Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-07-25

NoHNCI sc "lIu us lOI6StS, 10 cultivate HIS
to gather around him Hospitality his friends !
Who was like HIM He was still the load
star of the American people. His fervid tho'ts,
frankly uttered, still spread the fame of patri-
otism through the American breast; his coun-
sells were still listened to with reverence; and
almost alone among statemen. he, in his re-
tirement, was in harmony with every onward
movement of his time. His prevailing infu-
ence assisted to sway neighboring nation to
desire to share our institutions; his ear heard !
the footsteps of the coming/mlllions that are
to gladden. our western shores, and his eye
discerned in the dim distance, the whitening
sails that are to enliven the waters of the Pa.
cifc with the social sounds of our successful
commerce.
Age had whitened his locks, and dimmed
his eye, and spread around him the infrmities
and venerable emblems Of r,any years of toll
some service; but his heart beat as warmly |
as in his youth, and his courage was as firm
as it had ever been on the day of battle. But
while his affections were still for his friends |
ana his country, his thoughts were already in
better world. That exalted mind, which,
in active life had always had unity of percep-
ton and will, which in action had never fall
tered from doubt, and which in council had
always reverted to first principles and general
laws, now gave itself up to communing with
the Infinite. Hewas believer: from feeling,
from experience, from conviction. Not a
shadow of scepticism ever dimmed the lustre
of his mind. Proud philosopher ! will you
smile to know that Andrew Jackson perused
reverently his Psalter and prayer-book and
Bible? Know that Andrew Jackson had faith
in the eternity of truth, in the imperlshable
power of popular freedom, in the destinies of
humanity, in the virtues and capacity of the
people; in his country's institutions, in the be,
ing and overruling providence of mercihl
and everything God.
hand. tits the Sabbath of the Lord: the bright
ness and beauty of summer cothe the fields
around him: nature is in her glory: but the
sublimest spectacle on that day, on earth, was
the victory of his unbenching spirit over death
itself.
When he first felt the hand of death upon
him, 'sMay my enemies" he cried, IS find
peace; may the liberties of my county endure
forever.7
When his exhausted system, under the ex-
cess of pain. sunk for moment, from debili-
ty, $40 not weep,'' said he to his adopted
daughter; s'my sufferings are less than those
of Christ upon the cross;" for he, too, as a
disciple of the cross, would have devoted him
self, in sorrow, for mankind. Feeling his end
near, he would see all his family once more
and he spoke to them, one by one, in words of
tenderness and affection. Ills two little grand
children were absent at Sunday school. He
asked for them; and as they came, he prayed
for them, and kissed them, and blessed them.
His servants were then admitted they gath
cred, some in his room, and some on the out
side of the house, clinging to the windows,
that they might gaze and hear. And that dy-
ing man thus surrounded, in gush of fervid
eloquence, spoke with the inspiration of God,
of the Redeemer, of salvation through the
atonement, of immortality, of heaven. For
he ever thought that pure and nnde6ed reli.
glon was the foundation Of private happiness,
and thesbuIWark of republican Institutions
Having spoken of Immortality in perfect con-
seriousness of his own approaching end, he
babe them all farewell. 'sDear children, .
such were his final words, "dear children,
servants, and friends, trust to meet you all
;. in heaven, both white and back-all, both
timony to immortality, he bowed his mighty
head, and, without groan, the spirit of the
greatest man of his age escaped to the bosom
of his God.
In life, his career had been like the blaze Of
his death was lovely as the mildest sunset OIL
summers evening when the sun goes down in
tranquil beauty without cloud. To the ma
l1estic energy of an indomitable will, he Joined
a heart capable of the purest and most devoted
love, rich in the tenderest affections. On the
bloody battlefield of Topoheca, he saved an
infant that chung to the breast Of its dying
mother: in the stormiest moment of his Presi
dency, at the imminent moment of decision
he paused in his way, to give good counsel tt
a poor suppliant that had come up to him fo
succor. Of the strifes In which he was enga
ged in his earlier life, not one sprung from
himself, but in every. case he became involved
by standing forth as the champion of the weak
the poor, and the defenceless, to shelter the
gentle against oppression, to protect the emf
grant against the avarice of the speculator.-
His generous soul revolted at the barbarous
practice of duels, and by no man in the lane
have so many been prevented.
The sorrows of those that were near to hilr
went deeply into his soul; and at the anguish
of the wife whom he loved, the orphans whom
he adopted, he would melt into tears, and weeI
and sob like child.
No man in private life so possessed tn
hearts of all around him : no public man o
this century ever returned to private life will
2 such an abiding mastery over the people. n
man with trler instinct received American
ideas: no man expressed them so completely
or so boldly, or so sincerely. Hewas as sin
cere man as ever lived. He was wholly, al
r ways, and altogether sincere and true.
E Up TO the last, he dared do anything that
| was right to do. He united personal courag
and moral courage beyond any man of whom
e history keeps the record, Before the nation
t before the world, before coming ages. n
: stands forth the representative, for his gene
J, ration, of the American mind. And the Sc
: cret Of his greatness is this: By intuitive con
j. ceptiop, he Shared and possessed all the creativ
ideas of his country and his time. He ex
e pressed them with dauntless intrepidity; h
/. enforced them with an immoveable will; b