid - no my dear Sir, I have not forgotten you, and as long as my faculty of recollection remains, I cannot forget they Russells and the Beans - My memory for your father & his noble deeds in war [inserted: is] as [inserted: fresh as] it was when he was so gallantly leading on his company to Battle and to victory - I never can forget him - [2] or your gallant brother who was wounded in the Battle of Tallahatchie and died of his wound - and the arduous, and long & gallant service of your Father thro out the whole war - It would give me great pleasure to see you at the Hermitage. I'm greatly debilitated - reduced to a skeleton with constant cough & pain in my left side - with, lately, great shortness of breath - I can scarcely hold my pen. But delighted to hear from you & your numerous family I have summoned [illegible] other than to attempt it. It is true, we have been cursed with Whigery in Tennessee for several years - lead into it by two of the most arch hypocrites, [inserted: Bell & E.H. Foster -] the world was ever cursed with - But since the Democratic Convention [inserted: at Baltimore] nominated, Polk for president, & Dallas for vice, the Democracy is united - gathering strength from the Whigs, who are abandoning Clay daily, and next November will bury Whiggery in Tennessee, and over the whole United States, and Federal Whigery will be buried, I trust forever. [3] The existing question, between the Democrats, & Federal Whigs and abolitionists, are the annexation of Texas - The Democrats viewing it as absolutely necessary to reannex Texas to the U. States, to shut out all British & Foreign influence from tampering with the Indians on our western frontier, and with our slaves in the South and West. Clay with his federal Whigs, and abolitionists are for shutting the door against reannexation of Texas fearful of offending England, & Clay to get the abolition votes - notwithstanding Texas is all important to our national defense, & safety. How humiliating to every true American, the idea of america, a great & independent nation [inserted: as we are] to be overawed, by the dictates of England - But Texas must, & will be ours - I think Polk & Dallas will get 20 out of the 26 - states - I must close - with the request that you send my kindest wishes to your amiable wife, & all your dear children [inserted: & all the Beans] & to you & them long lives & a happy immortality, where, I hope to meet you - yr. Friend sincerely Andrew Jackson [docket] Andrew Jackson [free frank] - Free - [address leaf] Captn,. William Russell, Senr Pleasant Hill, P.O. Franklin County Arkansas