Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-01-24
From the Baltimore SIM
Andrew Jae,sson-lnserest,na ne.nl...seen. Y.'

Andrew MISUNDERSTANDING zseInins scenes.
One of the productions which the printing controversy be-
tween Mr. Richie and Mr. ilives has rescued oblivion
is peech delivered years since by Mr. RiVes before
the Democratic Association in Washington city Amone
other personal "reminiscences it three anec
dotes of Gen. jackson, which fail be read with thu
interest which attaches to everything that tends illustrate
the character Of that remarkable man. Mr. Rves tells u
that it not only his fortune to be paronized by An
drew Jackson but it also his good luck to know more
about his writings and dongs during the last thirteen
OF his life than those most and dear him After thus
presenting his credentials he proceeds follows:
1t is so generally known that Gen Jackson was
man who, above all others, took responsibility, in
peace or in that that word brings to the minds
of the people OF this country his name almost as
family as the letters which spell it, But it is not SC
we'll known that he made others take it in times OF
profound peace. l know it well He made me take
it, and that made me know him so we'll The occa-
sion for making take it was his annual MESA ee
got out from the Offices of the National Intelligencer
and the United States Telegraph before il was sent
to Congress- soon after came into the Globe Office
the first session of the twenty-third Congress- be-
heve-and afterwards, as long he was President,
he gave all his messages to to have printed with
the admonition Il will hold you responsible sir if
that message gets out before Congress is ready to
ceve 1t. Don't let any person--not even one of nv
Cabinet ofhcershave copy of it before send it to
Congress"
'The printer prints from the rough draueht of the
Presidents message and often gets part of the COW
before the message is completed. invariably went
after the copy and took the proofs back to the Pres
dent myself which gave me an opportunity of know
ing all about who wrote and who were consulted a.
bout them. 1t has been said and is no doubt beley
ed by many that Gen jackson did not write his mes
Sages. Neither he nor any other President ever
wrote those parts of their messages which showed
the condition of the several departments They are
written by the heads of the departments respectlve
ly. Nearly the whole of the balance of Gen Jack
sons messages was in his hand writing The procla-
nation which was intended to carry out his memora-
bic toast, the Union must be preserved which was
uttered as a rebuke to nullificatiOn when it first
showed its front at the celebration of Mr. jefferson
birthday In Washington was rewritten by Mr. Liy-
lngston, then Secretary of State. Mr. Blair, who
saw the original paper has frequently told his friends
that he thought it better than the finished produc
ton and not liable to the objections to some of the
principles advanced in the latter. 1t was Gen Jack
sons mTarlabe practice to put down In writing eve
ry official paper which he submitted to the public
He was, however, always willing to admit sugges-
lions, and permit alterations where he thought them
improvements.
- will relate an anecdote or incident which will
lead 10 correct conclusion as to who wrote General
JacksOns messages, and also who attended to them
after they were written.
hen went after the annual message which
demanded of the French King Louis Phppe) the
indemnity due to citizens of the United States by the
French government, found Ma; r A. J. Donelson
"
belonging to the State Department, Mr.. Derrick
comparing the copies to be sent to both branches of
Congress with the rough draught Gen. jackson
was walking the floor some twenty thirty feet from
them smoking his pipe. paying no attention to the
reading as | thought. When they read that part of
the message which pressed the demand in the strong
est terms Gen. Jackson said: Donelson stop there
that is not as | wrote it, Major Donelson replied :
General the Cabinet had meeting. and agreed to
soften this little > and he then attempted to read
on evidently very much agitated Gen. Jackson a.
gam SAID to MIN DOnelson stop there that is
not as wrote it, MAJ or Donelson made stammer
ing reply saying: General the Cabinet had meet
ing, and agreed to soften this little. cannot alter
it in time for Congress- and Mr. Rives is here wait
ing for the message and if he does get it short
ly, he cannot have it printed in time and continued
to stammar reading it.
Gen. jackson then stamped his foot on the floor
and said in loud voice: say, stop. and put that
as wrote it don't care for the Cabinet, Tor
Mi Rlves and Congress waiting 1t shall be as
wrote It. Mayor DOnelson then opened his table
drawer, and took from it the slip which he had cut
from the message and inserted it in the place of the
alteration made by the Cabinet. [ have both the
original and the alteration, believe filed away but
with 50 many other papers that cannot find them
conveniently. Many predicted at the time that the
supposed atfront contained in the message would
cause France to declare against the United
States. So far from it, it caused the money to be
paid and Louis Philippe, then King of France, thot
so mighty OF Gen. jackson, that he sent an eminent
artist Mr.. Healy) to the Hermitage to take his like
ness for him the likeness completed only few
days before the Generals DEATH and is said to be the
best taken.'