The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-07-29
THE LAST MOMENTS OF GENERAL
JACKSON.


On the Sabbath day two weeks before his
death, there was a communion of the Lords
Supper in the Hermitage Church. Gen.
Jackson was unusually serious and solemn
in his feelings during the morning; and re-
gretted exceedingly that he was unable to
accompany his family TO the Church. He
requested his daughter, Mrs. Jackson, TO
bring home with her the Rev. Mr.. Lapsley,
as he was anxious once more TO partake of
the sacred feast. As they were leaving for
the Church he took each member of the
family by the hand and invoked upon them
all the blessings of God. After their return
from church, the whole family assembled in
his room; he was very feeble, but conversed
freely on religious topics-he was calm and
resigned, and said he was ready to go when.
ever his Divine Master thought fit to call
him--that he had suffered a great deal of
bodily pain, but the Lords will be done.
He then partook of the Holy Communion
it was a solemn scene, and rendered still
more so by the confidence with which he
referred TO it as the last time he should en- Joy
the happy privilege. He spoke of his death
as near at hand, but said that death had no
terrors for him come when he might.
"When have suffered sufficiently" said
he, " the Lord will then take me TO himself
but what are all my sufferings compared
to those of the blessed Savior, who died on
the accused tree forme-mine are nothing.n
Not murmur ever escaped hm-he spent
much of his time during the latter days of
his life in secret prayer.
On Thursday evening previous to his
death he referred to the blessed promises in
the hymn, from which he repeated
'When through the deep water call thee to CO.
The rivers of wo shall not thee overthrow.n
He quoted many passages of scripture,
and conversed feelingly upon the holy invi-
tations given by our Savior for all to come
unto him.
About IL o'clock of the same night his
daughter was at his bedside, and enquired
how he felt-he replied, "pretty comfortable,
but feel that | cannot be long with you all
and my request is, when | depart hence
that you will send for my old friends, Maj
Lewis and Judge Campbell (but | fear, he
said, that Judge Campbell is too feeble 10
come) to make arrangements with my son
for my funeral. | wish to be buried in
plain unostentatious manner, without display
Or pomp." He then rested for this night.
The next day he was taken with rather an
excessive diarrh9a, and said to his son that
if it was not checked it must soon take him
off; and yet, he said, it would be dangerous
tocheck it, as it was nature finally giving
way to the disease During the day he con-
versed generally about his farm and business,
and talked much of his beloved country, of
the certainty he felt as to the annexation of
Texas, of the letters lie had just received
from our Minister to Texas, of the, stand
taken by his old, early friend and companion
in arms, Gen. Sam. Houston on the subject,
all of which convinced him tina" " all issafe."
He spoke also of our Oregon difficulty, and
doubted not that the present administration
would do its duly to the country, expressing
the most abiding confidence in President
Polk. but hoping and praying that the diff
Gully would be amicably arranged between
the two governments: but if not, said he,
ss.let war come--,here will be patriots enough
in the land 10 repel foreign aggression, come
from whence it may; to maintain sacredly
our rights and to perpetuate our glorious
Constitution and liberty, and to preserve our
happy Union" ;,
In the evening of the same day his mind
was SO much engrossed with our foreign
affairs, that he determined TO unbosom him
self in letter to his faithful friend. Pres-
dent Polk; he wrote to him a long letter in
relation to our foreign relations; it was the
last letter he ever wrote, and breathed a
degree of affection for the President, and