The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-03-25
l)ONIESS TIC.
GENERAL JACkSON'S PRIVATE
OPINIONS
From The .Ndsiriiic UhfP.

From The .NashriYc Uhfr
The following extract of q letter from an
officer formerly III the southern army, To a
gentleman in this town,wlll no doubt inter
est our readers.
For the last fifteen
years had been on terms Of intimacy, aud
III the closest friendship with Gen. jackson.
Our professions were simiar--our habits
acquired by corresponding series oI hard
SHIPS and dangrrs IN The field and camp
A. friend, loved HIM; "a n warrior,
Ind marked hl5 energies and unbrndlng
sfcrnnrss of character, with an admiration
nearly allied enthusiasm. Ills fame ~
Hero, was not built upon adventurous ba
sns knew that merit, alone,was the true
foundation of his glory.
hut it was purely Tor his DOMESTIC
virtues which had sren developed, that |
loved hlm-and admired him only for his
warike genus, hls decision, his promptncss
10 execute When la9t saw him, he was
a prominent candidate for the most sublime
aud dignlfed station the world has ever
known.
In November last ~ | was ,'turning
west from the seat of government, TO which
had been called by private business con.
nected with onc of the departments, | met
,he General and his lady at public house
in Washington, Pa. where he had put up
for the night, as he was journeylnB TO iht
capitol 70 take his seat IN the Senate. Our
meeting was a very cordial one and as
we were III n private apartment, our con-
yersation was entertained. Although n
stole indifference, as 10 matters relating To
himself Is, on most occasions, eharactefIs-
tic with hun, yet could discover, that his
spirits were elevated above thar common
pitch Various political subjects were in
troduced and discussed ! spoke OF the
Presidential Election and though from
principle opposed Ia his elevation. congra.
tulaled him as a friend on his probable
success.
IN tell your how il ia, my friend IL
said he, | now find myself urged on by
a popular current where It viii leave mt
when the tide shall suhsidc, cannot tell,
nor do much care. But, SIN, IT ls uJt IN
the human heart 10 gesst H."
remarked, that. at the time we stripped
ourselves IN The wilderness 10 ford q muddy
creek, when indians were at our heels, and
our heavy baggage on our haeks--i ltile
thought, then, said |, that my companion
would ever be even though Of much iess,
successfully brought forward, for President
OF the u. States.
"Three years ago. said he, did not
believe that Icouid ever occupy the ground
i1at now do with reference In that Office.
| As proof OF this, | state the fact, that
| felt most indignant at the efforts OF some
partiZan new spaprrs, and what thought
their III advised Zea on my behalf, and
wrote letters of severe rcproot TO several
intelligent friends who had been in-trumrn
tai in sounding my name in the public ear.
| | thought the unanimous voice OF the IA
ton would be heard IN ridicnle of my pre-
tensnns-I anticipated the Glamour that
would be raised against me on account
merely ofmy military cr'ces, and also ol
my utter want Of experience N the cabinet
OF the civilians. OF government purely
Republican, IN which the military should
be subservicnt to the Civil power, IT did not
appear to me probable that singh serious
effort would be made to put the rel6ns III
the hands of military man.
asked him if 1t was finally with his
consent thai the Legislature OF Tennessee
nominated him as a fiji person tor that OF.
! fee ;
8 II WAS by my direction" said he" A
few days before the meeting Of that body,
! received letter from great leading
character in New York, a personal friend,
urging me IN the most forclble and pefsaa
siye terms, IL make an immediate effort tn
arouse the west ia my behalf, before ano-
Their in that quarter, M implacahlr personal
eremy, should, by uniting arllilce with ?"
pnlarily, secure il TO himself. No time WAS
to be- lost-and upon a iijtie reelection
resolved 10 strive for the Office upon which
directed my adhcrcnts in the Tennessee
Legislature TO pass the resolutions they did
on that subject. WAS well aware, hssve-
yer, continued he, that my defective edn
cation would in some degree render me
obnl Kions to those poignant shafts Of satire
aud drrispn which the event thus Tar has
realHcd."
merely Limited my sentiments Of his
abilities IN general terms. and remarked,
without having particular alluslon to his
ca5p-that mans elevation to any Office
which is fllrd by a general suffrage OF the
people. could rot in the nature OF things,
depend 81 much upon his peculiar fitness
for that office, AS upon the management oil
partizans among the caaalle, aud the pos
session of some shining excellence, caien-
lated to caplAate the passions ofthe lower
order of politicians, which constitutes the
elective strength, not only of legislative to
dies, hut of the " hole nation.
Would to God /" said the General. il
were otherwise He whose beast glows
with a pure amor patra, and in all his po
Iiticsi relations, acts accordingly, will sci
dom be- Exalted by his fellow citizens, II