Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-07-04

early Lille 10 great hardship dnu 'nuu ~ 20
has been Justly said oil him, that ne Seems ~
been an orphan from The plough " s'o ~, -.
sdencv. He must, therefore, NC lesaie,' anho,
architect OF his own fame anu io..uHe 49,,
,no 1 rnnne n have taken any Distinguish par''
in l;.b,;ns nm The beacon fires OF our glorious
Reveln,on or unfurins the banner OF hpeI,y,
Win our Revolutionary Heroes and Patrols, the
Close IL ,ha, memorable struggle, louhd nun
,bonob . how of only ], in arms IN Inc corps u
,hs n,I,an, Davi, and soon afterwards, WIN
hrn,har a nr;soner in Camden; where ne under-
went severe bardships and su'ierlaS, ana Mds ~
nalIv al The intercession OF hs molher, i'oe'a'eu
by an exchange OF prisoners moro nj,
los, nnon snch a mind as Jacksons ne Draw
~ ID devotion OF our fathers their stern deief-
mina,ion to meet coming events, anu s'soiou.
prepa ration 10 meet them successfully INC se",
battles which had been ioush' 'he SERVICES a''I
sacrifices which had been mace; 'ie reI"H nea
men oCthose times, both IN lhe ieiu anu 'he
ana Inc imperishable glory they acIieseu.
ever fresh in his recollection, anu coiI'i'ou.eu
mainly 10 FORM in after tlileS, 'le u1"' ~" 80: Ia
ac,sr of I;s srca, mind. They made an impress
s;on IN HIM which ceased only with his last
brea,b and were the examples that stimulated ms
patr;o,ism and formed his own heroic heart.
He drank and deeply TOO, al The pure loun-
ta;ns of I'M. revolution. From his boyhood, ne
was distinguished by many OF those nople 'rans
Of cbar,c,er which marked his progress through
If, There was an openneSs, simplicity, a
GOOD fa;th an aiectionae aTdor, an elevation OF
s,nl with an inyncible physical and moral coll-
r.ge and holiness and love of truth, which IRE
s;s,;blv made way lot hearts OF all who nearly
annroached him, and rendered him The OBJECT
,hronoh life of Jealous and enthusiastic allacii-
ment almost unexampled. These qualities 40,
hered 10 him throughout his evenllul lie, and
signally marked, as you will see, lis close
II i said, that in his youth ne had no reisi iol
literary or scientific pursuits. ms IS no houo'
true. His education was certainly nothing more
than thai which was afforded in those days 10 me
children of the poorer classes, and was confined
nrincipally 10 The rudimenls of the English, and
The lower and practical branches of mathematics.
REGULAR and classical education has been thought
by some distinguished men TO he untavorable 10
grea, vsor and originality OF the understanding;
and thai, like civilization, whilst il made society
more interesting and agreeable, vet, Al the same
tine. il leveled the distinctions OF Nature. That
whilst il strengthened and assisted the feeble, II
was calculated 10 deprive the strong OF their tn
umpb and beat down the hopes OF The aspiring.
BE this as il may, truth requires US 10 say, that
The mind OF Gen. Jackson escaped The training
and dialectcs OF the schools and so far, al least,
as eur Distinguished counlryman. John Randolph,
once said, iii had certainly fair play"
His writings were plain and pointed, made up
generally Of short sentences, but characterized By
admirable good sense, great cearness and soidi-
", and a manly forlitude Of thought firm and I'M
shrinking.
Without saying anything 10 the disparase-
mept Of scholarship or science, he had no claims
to the character of a scholar or man of science,
much less to that Of an orator or rhelorician.
