The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-14

though often imputed TO him fault, was IN fact'
the browning glory Of his character, whether as
man, or a warrior or politician. 80 fhr rom us
having proved inconsistent with seeking full advice,
and weighing contradictory reasons, and adopting
measures Of cancellations where justifabe and wise,
il was generally preceded by the amplest inquiries
and the most careful elaboration. But a conclusion
having been once formed in this manner, the whole
powers of his mind and heart were lung INTO its
execution with almost resistless energy and men
in forttude to resist opposition, and IN courage 20
brave all difficulties and infexibe perseverance 70
carry out measures deemed right, he may well nave
been called man Of iron-a man OF destiny, or inc
hero of the iron will Nor did this habit, as some
have imagined, make him impacable or uniorgiv-
ing. For, though like others of a warm tempera,
ment making good haters, as well good ioversana
friends he often forgave his btterest enemies, and
reconced differences, by many deemed insuperable.
His custom of assuming responsibility IN doubt
fl cases. has been another topic OF crltcsm out was
only branch of this energetic trait OF character
Blessed with clear perceptions and careful haps OF
research, he came 10 more decisive conclusions. and
in less time than most other mem and hence 1t be-
came his duty, under these stronger convictions, to
follow them out, and, with manly daring IN behalf
of what seemed to him right, to nc, for that right
and act with energy and without fear, whoever else
might falter. This, instead of being cupable, seem
ed at times, amidst fainting and doubling hearts
around him. heroic; and if evil was ever connected
-
in forming opinion, and not IN exhibiting the
courage and want OF Hypocrisy to stand by il chival
rously to the last, when not conscious of error
His whole walk in private life having been
grounded upon principles and habits like these it is
not strange that in obedience to his countrys sum.
mons, entering on the great theatre of public action
he should carry with him what had chiefly qualified
him for public usefulness There to many previously
not familiar with him, those principles and habits be-
came first unfolded and as he was there, ere long,
'thc observed Of all observers"-there let us follow
the further development and application of them
during the few moments that remain to dwell his
virtues and glories.
His first public duty in behalf of his country was
| as youthful sodier--unknown to fame-to de-
fend her liberties in the field His last one was to
lay down her highest honors, and Withdraw to the
shades ofpryate lfe with the blessings of millions for
his tolls and sacrifices. His earliest efforts took mil
itary drection-probably more from the necessities
and perils of the times, than from any taste for it,
which then inspired him. Continuing after peace to live
somewhat exposed in frontier life to Indian HOSTILE
ties, military habits were formed, and traits of charac-
ter developed in feats of arms which, in other condi-
tons of society, might have appeared only in con-
querng professional difficulties, stubborn soil.
The qualities of mind to insure success in either
may be much the same; and yet accident or neces.
sity may make one possessed of them merely sue
cessful farmer, and another a military chieftain.
But at no period of his life was General Jackson
of war. Hence, in the busiest portions Of his ser.
vice in the field he was still, at heart and in grain,
the citizen, the planter the lawyer, bred in courts
rather than camps, fond Of agriculture and politics
and never considered life in arms either as pro-
fession or choice. Whatever gorgons, then, jeal-
ousy rivalship may ever have conjured up, as'to
the danger Of his becoming amilitary despot, and
turning his sword, like Cesar, or Cromwell, Ma
poeon, against the liberties Of his country, there
was no foundation in his education or tastes fol-
fears like these. The instruments. which he had
been accustomed TO employ were also alike unfit to
accomplish such perfdy. So far from being disci.
plined legons, whose trade was war, or mere preto-
rian bands to sell the people to the highest bidder
they also were citizen soldiers. They were farmers
and mechanics, with their sons, fresh from the
plough and the workshop to the rifle
chiefly as hunters, and taught to WELD them to
defend, not destroy, liberty; and, as an arm
ed people, to punish, rather than encourage,
usurpation. Another consequence, bordering al
most on the marvellous, results from these
circumsances Considering his original pursuits To
have been in civil feconsidering his want ofscien-
tifc education in military affairs-consdering he
never made arms profession and that his troops
consisted usually Of militia, his skill and
soldier seem to have been much the more remark
able and more productive Of the general admiration
he excited. At the Horse Shoe bend, he forced
breastworks as intrepidly as Charles the Twelfth or
Suwarow. In several other Indian campaigns, he
surmounted obstacles, endured privati0ns, and fed
on acorns with his men, as patiently as Hannibal.
Afterwards, little as had been his experience with
disciplined armies or the science of war, he defend
ed New Orleans with skill beyond the abest en-
gneers and in all his campaigns exhibited vigilance
equal to his bravery and was tireess vigilant
and hestated at what the public safety seemed
to demand, on account of any risk or danger to
himself, however great. His private fortune was
more than once pledged to raise public supplies, and
he faced both imprisonment and fines rather than
an enemy still lingering on our shores, to succeed
either by perfdy or surprise.
1t was a most grateful solace in his declining
years to receive back from the government Of his
country the penalty then extorted from him. And
the more SO, as, like good citizen, he had paid il
peacefully in compliance with Judicial FORMS though
surrounded by victorious army and thousands OF
munifcent and faithful friends But the danger
being over and the time past for the laws TO be
silent among arms-ieges silent inter arrna--instead
Of crossing the Rubicon against his country like
Caesar, or instead of driving out like Cromwell and
Napoleon the members Of the halls Of legislation at
the point of the bayonet, he soothed popular excite
ment, exhorted to obedience, and himself stood for
ward, foremost to preserve the reign of order and
law. The pencil and the canvass yet to do JUS
tee to that great If less brilliant than the
victories which preceded it, nothing in his whole
splendid career transcends it in true grandeur or
salutary influence.
In hurried allusion to some of his military ex-
cellencies, we ought not to overlook the rapdy and
suddenness, no less than the boldness of his move
ments. have often heard him say that the unex-
pected attack made on the 23d Of December, con-
rbuted greatly TO the triumph of the glorious 9th Of
January.
In the former, as in some of his forced marches
on the Indians he fell among the enemy almost lit
orally as the thunderbot Of war; and il complete
panic was not the result there fearful disheart-
ening confused councils, fatal procrastinaon, and
foreboding of disaster that helped much to produce
| what il dreaded.
Again: his vigilance, and care, and industry in
preparing for action unequalled, and did much
to command the success which they so richly de-
served. He acted as If nothing was done, while
anything useful remained undone. He not only d.
rected everything, but, if possible, watched it's ex-
ecution. His physician, when we were once to-
gethcr examining the battlefield near New Orleans,
observed that the general, though laboring under
disease on the night before the 9th, and fit subject
for the hospital, refused medicine, and visited al
most every portion of the line in person, to in
sure the most perfect preparation for the coming