The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-10-19

A NlAII no GFNEaAL JAcKsON.


We 20 BY the Mississippi and Ohio, sasii No tsss
the stage route through Tennessee aud henuesy
The latter route Is too tedious, he repito ie' "
be- the iornes" "IIue IL is tedious bat then We may
enjoy the pleasure OF seeing The hero OF New VI
lea ns and that viii amply repay the toll and isugue
attending a Stage route" The induceneDt was sui
icienl-so We agreed 10 voyage by land. Three days
aud nights of continuous staging brought US To Nash
viile-tne bsauuiul capital OF Tennessee. We had
Travelled ioI about two hundred and hl'y miles over
the ldent ca road by Jackson and his troop
during his march 10 New Orltans previous 10 the
great bsle. it, entire length from Nashville cannot
be LEES than five hund ed miles, and attha Tune must
have lain through unbroken forest, where the
woodmaD' 5 bad not been beard-noT the smoke oil
his cabin curling to the clouds. u VIII long re-.
main a monument 10 the enterprise Of Jackson--and
10 the hardhood and courage of bis brave soiun-
teefs.
Alter dinner Of the day succeeding our arrival at
Nashville prepared the visit To the hermitage,
situated about i miles distant in an easterly diee-
ton. We had letters 10 Of tho chief men OF
the city'-and from them TO the General. Two hours
ride as beautiful McAdamized road as horse
ever trod, or carriage ever rolled on brought US
to the anxously looked for spot. portion oil his
extensive farm lies Immediately on the road but his
dwelling is situated to the left at the distance OF at
least quarter of a mile IL Is plainly seen though
surrounded partly by trees OF noble growth and from
the road presents a highly attractive appearance
We turned to the left and drove along narrow lane
and. Here a broad path leads towards the
house, and about half way divides forming two
avenues, and meeting at the porico. These ave-
nues, together with smaller paths, are lined with
flowers and shrubbery, while the entire enclo-
sure filled with trees. In regard to the mansion
itself sgreeably disappointed Having
formed the ideas OF plain farm house, we we're sur
prsed 10 see so splendid an editce, with many evil
dences Of wealth and dependeDce. The building is
mainly brick with granite foundation--lhe poItico
hall and ali E...sk al
cious and airy. The ring Of the bell brought SER
want by whom were ushered into the hail and (to
our momentary conlusoD) into the presence likewise
OF the distinguished object Of our visit. He sit
ting on sofa surrounded and almost covered with
newspapers and periodicals: one of which he evi-
IDENTITY had been perusing Having presented our
cards and letters, he bade a cordial welcome, and
invited US 10 take seats his Ard is this the
great Jackson, thought this the whose name
has been so long the watchword Of his countrymeD,
and whose iron nerve has caused nations 10 iremble
II this be he sad has been the work which age hath
wrought on his once vigorous frame His name had
always suggested TO my mind the idea of a tall ath
lelc person, whose stern and inhexhle countenance
was terrible TO his foes, and forbGding to his friends
But the object before the contrast of such q
beng-his form bent, his hair was white with
age, his face wrnked and pale aud instead of that
sternness OF countenaEce-neek ness had drawn her
soft pencil over his features humility on his brow
and piety beamed forth from his eye He was suf-
WIN cough, accompanied with shOftness OF
breath and In every motion there seemed feeble.
ness that betokened early summons from his last
enemy. And yet amid such an apparent prostra ton
OF mind and body, he maintained surprising cheer
iulness in conversation, and displayed wonderful vi
vacliy Of mind. He talked freely on most of the
great questions which agitae our nation. and de-
livered his views with clearness of thought end
hr,nness Of manner that ade them irresistible On
the question Of aunexng Texas he seemed peculiarly
interestei-rema king that be was in favor Of the
measure on the same ground that he would secure
Oregon or Canada even were the circumstances "a
vorable, naney-to strengthen the Union to keep off
foreign foes. He expressed indignation al the idea
which some entertained OF making the merit of nc.
curing territory depend upon the amount of po cal
power which nigh, accrue 10 a particular section of
the republic As illustrative of this will relate an
incident which occurred only few days previous TO
our visit 10 the Hermitage. son of a distinguished
manufacturer at the East, called on the General
their CONVEX alton turned on the Texas question the
young gentleman stated his objection to annexation
on tie ground chiefly that il would increase the mill
teal power of the South the General raised him
self from his stopping posture, and in the yigor of
other Years replied" sir, l. that the pfas,r, Of yor
pairiofi'mf' The young gentleman d opped his head,
and mentioned The subject more
We were greatly amused at remark he made in
reference 10 Mr.. Benton. Said he Mr. Brptoni,
conduct IN general on the anne alton of Texas is
certainly strange For twenty five years be has been
complaining that Texas was wronglully ceded awsy
and now, when the opportunity has occurred for Sc
curing II again, behold he is found at his nos,
can account for his conduct only upon the ground
that IN the ssster Of the Prime, ton he must have
received emulsion o The brain that has thrown him
out Of his ghi mind trer since
lie gave us several PARTICULARS in reference TO the
baue 81 New Orleans, IN which he d.srlayed that
modesly IN regard TO his own conduct. which is al
ways the accompaniment of true greatness Be
mentioned many difficulties with which his army
had 10 contend IN making preparations for defence
when brought out the remark from one Of us-wby
General, under such circumstance youf yic,orx was
truly surprising" yes" he replied. in much mo.
desty, "Proridenes tapored m very much ON ina, oc
cssion" How different this from the would-he
great men OF these days
After sitting awhile walked into the garde,
.nu o,ensru, pom OF which display good manage
ment and much taste. 10 the former was Le.,,i
lul monument TO bis wife, whose decease toot Mac.
about sixteen years ago. About the eighth Of Ill
distant we're located his barus stable. coach hons.
&C. ~ me 10, we saw number Of fine looking
horses, for which Tennessee as well as Ken,ncrs !,
ienarkable A. far the eve could re oh nj. an,
pie isrm extended, embracing twelve hundred
acres ~ cultivation, worked by about an.
hundred hands, as We were informed by the garde,
Or The land Is beautifully situated being general,
,e'o', WIN lew undula,ioos-thc soil 1 Judge -
hnc. The General has likewise a planta,;o, 4, a.,
sissppL IL was runored that some ii q sia.. ~
property was somewhat iD,olyed-but we learned
ha' tho matter was now settled On retu,r;no a.
we mouse we were introduced TO his dsu inter. The
,n I =, n aooP,ed son She Is 6ne healthy look
ana her husband reside at the Hermitage and ser,
10 De The prop and support Of his old age.
other Witers arriving (which by IN. nv Il d.u
and almost hourly) we prepared to depart w. b,d,
,'lu larewe,'' and received his blessing NV friend
had reached the portco, and | was foi,ou,y n'.ou
IL struck me That had not mentioned ALT Ina, NE.
my mart so ! returned and addressed him Tins
oenefsi, am unwilling TO leave without cry.
ing the pladne.s with which have heard from ,,n,e
70 u"s Una, IN your latter Gays you have given yer
u'si' W pod "ho have united With his reopIe in "a.
hoiy worship; and am free 10 tell Won ,b,r 49, ~,
ue distinguished acts Of your life have Afforded ~,
so much happiness as this closing one y m, renI,sS
10 soodued tone, and with apparent emotion ns,rIs