Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-08-13


With what energy did he act on learning
tlsat the enemy had landed! Within an
hour and q halt after he had received in>
telligence octhe fact, the American forS
ces were marching to attack them, and
the action on the night ofthe 23d Of De-
cember saved the whole of that great
country of which New Orleans is the
outlet. 1t paralyzed the movements OF
the British, who calculated on marching
TO New Orleans the next morning with
out encountering any resistance. But
they found lion in their path, and after
the rough handling they had received,
concluded to wait for reintorcements.
All subsequent attempts 10 carry their
point were foiled by the skill Of Jackson
and the bravery Of his troops. Finally.
when reduced to the necessity ofretreat-
ing or Of storming the American en-.
|trenchments, they essayed the latter, aad
met the most complete defeat that the
English arms have sustained since the
day of Bannockburn. The British them>
selves, like magnanimous foes, have
paid more than one handsome tribute to
the American leader, thus affording q
marked contrast to the conduct Of those
Americans who have been led by pcliti-
cal hate to depreciate the services OF
Jackson. .We do not hesitate 10 call
him lGeneral Jackson1 great man."
SAYS Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine,
(March, 1884, page 33l, Am. ed. SUN
appalled, by the landing Of q formidable
army Of British veterans, he inspired
fresh courage into the hearts of his coun'
trymen, naturally brave; the danger was
great, but the Americans under him had
no fear, even Of such foe; strong as
their position was-''a mile-long line
full of men''--it was found impregnable
mot because ofcotton. bags and par a.
pets, but because Of patriots deadly with
steady hands, keen eyes, and stern hearts
-unerring marksmen, whatever we re
numbers-with a commander endowed
with a genius for war-and in all re-
spects equal to the glorious duty he had
taken upon himself in his country'a
cause" Major Pringle, British officer
Of much experience and high character,
who was present at the battle Of New
Orleans, declares that 'ssuch torrent oi
fire as poured on the British troops that
day along the whole Amsfican line
was perhaps never witnessed, not even
at st. Sebastian" And the fire from
St. Sebastian was the seversst that the
English soldiery experienced throughout
the entire Peninsular War.
Great as were the services Of General
Jackson as soldier, they were-over.
shadowed by his achievements as a
statesman. He gave the first blow to
that English system which was lntrodu~
ced inte this country after the peace,
and which was steadily pursued until
the old soldier, who saw what would be
its result, commenced an opposition to
it, which has at least had the effect of
checking it, though the completion OF his
work has been left for others, who may
or may not prove equal TO the task. He
crushed to pieces the United States
Bank; put an end 10 the squandering OF
the public money on internal improve
ments, as they were miscalled; and shook
the protective system to its centre. We
do not believe there was another man in
the country who could have accom-
Pushed so much. Had any other public
+ man vetoed The act re chartering the U.
S. Bank, it is altogether probable he
would have met with an overwhelming
defeat. But the energy and indomitable
will which had been equal to the work
Of driving foreign mercenaries from the
soil OF America, were moi wanting in the
hour of civil combat. The enemy, great
; and powerful as he was, was met and
subdued. When we look back to the
events ofthose days, we are lost in won-
der, to think that 30 much was done
against opposing influences of such tre-
mendous magnitude. II was an exercise
Of the 'one man power such as has
scarcely a parallel in our history. Those
> who have taken part in only the COM
paratively tame combats of the last few
years, can form no conception Of the
storm which ragged over the country
when the bank bill was vetoed and the
F, deposits were removed; and which An
: drew Jackson breasted. and which h,
r alone could breast He made public
s opinion. He created the Influence whicl
= beat down the concentrated money pow
Q er, and rolled back the food which wa
9 swallowing up our liberties. The peo-
is pie had the fullest faith in his honesty
X and they came to his assistance, wei
knowing that he was fighting in thei
s cause. The laurels which he won in tina
J. contest were Of the purest kiRd--un-
a stained with blood, and whose leave
" live eyerlastingly.'
8 Washington aud Jackson will Away
IS stand on tho same platform. They wi
n ever be regarded as the greatest Of ou
70 Presidents. To speak of them in tn
Is same sentence, is regarded, by the en-
81 emies Of Jackson, as something littl
y short Of blasphemy. We will yield
t. no one in admiration of Washington
r. but we are not aware of his vast stIper