Old Hickory

No man of this country or of any olher ever possessecl in a greater degree the confidence of the people, or excelled in personal popularity with the masses, than Andrew Jaekson, of Tennessee. Politicians were not always satisfied with him, not even those who had largely partioipated in the sucoess of the party that twiee elected Mm to the Presidential office; but the people were ever with him, and believed in his honest, devoted patriotism, stoodby him in every act inhis administration of public affairs, when political leaders of the party were alarmed if not disaffected at times by the bold, aggressfve movements of the brave and intrepid soldier. It is related of a Pennsylvania farmer, who having sold, in Philadelphia, a wagon load of producís from his farm some twenty miles back in the country, was offered in payment the lotes of the United States bank, then at i premium of ono per cent. over the State bank circulation, when to the surprise of the purchaser he declined to ake them in payment, simply saying that 3-en. Jackson had said the bank was bad md corrupt, and therefore he did not jare to have anything to do with it. A trae and staunch friend, he never (ras known to abandon any one in whom tie had placed confidence, or for whom tie had any frieidly feeling, although the vvhole world might go against his views uid opinions. He was over the defender of the weak against the strong, and qo man ever surpassed the old hero in his chivalric appreciation of woman, or in his düposition to protect and defend her at all times against any species of aggression or persecution. This noble disposition had been increascd in him in oonsequence of the base and dastardly attack that was made on his domestic life during the canvass for his first Presidential term, and even upon the beloyed partner of his joys and sorrows, whose life, it is believed, was shortened by such attacks and persecutions. Tlns trait m his character lor gallant defense of woman was brought fully into action on the memorable embroilment in Washington society in 1831, in which the members of his Oabinet and their families were principally and immediately interested. Reference is here made to the unpleasant condition of affaire immediately preoeding the dissolution of the Cabinet in that year. The rupture that had taken place between Gen. Jackson and Mr. Calhoun, to which more particular allusion will be made further on, was soon followed by an event naturally to follow as a consequence - that of breating up the President's Cabinet. Several roembers classed as the political friends of Mr. Calhoun could not be expected to remain as ministers to Gen. Jackson while adhering to that gentleman. This dissolution of the Cabinet, however, was hastened and more immediatelv broueht about bv the ment in high society referred to above. The main difficulty and source of these troubles in society, as the General believed, aróse from a wanton and unprovoked persecution on the part of the Calhounites, of Üie family of his friend and favored minister, Gen. Eaton, thon Secretary of War, aimed as an indirect attack on himself , and similar in ffect to the dastardly war made on his own domestic peace during his first candidaoy f or the Presidential office. Mr. Samuel D. Ingham, the Socretary of the Treasury, visited the President at the suggestion. of Ooi. B. M. Johnson, of Kentucky, the reputed slayer of ïecumseh, to see if some harmonious compromise could not be made whereby he and others could remain in position - f or although f riends and admirers of Mr. Calhoun, and therefore nccessarily and to some oxtent disaffected toward Gen. Jaokson, yet they seemed desirous, to use a modern phrase - to stick ; but the President was far from bing conciliated, and as Mr. Ingham reiorted back to Col. Johnson, lio had become very violent, and, as he remarkcd under considerable excitement, that he would never again undertako such a mission, for the President was not only violent, but soemed to roar at him like a maddened Hou. Ooi. Johnson said he would go to him and see if the lion would roar at him ; possibly the old hero had roared enotigh for that occasion, for he reccived the Colonel, for whom he had a high regard, with that impressive dignity that was never surpasscd by any official in receiving those who approached him, especially under such extraordinary circumstance as then existed. Ooi. Johnson warmly deprecated the course affairs were taking - that they would lead to a breaking up of his Oabinet, and feared that the people of the country would become alarmed and disaffected at so unusiül au eveat. The President, in lus determined maimer, assured him that he need not entertain any apprehensions ■with regard to the reception of such an occurrence by the people, who would, in their aoeustomed common-senBe way of lookiug at