The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-04
ffotsx or HaraasnsrA rivs., jAStAsY y 1e44.

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The bill for refunding to Gen. Andrew Jack
son the fine imposed upon him by Judge Hall,
with six per cent. interest. being under consid-
Grafton
Mr.. PEYTON, Of Tennessee addressed the
House. It was not my purpose (said he) to have
said a single word on this subject; il was my
wish to vote for the bill before the House, the
purport of which is simply to refund to General
Jackson the fine imposed on him at New Orleans
by Judge Hall, without having any debate upon it
whatever regret that gentlemen have felt them
selves called on to take different course, and not
contenting themselves with the restoration Of the
fine to Gen. Jackson, and studied high-wrought Gu
logiums upon his character, have capped mountains
of abuse upon the character and motives of the
deceased Judge. Is this just IL it right! Is
it required that, in order to do honor to General
Jackson, we should trampe upon the Judiciary,
and PROSTATE this great bulwark of our institu-
tions-this safest repository Of our liberties, upon
which depend our lives, our property, and the
peace and good order Of society! Is it necessary
to invade the sanctuary and the grave, and,
hyena-like, dig up the bones of the Dead and
blacken them all over with the rankest abuse,
the most virulent yituperation? No, sir, no! 1t
is not. !, for one, shall not do it.; nor do feel
myself called on to say aught against Gen. jack
son. feel as much pride in his military fame as
any Of those who are making so much noise about
it, | regard his military fame as national pro-
perty, in which you and and every man in this
country have an interest But | am not quite
sure that those who are most active and clamor-
GUS about this fine are the best guardians of the
Generals fame. / believe that they are mere
pretenders; that they are going for themselves
and for the party, and not for Gen. Jackson or
their country. If this stain, as they call it, on
the bright escutcheoa Of Jackson has been prey
ing like vulture upon their vitals, why have
they not been FESTIVE before now? Why have
they suffered it to remain, corroding, rusting, and
eating. like cancer into the very vitals OF Gen.
Jackson's fame for thirty long years, without an
effort to erpunge it! Sir, you were in power
twelve long years, and not word was ever heard
about this stain. Why did you not then clarnor
as loud as you do now, to have it washed out !!
Your plea is that Gen. Jackson was then in power,
and delicacy forbid that this matter should then
be agitated. But what pretext have you for your
negligence during the reign of Mr.. Van Buren, !?
Was delicacy in the way Them Did you regard
him as the only-begotten political son Of the Cen
eral, and that it was indicate for the son to act
in behalf of the character of the father 1t seems
to me that this was the most propitous time for
eraslng this stain time was precious many Of
those who had witnessed the transaction had gone
down to the grave others were daily following
them, and the memories of the survivors were
daily and hourly growing more and more dim and
forgetful of the facts and circumstances of that
important event. Why did you not act then !?
Because, sir, you did not care one fig about it. 1t
has all been the result of an afterthoughk You
were then rich, strong, and proud--your political
capital was at " the food" and you needed the
aid Of no such hnmbugs You are now poor,
bankrupt, humble, timid, and, like drowning men,
you are catching at straws. Mr.. Van Buren, was
a mere political parasite, branch of msletoe,
that owed its elevation, its growth, nay, it's very
existence, to the tall trunk of an aged hickory ;
but SO soon as it was attempted to transplant ii
and force it TO live upon its own resources inde-
pendent of hickory sap, it shrunk, and withered,
and died; and you have now found out that the
only mode of reviving it again, and restoring it to
its former elevation and vigor, is to call to its aid
the strength and support and sustenance of the
same old hickory This, sir, is the secret of all
this camor about this fine 1t is intended for po-
itica effect, for political capital and for no other
purpose under the sun. This | regret exceed
ngy, and it is to be deeply regretted by the whole
country, and especially by the true friends Of
General Jackson.
But, as his friends, or those who have taken it
upon themselves to become the peculiar keepers
of his fame, and the representatives of the feel
ngs and wishes Of Gen. Jackson on this subject,
DON wi sHO HoACy, say iCt Ile nave ~, although
believe it is striking down one of the proudest
monuments of his glory--athough these lnjndi-
cious or pretending friends are selling the mighty
space of his large honor " for SO much trash as
may be grasped thus This act which you are
now about to reverse was the browning glory OF
that great mans brilliant career, who won for
himself at New Orleans immortal honor and for
his country imperishable renown. His military
fame is the pride Of the nation. Is it not sham,
that it should, by political man@uvring be placed
in the scale, to be balanced against few dollars
and cents! In all time to come our children
could have pointed back with pride and exulta-
ton to this noble, this godike sacrifice; the con-
quering general, surrounded by his victorious
soldiers, fresh from the field Of his glory, bowling
in dignified submission to the laws and civil tri
bunals of his country. What a spectacle! Wor-
thy of the admiration Of mankind to the end of
time. This act stands out above all others in his
even,ful life. 1t is the Andes of his glory, upon
which posterity will gaze in after ages, when all
the rest of his renowned feats shall have been
forgotten or eclipsed. Is it not humatng that
this brightest flower in the wreath Of his fame