Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-03-02
RICHMOND, MARCH ?. 1894
g E.NER.7L J9CKSON-.NO

IN this contest which we scarcely anticipated
Cen jackson now stands forward as a promi. .
nent Candidate before the nation. One of the
largest states in the Union will probably in
Tour days declare in his favor. Shall graft
'nde for the victory of New Orleans any lon
ger impose silence? We spoke our opinions
freely of him in l8l8-and in 1921. We
criticised his military career in Florida-apd
his civil administration AT Pensacola. freely
but respectfully. And now when a new crisis
has come; when the interests Of the whole
nation may possibly he committed into his
hands, shall gratitude for his military achieve
ments impose an unbroken silence upon The
press Shall the spIendor of his military
reputation dazzle The eyes Ofthe people as u
his civil qualifications
We shall for the present content ourselves ,
with stating few facts for tn. consideration
OF the peorle.-Thry will touch these two
questions:
Isl. j. Gen. Andrew Jackson qualified hy
ms Information AS Il statesmen, To administer
The great powers uf Chief Magistratiou of this
Nation
Cd Is he qualified by his temper to dis
charge the high functions at this Office?
lst. Has he the information Of a statesman?
IL me be qualified politician, " hat evidence
has he given of it !? Where was this political
talent displayed? Where are the great mea-
| sures which he has originated-oT supported
with ability? Where are his speeches? his
dispatches? his essays? In the legislative
balls ot ;he nation, where are the profound
talents he has exhibited? 10 the executive
department, in no one branch Of il, has he ever
served an apprenticeship. The whole course
OF his political life is soon told. While the e.
vents OF his military life spread o, er near
500 pages of his biography, his political histn-
ry scarcely fills a page. His biographer tells
us, he studied the law, and obtained license:
| that he removed To Tennessee, where "his
industry and attention soon brought him for
ward, and introduced him To a profitable
practice. Shortly afterwards, he was appoint
ed attorney general for The district in which
capacity he continued 10 act for several
years. =" In the year 1896, having, by his
patriotism, frmDess aud talents, secured TO
himself distinguished staudmg with all
classes, he WAS chosen one of the members of
The convention tor establishing constitution
Tor The state His good conduct and Zpal for
the pubic interest, On Tins occasion, brought
nm more conspicuousiy To view and with
out proposing or soliciting, he was in the same
year, elected d member of the huus. of re-
representatives., in congress, for The state Of Ten
nessee. TIE following year, his reputation
continuing TO increase, and every bNsom feel
ing wish to raise him te still higher hunors,
ne was chosen member of the l.. S. senate'
=" Growing tired of political life for the in
tr'gues Of which he fund himself unqualified,
and having for tive years voted ia he minori-
~ IN congress, he resigned bis seat in the ST.
nate IN 1893. To this measure he was strong
" urged, by a wish To make way for general
Smith, who, he cOnjecctured, would, in that
capacity, be able 10 render more imDortant
services TO the couAtry than himself His
country, unwilling ibat his talents should re-,
main inactive and unemployed, again demand
ed his services Immediately after his rcsig-
patton, he was appointed one Of the Judges of
Tue snprrne court of the state. Sensibly alive
To the difficult duiirs of this station, and i'm
pressed with the great Injury he might do tn
sn'tOrs, by erroneous decisions, he advanced
Ia the ofbce with reluctance, and in short
lInr resigned 1t; leaving it open for those.
who he believed, were better qualified than
himself, To discharge its intricate and ilnport
ant duties. Determined now to spend his lif.
IN tranquility and retirement, he settled him.
sen on an elegant farm ten miles from Nash
vile, on the Cumberland river, where, for So
vfrai years, he enjoyed all the comforts of
domestic and social intercourse. Abstracted
from The busy scenes of public life, surround
eu ny friends whom he loved, and who enter
famed Tor him the highest generation and
respect ana blessed with an amiahIe and af-
irctonate c0nsOrt, nothing seemed wanting TO
Inc completion of that happiurss he SO an
xlousiy desired while in office. But period
approached, when all these endearments were
10 ne abandoned for the duties Of more active
ne me wardrobe out with G.. Britain in
l8lg-dnd then it was that the true character
Oh Oen.JachsOn burst upon the worltl-itwas
wien = the blasts Ot war blew In our ears" thar
The spirit of the warrior shone forth
w Nal 90 we discover from these Extracts
We discover that he soon grew tired of
political life, and resigned his seal in the Senate
10 one, whom he thought better calculated to
serve tDe country than himself. We disco,-
er TOO mat ne resigned its judicial functions.
I'd " leave II open for those who were better
qnahhed than himself TO discharge its intricate
aDd important duties.'' Bot if these duties
are so Intricate and important, what shall we
say to those ofthe Chief Magistrate of the O.
States
We can commend Gen. Us modesiy in re-
llrIng from the Senate and the Bench. when
ne discovered The superior qualifications of
other people. Can we say as much for bis
modesiy, when he is now aspiring 10 the
highest office in this nation Or are we In
presume that as he retired from the Senate
and the Bench when he disco, cred his def
cheney, he may in the same manner retire
rom the Chair as soon as shall have discov-
errd that he is welding in vain the "bow OF
Ulysses"?
10 fact, how many of our relow-citizens
knew that Gen. jackson ever was in Con
gress ? He cot no distinguished figure fbere
me statesmen Ofthat period were the Masons
the Tszewells. the GalIatins, the Harpers, the
Oilses, &c. These are the characters which
Start into life, whom we unroll the canvas ol
The interesting era OF '97, 1913 and 80. These
are tie men who resisted or supported the
mad career Of John Adams's administration
These were The master spirits who fbundsred