Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-11-30
81 BURLINGTON, IOWA: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 50, 1874


q e. scene at the Hermitage. T4i
AT recent meeting ofAthe democrats Of
Newark, New Jersey, MI. Melville con-
cluded his speech with Tho following deep
y interesting account Of bis visit to the
Hermitage"
cater CHANGING at the robable result of
the contest in the various States, and re-
ferring to the brilliant prospect which was
presented of the speedy triumph Of demo-
cratic principles, Mr.. M. then gave some
interesting details of his late tour in the
West, in the course of which, he spoke Of
an interesting interview which he had
with the Hero of the Hermitage. He
said: And now I come to speak Of Ten
nessee-4he home Of tho hickories. -
That's State worth talking about on
many accounts--its striking physical fea-
lures and great natural resources-the
chivalry and patriotism Of its men--and
the beauty Of its daughters. / can tell
you that the bachelor who goes there has
an ordeal to pass through, which I, for
one, could hardly venture upon again.
(Checrs and laughter.1 Why, here, if a
gentlemen offers his hand 10 fashionable
lady, she receives it in a'sort Of minimy
pinimy, don't touch me sort Of air, that
may perhaps affect him lnplcasantly; but
these Tennessee girls taxa right hold as if
they meant it, and in way that is really
delightful to . plain, backward, bashful
man like myself. ,[Grest laughter and
cheers. And then the Tennesseans Of
the man sex have peculiarfties Of manner
which are decidedly interesting and char
acteristic. One Of these peculiarties is,
that they make man talk such an uncon-
scionable time. Ifaman gets up to speak,
and they don't happen to like him, they
soon shout out-AHallo, stranger, you've
mistaken your vocation--slope.'. Roars
of laughter.] And If he wont slope they
make him. Renewed laughter.1 Ts
nessee is, indeed, the land of social
mocracy. have seen men clad in linse'
woolsey garments, and with unshcd f.
sitting in Colonel Polk s parlor, and at the
table Of Andrew Jackson. Loud cheers. I
They are ever frank and free in express
ing their opinion, be it pleasant to the
nearer or the reverse.
"On one occasion, after I had addressed
large popular assemblage, sturdy from
tier man, who was about six feet high,
without a superluous ounce Of flesh upon
his stalwart frame-one Of your men who
never turn their backs on their friend or
Zoe, and who looked as il he could whip
his weight in wild. cats-[laughter1-
st, ode upto me and grasped my hand with
an iron energy, that reminded me forcibly
Of vice, and suddenly withdrawing his
grasp, slapped me On tbs back with ire
mendous force, sung out, Odd horse,
love you!' IRoars Of laughter, repeated
again and again. Speaking Of western
adventure, reminds me Of scene which
had imagined was reserved for wing eyes
alone; / crossed that fsrfamed stream,
Salt river-[ Laughter and cheers]- Il
looked at it with utter astonnhment. The
upward view was certainly anything but
inviting--dark, dreary, and dislnal-and |
could not help exclaming, "Poor' wings!
what sad and weary route you have to
pursue next November" Cheers and
laughter. But, looking down the stream,
my surprise was redoubled. There ac-
tually saw an ash-pole with the flag Of
CLAY and Frelinghuysen' floating from its
top. It is thus clear that SO certain are
the wings Of being compelled to navigate
that river in this present month Of No
vember, that they have actually already ia
ken possession Of its mouth. lTremcn-
dous cheering.1 A few additional re-
marks, and l will close. have already
talked to you nearly three hours, and they
must be brief. [Cries.of go on go on
and loud cheers.l Brief as they must
necessarily be, they have reference to the
sage and hero Of the Hermitage. ILong
continued cheering.1 Il was source Of
peculiar pleasure to me, when, in the anti
cipation Of my late journey to the West, |
reflected on the prospect Of once more
looking upon Andrew Jackson. After
the great mass convention at Nashville, |
had the honor Of receiving from him an
invitation to spend some days at the Her
mitage, and need hardly say that the inn
preston made by that visit can never be
eradicated. If anything had been want
ing to relume the fires OF democratic ima
pulses in my breast, the glance OF that old
mans eye, the pressure Of that old mans
hand, the patriotism instinct in every line
and lineament of that old mans counte-
nance, would have dcne 1t all. He has
numbered seven and seventy years. His
life has been one scene Of struggle. On
the details Of that great life / need not linz
ger. He is now very feeble-a feebleness
not arisingfrom want Of strength in his
limbs, but because large portion Of his
lungs is so di organized that the slightest
exertion produces hnrriedness and diff
Guilty painful to himself and agoniEing to
those around him. But he rises from his
chair and walks without assistance. He
walks in his garden almost daily, and every
Sabbath is found in his seat in the house d
prayer. He opens and reads his letters;
he examines with great interest the news
papers from the principle points Of the
Union; he takes great, and constant, and
all-pervading interest in this election
Letters bearing his name have, as you are
aware been extensively published and
commented on Of late, having reference
chiefly to the remuneration Of Texas. The
whig press have been Disposed to call their
authenticity in question. They were each
and all either written BY his own hand or