Schuylerville in Saratoga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
First Bridge
now buried in roadway
reading “The Union -
It must be preserved.
Gen’l Jackson. A. D. 1834”.
Erected 1932 by New York State Education Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 43° 5.988′ N, 73° 34.807′ W. Marker is in Schuylerville, New York, in Saratoga County. Marker is on Ferry Street (New York State Route 29), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located near the entrance to Fort Hardy Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Schuylerville NY 12871, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1755 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Surrender Tree (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); British Army Grounded Arms (about 600 feet away); Fort Hardy (about 600 feet away); Articles of Convention (about 700 feet away); Earliest Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Unknown Soldier (approx. 0.2 miles away); Town of Saratoga (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Schuylerville.
Also see . . . The Union, It must be preserved. This is an interesting marker as the quote belongs to Andrew Jackson, A Tennessean and a slave owner but one who, at least in 1834 felt that the Union must be preserved. The New York Times, in 1862 wrote this about the misuse of Jackson's quote:
"Gen. JACKSON is credited with a terse and happy sentiment that has become familiar as househould words in the United States. It is this: "The Federal Union -- it must be preserved." It was given as a toast, a great many years ago, at a patriotic entertainment in Washington.
This compact, simple, and yet all-embracing sentence, fit to be the sublime war-cry of a great nation, is almost daily mutilated and diluted by public speakers and the Press. Tammany Hall has been chief in this corruption of the Old Hero's language, by hanging out a rude canvas with a daub of Gen. JACKSON, to say: "The Federal Union -- it must and shall be preserved." And so distinguished a democrat as ROBERT J. WALKER is reported to have said, in a public speech in Washington, the other day, that, "in the woods of Gen. JACKSON, the Union must and shall be preserved." This is worse, even, than Tammany, in its barbarous rendering of a noble, rotund, mouth and heart-filling sentiment.
We call the country to order, and require a greater respect to the memory of Old Hickory. He was not afraid to say "Federal Union," and he said it. He was not a man to multiply words. If a thing had to be done, he simply said it must be done, and it always was done. To say it must be done, and then add it shall be done, is weakness; for it implies that words can add to the moral necessity involved in the word must. Give us the Old Hero's phrase hereafter, pure and simple." (Submitted on September 14, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 886 times since then and 7 times this year. Last updated on September 12, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.