Through life he was fond of reading history and
The Bible, the latter of which was his constant
friend and companion. You cannot but have
been struck with his declaration OH This subject
few hours before his death-"That the Bible
was the bulwaIk of our free Institutions, and The
comforter of our present and future safely"
From youth 10 old age, he seems 10 nave ad a
inst estimation OF his own great mental powers
and natural resources and hence never felt
slow hard it was To climb
The steep, where Fane's proud temple shines afar"
Having determined 10 devote himself 10 the
profession of the Law, he removed from South
10 North Carolina, and under the auspices OF
Judge McCav and Col. Stokes, read law and OBJ
tanned license 10 practice; and as proof Of the
estimation in which he was then held he received,
from the Government, of North Carolina, the APP
poinlment of Solicitor for the western part OF that
State, being the present Stale OF Tennessee.
Al the age of %, General Jackson crossed the
mountains, for the purpose OF discharSing the
duties imposed on him by this appointment, and
making The West his permanent home. Tenncs-
see was of course then wilderness, and denom-
mated The "Bloodv Land Happy was il Tor
this patriotic Stale that such was The destiny oil
this great man!
H.. resided there until She became Stale,
and soon ranked among her most distinguished
men, and filled, al different periods most oil the
high Offices OF the Stale. civil and military.
lie was a member other Convention, and had
a large share in forming her Contribution lie
was her first Representative in the House OF Re
representatives. of The United States and soon al.
forwards became her Senator in Congress He
was then translated from the national councils,
and became Judge of the Supreme Court OF
Tennessee, which Office he held for some years, and
then resigned, 10 devote himself TO military pur-
suits and studies, and soon rose 10 The rank Of
Major General Of Militia. Al later period, he
was again in the Senate Of the U. States and
only retired from il when nominated for the
Presidency. And well may The people Of Ten.
nessee regard him as their especial benetacruI
and friend He grew up with that Stale FROM
her infancy; gloried in her expansion and desti.
ny; and To her Government aud People devoled
his affections and his life. And the larger por-
lon both Of Tennessee and the adjoining country
conquered BY his sword, is filed with The monu.
mcnlS of his valor and skill.
So much for this early portion OF his life: We
will now pass TO briet notice ofhis military cha
racler and services And, in The first place,
will take occasion o say, hat there are few mer
probably, who have ever lived. more jue.ly cnt
lied 10 the character Of warrior--a great warrior
th,n hrAr lnnl linda
of Jackson irresiStihly carries 10 the mind 0
every American The impression of a great mill
iary commander, and as SUCH he must ever stanC
high amongst the highest on earth. Who is There
that ever combined in greater degree all the dis
tingushing and endoaring qualities of opennes.
of heart; the manlinesS oil pride; The benevolenct
offeelng and that chivalrous and daring courage
which he imagination ascribcs 10 the perfection o
great warrior, than General Jackson, excepting
always The Father of his Country? Or who i.
there that has ever Stamped 'hc impression Of hi.
military genius and virtues more strongly OF
more deeply upon his own times?
Besides, there was another quality which dis
tineuished him Is arun,nandcr, over most Other
men; and that was, Il coancsS and presence o
mind, and entire self possession never 50 great as
in the midst OF danger and the heat of battle, anC
which nothing could battle or disturb. This was
strongly evinced in hovhood, and marked his cha
racter through iie Among numerous occurren-
ccs in illustration OF this, lei me mention one
which occurred during the battle of New Orleans
and which had from one OF his aids, who was
present A ball passed very near him. in the hea
OF battle, and he bowed his head, and said 10 one
OF The aids nearest 10 him, that il was not custom.
airy with him 10 salute in battle the balls q. pas
SAM, but as the one which had Just gone bv was
the first British ball that he had particularly no
ticed, he could moi do less than pay his respects ia
it. How characteristic of The man and the Hero
The first important services rendered by Gene
raj Jackson, in military capacity, were those in
our early and bloody Indian wars, in The North
and South west.
Whilst Tennessee was territory, and amer
her admission into the Union, the frequent depre-
daions and incursions of The neiehboring tribes
of savages, made il necessary that the Who'll.
country should lie under arms In all these en-
gagemenls with The Indians, he was ever among.
the most active and foremost, and displayed al.
ways great energy and valor. 1t gave him a
high military standing at that carly day in Ten
nessee, which continued steadily 10 increase
This state of limos with litfe intprmiSSion con