The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-08-07
VOLUME 1.--BUMBER k3.

But to the incident. 1t is taken from II. G.
| Wheeler's Biographical History of Congress.
Vol. 1, page 162:
| The following anecdote in connection with
this subject was related by an eye witness. and
published in highly respectable journal. from
which we take it,
"At the Nashville Convention of August last
we visited the Hermitage, (only twelve miles
| distant,) in company with Judge Douglass of
this State and some other of our fellow citizens.
The Hermitage was crowded with people from
almost every other State, who had been invited
thither by the venerable patriot on the day sue
ceedlng the Convention. Gov. Clay of Alabama,
was near General Jackson, who was himself sit
ting on the sofa in the hall of his residence. and
as each person entered the Governor introduced
him to the Hero, and he passed along. When
Judge Douglass was thus introduced. Gen
Jackson raised his still brilliant eyes. and razed
for moment on the cOuntenance Of the judge
still retaining his hand
" Are you the Mr.. Douglass, of Illinois, who
delivered speech last session on the subject of
the fine imposed upon me for declaring martha,
law at New Orleans?'' asked General jackson
Il have delivered speech in the House of
Representatives upon that subject was the
modest reply of our friend. 'Then stop % said
General Jackson, 'sit down here beside me. I
desire to return you my thanks for that speech.
You are the first man that has ever relieved nv
mind on subject which has rested upon it for
thirty years. My enemies have always charged
me with violating the constitution of my coun-
try by declaring martial law at New Orleans,
and my friends have always admitted the viola
ton, but have eontended that circumstances
justified me in that violation. / never could
understand how it was that the performance of
solemn duty to my country-a duty which if 1
had neglected would have made traitor in the
sight of God and man-could properly be pro-
perly be pronounced @ violation of the constitu-
ton felt convinced in my own mind that
was not guilty of such heinous offence; but 1
could never make out legal justification of nv
course, nor has it ever been DONE sir, until you
on the floor of Congress, established it beyond
the possibility of cavil or doubt. 1 thank you,,
sir, for that speech. 1t has relieved my mind
from the only circumstance that rested painful
ly upon it. Throughout my whole life I never
performed an official act which viewed as a
violation of the constitution of my country, and
l can now go down to the grave in peace, with
the perfect consciousness that have not bro
ken, at any period of my life, the constitution
or laws of my country
''Thus spoke the old hero, his countenance
frightened by emotions which it is impossible
for us to describe. We turned to look at Doug
lass. He was speechless. He could not reply,
but, convulsively shaking the aged veterans
hand, he rose and left the room. Certainly
General Jackson had paid him the highest COM
pliment he could have bestowed on any indi-
yidual.''
We also remember to have heard that among
the private papers of General jackson after his
death, was found pamphlet copy of this speech,
with an endorsement on the back of it, in the
hand writing of the General himself, saying it
was the only perfect and satisfactory yindica-
ton of his conduct which had been made, and
as such he left it as an inheritance to his adopt
ed children. The pamphlet is now believed to
be in the possession Of F. P. Blair, Esq, Of
Washington. Examiner.