causes and effects, be but little concerned by the changos which ïnight tnke place in his Cabinet. The result was foreseen by Col. John ■ son- the Oabinet was diseolved, and as foreseen by the President the people seemed to care but little about it Mr. Van Buren, Socretary of State, and Gen. Eaton, Seoretary of War, being the special, personal, and political friends of Gen. Jack.son, having tendered their resignations, the balance of his Cabinet were, of conree, necessitated to follow their example, tiras terminating a council to the President in which Mr. Calhoun had been largely represented, and whioh, consequently, could no longer be palatable to the President. Gen. Eaton and his family went to Florida, wheve he had. been appointed Governor, and subsequently as Minister to Spain. Mr. Van Buren went as Minister to land, and the rest of that famous Oabinet retired from public to private life, from whence they never aftorward emerged. In the olection f or President which took plaoe in 1832, tho Buccessful ticket before the people bore the name of the old hero of New Orleans f or President, with that of Mr. Van Buren f or Vice-President, and their inauguration took place amid great party rejoicings on the 4th of March, 1833, being the second term of Gen. Jackson. A great change had taken place in the politacal aa well as personal relations of the distinguished leaders who had figured so prominently in the oxciting movements of the previous four years. Mr. Clay had again been beaten, and the political feud betweeu him and the President had increased in bitterness, assuming constantly theretlfter personal dishko and antipathy. Mr. Van Buren had succeeded Mr. Oalhoun to the Vice-presidency, and was now to presido over the Senate, m which the latter was to be simply a Senator; nor was this all of thediscomfiture of the ambitious South CaroUnian. The strong ties of personal and politieal friendship that had so long existed between him and Gen. Jackson had been suddenly and violently severed - never to be restored again. It had been discorered to Gen. Jackson through the revelations of Wai. H. Crawford, of Georgia, who had been a member of Mr. Monroe's Cabinet during the time that Gen. Jackson had control of military affairs in Florida, that instead of Mr. Calhoun (also of Mr. Monroe's Cabinet) having defended him against serious charges brought up in Cabinet f or transcending his powers and authority in Florida, he was for strict invastigation, and for suoh punishment as the dinary circumstances demanded; and that it was Mr. John Quincy Adamswho had on that eritical occasion espoused his cause and defended him against any extreme proceedinga on the part of the overnment. mis cuscovery was a saa diow ana a great surprise to Gen. Jackson, for he bad been for a number of years firmly under the impression that it was to Mr. Calhoun that he was indebted for such friendly aid and defense at so critica! a period, and the discovery, to a man of his temperament, having an extremo sensitíveness about everything that concerned his military f ame, naturally awakened no ordinary indignationandresentment. A correspondence ensued between him and Mr. Calhoun, which had no effect whatever in healing the breach in their friendshio; but, on the contrary, it only widened if, and the General, getting mad, abrupüy closed the correspondence with the deprecatory address of Csesar to Brutus, " Et tu Brute .'" This unfortunate severance of the old ties of personal and political friendship between the President and Mr. Calhoun was in every way disastrous and fatal to the latter. Mr. Van Buren succeeded to the place in the affections of the President that had but so lately been occupied by Mr. Calhoun, and in consequence Mr. Van Buren was placed on the ticket in 1832 for the office of Vice President, with the clearly deflned will and pleasure of the old hero that he should succeed him in the Presidency. This assertion of the innueuce and power of Gen. Jackson, based on his unoqualed popularity with the people to nomínate kis successor, and to have him chosen by the people, will be fully sustained by the history of the times - and that not only did this great influenco and the power of his name extend to his inmediato successor, but will apply also to the nomination and election of Mr. Polk in 1844. These sudden and overwhelming reverses in Mr. Oalhoun's poliücal and personal fortunes made him well nigk a desperate man. Seeing that he was no longer in the line of "safe preeedents," and that the aspiring sou of New York had stepped in and jostled him from his ambitious path, where but a short while before he seemed sa secure for the high prize in view, and that there remained 10 possiDle nope ior mm to regam ius ormer happy footing, he in an evü hour esorted to bis oelebrated nullification loctrine. There has