The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-06-01
GEN. TJACKSON'S FINE.

another victory. Sometime since, Mr. Linn in
troduced resolution into that body to refund
the fine imposed upon General Jackson. for de-
claring martial law at New Orleans, which was
referred to the Judiciary Committee The: Com
mt;ce made report against the bill, assigning
several reasons for so doing, and among others,
they say, the request was not made by General
Jackson, nor by any person authorized to act for
him. Mr.. Linn. however, had received letter
from the General, thanking him for bringing the
subject to the notice of the Senate, and stating
how gratifying it would be to his feelings, to have
the penalty removed-not account of the money
it would put in his pocket--but because it would
rernoys stain upon his character which had
been fnfjustly inflicted. This objection on the
p1rt of the Committee be:rgrcmoved, thebill was
taken up in tie Se&ate, and.opposedby thewhigs
on various grounds equally as flimsy, assthose
on which the committee acted. But the argu-t
ment upon which they succeeded in defeating
the bill, was, that it cast an indirect censure up
on the Judge. who imposed the fine. -.
Admittingsahis to be true, (Which no one who
will read the bill can adnit) should Gen. Jack
son be denied having justice awarded him, be-
cause Congress in doing so, would cast indirect
censure upon the judge who imposed the fine!
According to our ideas ofjusticc, man Should
have his rights, especially whefe reputation is
concerned, no matteru upon whomcensure might.
fall, either directly or Indirectly. We annex the
bill, from which it will be seen that it cannot be
even tortured into censure upon the Judge-it
simply provides for refunding the fine without
laying censure upon any person whatever. The
,heSfne certainly shows that in the
opinion Of the Judge who imposedit the Gener-
al was guilty ofscriminal conduct and thafshe
was actuated by IMPROPER motives. The remo-
val of the penalty by Congress, would Show no.
thing more than their difference of opinien with
the Judge, and belief that Gen. Jackson, com
mitted no crime in adopting what he considered
the most efficient method of protecting the city
of New Orleans How any person could arrive
at the conclusion that refunding the money could /.
be any thing moresthan expressing favorable
opinion as to the motires which actuated Gener-
al Jackson on that occasion, wesare at a loss to
conceive.s AS well mghtsa reversal of the de-
crees of Circuit Judge by the Appeal Court,.s
or the pardoning of a convict by the Executive,
be considered censure-and if such was the
case, how many Judges would there be uncon-
demned.
But the true reason for opposing the bill as it
was reported, or by amendments, to make it more
to the General and his friends, than
suffering the matter to stand where has stood for
the last seventeen years, may be found in the
hostility, personal and political, of portion of
the whig leaders, eynced towards him, on every
occasion. Rather than reverse the decision of a
Judge who might or might not have been gov
erned by patriotic motives in imposing the fine,
they are willing to permit the reputation Of the
nan who devoted his life and his fortune to the
defence of the country, to suffer under the impu-
tation of crime.
But let that pass. The time is close at hand
when all things will be brought straght,-and
though whig majority have refused to remove
the penalty inflicted by despotic and malicious
judge, the old hero has the satisfaction of know
ING that his conduct met the appreciation of
higher power than whg Senate. His eleva-
ton 10 the highest Office in the world, is sufficient
evidence that the American People appreciated
his motives and applauded the act; and he mayyet
live to have justice done him by Congress, even
if censure should fall on the Immaculate Judge
Hall. ~
The following is the bill: -
A BIII.to indemnify Major General Andrew
Jackson for damage sustained in the discharge
of his official duty.
Be il cnacsed By The Senate and House Of Rep
Of The United States Of America in
Congress assembled, That the proper account
inc officers Of the Treasury Department be, and
thev are hereby, directed to ascertain the amount
of the penalty or damages awarded by the dis
trict Judge OF the United States, at New Orleans,
in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen against
Major General Andrew Jackson, then comman-
dcr.in-chef of that district, for official acts IN
that capacity, and paid by him at that time; and
that the sum so paid, with interest at six per
cent. per annum, be paid to Major General
Andrew Jackson, out of any moneys IN the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated.