The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-07-09
From the Illinois State Register.
INTERESTING INCIDENT.
NETS

INTERESTING INCIDENT.
Everything that relates to Andrew Jack
son, the hero of New Orleans, and tn,
friend Of his country, is Of deep interest t.
the American people. And although tn,
incident we are about to relate is, in itseI
of no great interest," it becomes so 10 us il
consequence of those connected with it.
At the Nashville Convention of Augus
last, we visited the Hermitage {9nly twelve
miles Distant in company with Judge Doug
lass of this State, and some other of our
fellow-citizens. The Hermitage was crow.
ded with people from almost every State,
who had been invited thither by the vener-
able patriot on the day succeeding the Con.
ventien.
Governor Clay, Of Alabama, was near
General Jackson, who was himself sitting
on the sofa in the hall of his residence !;
and as each person entered, Governor Clay
introduced him to the hero, and he passed
along. When Judge Douglass was thus in
troduced; General jackson raised his still
brilliant eyes, and gazed for moment in
the countenance of the Judge, still retain
ing his hand; care you the Mr.. Doug
lass of Illinois, who delivered speech last
session on the subject of the fine imposed
on me for declaring martial law at New
Orleans" asked General Jackson.
81 have delivered a speech in the House
of Representatives upon that subject" was
the modest reply Of our friend.
"1'hen stop" said General Jackson
g Sit down here, beside me desire to
return to you my thanks for that speech
You are the first man that has ever relieved
my mind on subject which has rested up
on it for thirty years. My enemies have
always charged me with violating the con-
stitution of my country, by declaring mar
tial law at New Orleans and my friends
have always admitted the violation but
have contended that circumstances justified |
me in that violation. l neveI ould under
stand how it was, that the performance of
a solemn duty to my country duty which
if l had neglected, would have made me a
traitor in the sightof God and man-could
properly be pronounced violation of the
constitution. | felt convinced, in my own
mind; that was not guilty of such helm
GUS offence but could never make out a
legal justification Of my course; nor has it
ever been done, sir, until you, on the floor
of Congress, at the late session, establish
ed it beyond the possibility of cavil or doubt.
thank you, sir for that speech it has re-
lieved my mind from the only circumstance
that rested painfully upon it. Throughout
my whole life, never performed an off.
cial act which | viewed as a violation of
he constitution Of my country; and can
now go down to the grave in peace, with
he perfect consciousness that have not
broken, at any period of my life, the con- 6
titution or laws of my country" II
Thus spoke the old hero, his counte. a
lance frightened by emotions which it is 0
impossible for us to describe. We turned Ii
0 look at Douglass. He was speeches.. b
lie could not reply; but convulsively sha- c
ing the aged veterans hand, he rose and h
fl the room. Certainly General Jackson p
ad paid him the highest compliment he o
ould have bestowed on any individual o
Our readers win doubtless rscollect the f
beech referred to. Judge Douglass, in P
lat speech, for the first time, advanced the Il
octrine Of selfpreservation as a law that a
,manded as an act of duty the promulga- 0
on Of martial law at New Orleans. The Il
round he assumes, is, that selEpreserva- q
on is law, above all others, which runs f
rough all our constitution, our laws, our is
that, as it is the first law of 81
atCTe, so tits the law in social or civilized az
iei and that the act Of declaring martial Of
w at New Orleans, when that act was in
scessary to save the country, was a legal sh
't-an act Of selfpreservation.