Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-07-29
miscellaneous.
FROM TIE RICHMOND TIMES.

Ever since Gen Jackson's rule it has been
a debated question how far he ought to be
regarded as the author of his own messages
His most ardent admirers have generally
maintained that be wrote or dictated the sta
pie necessary to join their parts together and
give proper sinoothness to the more rugged
points The originality of his famous Pro
clamation message has, more than that of any
other, been called in question. His Southern
advocates have vigorously contended that
Mr.. Livingston composed 1t, and prevailed
upon the old General to communicate it to
Congress. We remember hearing Col. JEFF
ferson Davis declare in his seat in the Senate
in his pompous way when Gen. Foote was
reading certain passages from the Proclama-
ton, that it was perfect notories" that Liv-
ingston wrote the message, and that Gen.
Jackson afterwards regretted some of its po-
sitions. 1t is point of some historical in
tercst, therefore to ascertain what was Gen.
Jackson's practice with respect to the COM
position of his official papers, and the reader
viii find that light is thrown upon the sub
ject by the following statement of one who
claims to have enjoyed very peculiar cppor.
tunities of being informed in the premises.
The extracts We subjoin are taken from a
speech delivered, on some festive occasion
in Washington whilst Mr.. Polk was Presi-
dent, by Mr. John .. Rltes, and recently
revived in the controversy between that gem
tleman and Mr.. Richie of the Union
Mr.. Rivcs tells us that it was not only his
fortune to be "patronizcd by Andrew Jack
son." but was also his good luck to know more
about his writing and doings during the last
thirteen years of his life than those most near
and dear to him. After thus presenting bis
credentials he proceeds as follows:
at is so generally known that Gen. Jack
son was man, who above all others, took
responsibility. in peace or in war; that that
word brings to the minds of the people O.
this country his name almost as certainly as
the letters which spell it.. But it is not SO
well known that he made others take it in
times Of profound peace. know it we'll
He made me take it, and that made me know
bin SO we'll. The occasion for making me
take it was, his annual message got out from
the offices of National Mteligencer and the
United States Telegraph before it was sent
to Congress, soon after | came into the Globe
oilice-the first session of the twenty third
Congress, bclieve-and afterwards, as long
as he was President, he gave all his messa-
ges to me to have printed, with the admon-
ton i win hold you responsible, sir if that
message gets out before Congress is ready to
receive it. Don't let any person-not even
one of my Cabinet oficers-have a copy Of
it before send it to Congress-
1.-The printer prints from the rough draught
Of the Presidents message, and often gets
parts of the copy before the message is COM
pleted. invariably went after che copy and
took the proofs back to the President my.
self, which gave me an opportunity of know
ing all about who wrote and who were con-
suited about them 1t has boon said and
no doubt believed by many that Gen Jack
son did not write bis messages. Neither he
nor any other president ever wrote those
parts of their messages which showed the con
dition of the several departments. They are
written by the heads of the departments res
pectively. Nearly the whole of the balance
Of Gen Jackson's messages was in his hand
writing. The proclamation which was inten-
ded TO carry out his memorable toast: The
Union must be preserved, which was uttered
as n rebuke to qualification, when it first
| showed its front at the celebration Of Mr..
Jeiferson's birth. day in Washington, was re-
written by Mr.. Livingston, then Secretary Of
State. MIR Blair, who saw the original paper,
has frequently told his friends that he thought
it better than the finished production, and