scarcely been in the coun;ry greater excitemeiat than that which irose froin tho discussións in the Senate de; the tarifï question during the session jf 1832-'33. South Carolina, under the [ead of her hei-etofore popular and distinguished son, Mr. Calhoun, had as3umed the fearful attitude of angry and Eihnost belligerent opposition to the exooution of the revenue. iaws, and at no time probably had there been graver apprehennous for the future of the country than existed then. It was but the dark, gloomy omen and forerunner of what was to follow afterward in 1861, and the dread and dismay -svhich then oppressed the hearts of all patriota simply foroshadowed the horrors that carne upon tho land f rom 1861 to 1865. Gen. Jackson issued his famous proclamation warning the people of South Caroliua against any disaffection to the Government, or any attempt to resist the duo exeóution of laws made by tho high authority of Congress, and fbllowed this great address by sending troops io Charleston under the command of Gen. Scott to guarantee and enforce, if need was, tho exocutioa of the revomie laws. During this ominently critioal period threateniiig the national peace, Mr. Oalhoun arose in his plaoe in tho Senate and made the folio wingalarming declaration that South Carolina was in "battle array,"ready to resist the execution of the iniquitous revenue laws for tho oollection "of revenue under an unjust and unoonstitutional tariff. Such was the dread and fearf ui impression made on the minds of Senators and the crowded audienoe that for a while the feeling was intensely opprossive and painful, for itwftsknownthatüen, Jaokson tently watohing overy movement on the part of the politioal leaders of South Carolina, and that had there been an overt aot in the -wn,y of resistance, going so far as to the shedding of blood after such a speech, there was no knowing what dire results would have happened from the stern determination of the great and patriotic chief then nt the head of public affaire, who it was woll known would nevel' oompïoöiise in any way for tho violation of the laws of his country. It was at this momentous juncturo, when Mr. Oalhoun had so startled and alarmed Senators and audience, that Mr. Clayton, of Delaware, hastily peñciled a note to Mr. Clay, and sent it by a page of the Senate, in these exciting words : "For God's sake save him, or heis lost." Mr. Olayton well knew the inflexible and indomitable will and temper of Andrew Jackson, and that had there been blood shed in resisting the revenue laws after this daringly bold and almost treasonable speech, that the fate of the íkmth Carolina Senator was already deterrnined on, and that with such a man as Jackson in the Presidental chair there would be no compromise or vaoillation in the discharge of his high and imperative duties. Mr. Clay did save him and his State from a very fearful predicament, and in his oompromise measures at that time allayed and fully quieted the storm that seemed ready to burst over the Government and the country. Gen. Jaokson's flrmnoss of charaoter, his determination to submit to no wrong to the Government at home or abroad, made him feared and respected everywhere. Witness the action of Trance in settling up long delay arreara of tlebt to the United States when the old soldier and statesman had it intimated to the French Government through our minister at Versailles that the time had come for a settlement, and that no f urther dolay could be tolerated with proper regard to our national honor. With the people of the District of Columbia, where he lived as President for eight years, he was greatly respccted and beloved. They soon learned to know his inflexible justice and his fised rule of action with regard to all transactions between the officers and employés of the Government and the people of the District. Ha would not aDow any long continued indebtedness on the part of officials who were receiving their monthly pay from the Government, and ■who on account of being in the receipt of such Government pay had received credit for any kind of supplies or acoommodations. Knowing this, he was very frequentiy appealed to by oreditors against their delinquent customers, and they never failed to secure üquidation of the indebtedness, or so seoured as to gnarantee a speedy payment. One of these applications to the General, and which created much amusement at the time, was that of a lady who kept a boarding-house, and with whom a young man from Tennessee, a clerk in one of tne departments, and of a family for whom the President had a warm regard and friendship, had boarded for several months without paying his board bill, and with little apparent likelihood that he intended paying it verysoon, and f or which she ■was greatly in want. The General listened to her complaint very patiently, and with his usual