Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-05-03
Beautiful Letter from Gen 50,
2 son. -s

Beautiful Letter from Gen. $40
The presentation to the National ~.
tute at Washington, by Com. Elliott " .
sarcophagus supposed to have contains
the remains Of Alexander Seryeru. :.
Roman emperor, on condition that Il sho.,,
be preserved to receive the body Of c.
Jackson, has heretofore been noticed !
this paper. The following touching l.,,.-
from the old hero himself, on the sub,,r,
will be read with great pleasure bv II.
friends.
HERM!-AcE, March p, ls45.
DEAR SIn:-Yonr letter Of the ,StS l,
slant, together with the copy Of the 49, y,
ceedings Of the National Institute, fnrn;.h
ed me BY their corresponding secret. ,..
on the presentation, BY You, Of the ~, =
cophagus for their acceptance, on cona;s;0,
it shall be preserved, and in honor II m~
memory, have been received, and are no.,
before me.
Although laboring under great deb7,,
and affliction, from severe attach 60.
which may not recover, / raise nv N. Y.
and cndeavor to reply. The steadiness =
my nerves may perhaps lead you to con.
clude my prostration Of strength il not a.
great as here expressed. Strange as i
may appear, my nerves are as STEADY -
they were forty years gone by; whilst f,om
debility and affection, am gaspine for
! breath.
! have read the whole proceedings of
the presentation, BY you, Of the sarcopha.
gus, and the resolutions passed BY the
board of directors, so honorable 10 INV
fame, with sensations and feelings more
easily to be conjectured than by me ex.
pressed. The whole proceedings call for
my most grateful thanks, which are herebr
rendered to You, and through you to Inc
/ president and directors Of the National Ia.
s,itute. But with the warmest sensations
that can inspire grateful heart, must de-
cline accepting the honor intended 70 b
bestowed Icannot consent that nv mortal
body shall be laid in repository prenared
for an emperor or king. My republican
feelings and principles forbid il. Eyerv
monument erected to perpetuate the mem.
Dry of our heroes and 81 atesmen OUGHT a
i bear evidence of the economy and sim.
plicity Of our republican institutions, and
the plainness Of our republican citizens,
who are the sovereigns Of our glorious
Union, and whose virtue is to perpetuate
it. True virtue cannot exist where pomp
and parade are the governing passions; il
can only dwell with the people-she great
laboring and producing classes TINT form
the bone and sinew Of our confederacy.
7 For these reasons cannot accept the
honor you and the president and directors
Of the National Institute intended to bes.
tow. | cannot permit my remains to be
the first in these United States to be de-
posted in sarcophagus made for an EN-
peror or king. | again repeat, please &C
cept for yourself, and convey to the presi-
dent and directors Of the National lnsii.
tute, my most profound respect for the
honor you and they intended to bestow.-
! have prepared an humble depository for
my mortal body beside that wherein lies
my beloved wife, where, without any
pomp or parade, have requested, whn
my God calls me to sleep with my fathers,
to be laid; for both of us there 10 remain
until the last trumpet sounds to call the
dead to judgment, when we, ! hope, shall
rise together, clothed with that heavenly
body promised to all who believe in our
glorious Redeemer, who died for us that
we might live, and by whose atonement
hope for blessed Immortality.
am, with great respect,
Y Your friend and fellow-citizen,
ANDREW JACKSON.
To Com. ]. d. ELLIOTT,
United States Navy.