



Produced by Charles Aldarondo





JACK TIER;

OR

THE FLORIDA REEF

By James Fenimore Cooper

By The Author Of “The Pilot,” “Red Rover,” “Two Admirals,” “Wing And
Wing,” “Miles Wallingford,” Etc.




PREFACE.


This work has already appeared in Graham's Magazine, under the title
of “Rose Budd.” The change of name is solely the act of the author, and
arises from a conviction that the appellation given in this publication
is more appropriate than the one laid aside. The necessity of writing to
a name, instead of getting it from the incidents of the book itself, has
been the cause of this departure from the ordinary rules.

When this book was commenced, it was generally supposed that the Mexican
war would end, after a few months of hostilities. Such was never the
opinion of the writer. He has ever looked forward to a protracted
struggle; and, now that Congress has begun to interfere, sees as little
probability of its termination, as on the day it commenced. Whence
honourable gentlemen have derived their notions of the constitution,
when they advance the doctrine that Congress is an American Aulic
council, empowered to encumber the movements of armies, and, as old
Blucher expressed it in reference to the diplomacy of Europe, “to spoil
with the pen the work achieved by the sword,” it is difficult to say
more than this, that they do not get them from the constitution itself.
It has generally been supposed that the present executive was created in
order to avoid the very evils of a distracted and divided council,
which this new construction has a direct tendency to revive. But a
presidential election has ever proved, and probably will ever prove,
stronger than any written