kindness and courtesy to the fair sex, and when she had told him her story he advised her to get the gentleman's note for what he owed her. At this the poor lady's heart sank, and she said, " General, what good will his notedorae? He will caire as little about paying a note as the open account I have handed him so frequently" - but her heart grew something lighter when the President told her to get the note and bring it to him - for she saw that there might be something in it. She went home and very readily got the required note, as the gentleman said he was very wilHng to give it, and would include the interest, as she should not lose the interest as long as he owed her hereafter. Smjling at the liberality of her debtor, she returned to the President and submitted to him tho document, wondering what would be the next move toward getting her money. To her extreme surprise the President took up a pen from nis office table and wrote ou tlie back of the note his oto great ñamo - Andrew Jaokson. Almost overeóme by grateful surprise she aross to tako her leave, when the President said to her : " Madam, you will picase take tho note to the cashier of the Bank of the Metropolis with my request that he will discount it at once, and that he will please to givo timely notice of maturity to tho maker of the note. Timeiy notiee was given, and it is needless to add that the note was paid promptly when it becamo duo, without taking advantage even of the usual three days' grace. Great injustice has been done to the character and fame of Gen. Jackson in the estímate made of him, mostly by his political opponente, especially in charging him with tyranny in the exercise of an almost ferocious will in his great public eareer. Nothing was ever nore unfounded. Ooi. Thomas Benton, who of all men of their times knew him best from many years' acquaintance, and who, from havng been in deadly feud with liim at an early period of their lives in Tennessee, 3ecame, af ter he attained to the Presidential office, his warmest and most devoted friend, writes in the following interesting mauner of him in his " Thirty Years View," publiBhed af ter Gen. Jackson's death : "Hia temper was placable, as woll as irrraacible, and hia reoonciliations were cordial and sincero. Of that my own case was a signiil inBtance. Af tor a deadly feud I became his confidential adviser, wan off ered the highest marks of hifl favor, and received from his dying bed a message of friendship, dictated whou hfo was departing, and whea ho would have to pause for breath. There was a deep vein of piety in him unaffectedly showing itaelf in his revorence for divine worship, respect for ministens of the gospel, their hospitable rsception in Lis house, and constant encouragemont of all the díous tendencies of Mrs. Jackson. And when they both afterward becamo members of a oliurch it waa the natural and regular result of their early and chenahed feolings. lle was gentío in hia houae, and alive to the tendereat emotiona ; and of this I can give an inetanue, greatly in contrast with hia suppoaod character, and worth more tuan a long diacourao in showing what that character really waa. 1 arrived at his house one wet, chilly Oveuing in February, and came upon him iu the twilight sittiug alone before the fire, a child and a lamb between his knees. Ho atarted a iittle, called a aervant to romove the two iunocents to an other room, and oxplained to me how it was The child had cried becauee the lamb was out in the cold, and begced him to bring it in which he had done to please the child hie adopted son, then not two years old. The ferocious man does not do that ! and though Gen. Jackson had his passions and his violence, thev were for men and his enemies wlio atoöd up against hún, and not ior women and children, or the weak and the helpless, for all of whom his f eelings were tliose of proteotion and support." The great old patriot is gone from earth to heaven, and there never ca scarcely be ív name connected wit the history of this country that will be more prized or held in higher estimation than that of Andrew Jackson. True mai- steunch friend, aad true patriot - he loved his country and its in stitutions, and was, all through a long and eventful life, devoted to its honor and best interests. He loved the peopie, and always feit that they would stand by him. in all his political acte, becauso they believed that he would over serve them truly and faithfully. In conclusión, it may be safely said that there never existed a public character who through life acted more thoroughly on the principie iuculcated in the solemn and impressive adjuration of the great churchman and statesman, Cardinal Wolsey, to his friend and folio wer, Oromwell : "Be just and fear not. Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's, thy God's aud truth's." - The R public.