University of Virginia Library

PREFASE.

Sum of the folks telld me that a prefase was of no use in this
edishon of my letters, but I gues a book without a prefase is
like a man without a head, and if a man wanted the head,
every one knows what his boddy wud be wurth. But I want
tu tell the folks jist this—There is a consarnt deal of letters
publisht in my name that arnt ginuin; so I've resolved tu
print my rale ones, and lave out the counterfeits. I kinder
feel tho, that so many attempts to imitate my letters is complimentary,
as every one likes to rite letters in my name, and
the nearer they cum to the likeness the better they are. This
is a sartan sine that I am popular, and that my day will cum
as soon as the Ginerals is past. I have agreed tu publish this
in Filadelfy, that I may have a chance to be more extensively
known in the Key-stone-State where, I'm told they have
nominated me, and where they are rale whalers of fellers for
Dimocrasy and the Gineral, who never change a bit but remaines
true Jacksonmen, in spite of all Jackson can do.

In this edishon I have put in my last letters. I wont tu
sho that there's one man in the nation who is n't afeard tu
spake his mind. I wont tu let the peeple see that I'm honest
and that if I'm elected, they will have a man, who never
deals in Orakles, or abstroos metafisiks,sich as my opposer little
Martin does, to sho his larnin and make folks scratch their heads
whil readin tu understand him. I wont tu let them see tu, that I
have ritin qualifikashons for a President, that I'm the rale
stuff, and no slouch. If I'm tu be President, I wont the peeple
tu be knowin in politiks, and be able tu fine out all my
mistakes, bekase I'm a good republikin, and dont wont tu go
rong any further than I can help; and when the peeple are
knowin they will keep a good look out, tu see if I go rong

and tell me. I dont wont tu have all my own way, except'n
the vetoe, which is a consarnt good thing, as it keeps the Congress
from duin foolish things, and I cant see what use the
rite tu veto was put in the constitushon, if it wasn't tu use it
on all okasions, and jest tu let the peeple see and feel the
thority of the President. It is a kinder pulse, tu try by how
far a President can go his own gate, and the peeple still cry
hoorra.

This edishon has sum advantages over every other. It is
selected with keer, and contains many important letters on
the great consarns of the nashon, sent to the Portland Currier,
and my friend Dwight of New York, and is, therefore,
by far, the best Edishon yet publisht. I've made the publisher
print it so that it'll cum cheap, that in these hard times, every
one may have a coppy without much expense.