Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-09-06
Aneedote of Gen. jackson.

In the year 1911, General Jackson had occasion to
visit Natchez in the territory of Mississippi for the
purpose of bringing up number of blacks, part of
whom had become his property in consequence of
having been security for friend and the remainder
were hands which had been employed by nephew
in the neighborhood of that place The road led
through the country inhabited by the Chickasaw
and Choctaw Indians, and the station of her agent
for the ChOctaws upon it. On reaching the
agency, he found seven or eight families of emf
grants and two members of the Mississippi legisla
tive council detained there under the pretence that
it necessary for them to have passports from the
Governor of Mississippi. One of their number had
been sent forward to procure them. In the mean
time, the emigrants were buying corn from the
agent at an extravagant price, and splitting rails for
him at very moderate one Indignant at the
wrong inflicted on the emigrants, he reproached the
members of the council for submitting to the deten-
ton, and asked the agent how he dared to demand
a pass from free American, travelling ON public
road. The agent replied by asking, with much tenn
per- whether he had pass. Yes sir,'' replied the
General. 81 always carry mine with me: am a
free born American citizen and that passport all
over the world" He then directed the emigrants
to gear up their wagons and if any one attempted
to obstruct him, to shoot them down, a highway
robber. Setting them the example, he continued
his journey regardless of the threats of the agent
After concluding his business, he was informed
that the Agent had collected about fifty white men
and one hundred Indians to stop him on his return
| unless he produced passport. Thought advised by
his friends to procure one he refused to do So sta
ting that no American citizen should ever be sub
jec to the insult and indignity of procuring pass,
to enable him to travel public highway in his own
country. Like all travellers among the Indians at
that time, he armed with brace of pistols, and
having added rifle and another pistol, he common
ced his return Quincy. When within a few miles Of
the agency, he was informed by friend who had
gone forward to reconnotre, that the agent had his
force in readiness to stop him. He directed his
friend to advance again. and tell the agent that if he
attempted to stop him, it would be at the peril Of
his life. He then put his blacks in order, and armed
them with axes and clubs; at the same time telling
them not to stop unless directed by him. and if any
ding BY their SIDE he approached the station when
the agent appeared, and asked him whether he
meant to stop and show his passport Jackson re
piled, That depends upon circumstances. | an
told that you meant to stop me by force; whoever
attempts such thing will not have long to live :
and with a look that was not to be mistaken, he
grasped his bride with frmer grip His deter
mined manner had such effect, that the agent de-
clared he had no intention of stopping him, andh'
and his ra~ty were suffered to pass on without fur
Tner mo1estation interruption. He afterwards re
ported the conduct of the agent to the government
and he was dismissed from his agency.