Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-20
THE TINES TERMS.


Messrs. ALLEN Il GENTRY, on Broad stree-price two
Genus.
GEN JACKSON AND HIS MESSAGES.
Ever since Gen. Jackson's rule it has been
debated question how far he ought TO be regarded
as the author of his own messages. His most
ardent admirers have generally maintained that
he wrote or dictated the staple of them, and had
only such assistance was necessary to join their
parts together aud give proper smoolhness to the
more rugged points. The originality OF his IA
nous Proclamation message has, more than that
any other, been called in question. His South
ern advocates have vigorously contended that Mr..
Livingston composed it, and prevailed upon the
old General 10 communicate it to Congress. We
remember hearing Col. Jefferson Davis declare
in his seat in the Senate in his pompous way,
when Gen. Foote was reading certain passages
from he Proclamation that it was perfectly no
torious" that Livingston wrote the message, and
that Gen. jackson afterwards regretted some OF Its
positions. 1t is point Of some historical interest
therefore, to ascertain what W as Gen. Jackson's
practice with respect to the composition OF his Of
fetal papers, and the reader will find that light is
thrown upon the subject by the following state
msnt of one who claims to have enjoyed very
peculiar opportunities of being informed In the
pre Misses The extracts we subjoin are taken from
a speech delivered, on some festive occasion in
Washington whilst Mr.. Polk was President, by
Mr. John c. Rives, and recently revived in
the controversy between that gentleman and Mr..
Richie of the Union:
Mr. Rives tells us that it not only his fortune to be
spatronized by Andrew Jackson" but it also his
good luck to know more about his writings and dongs
during the last thirteen years of his life than those
most near and dear him. After thus presenting his
credentials he proceeds as follows:
at is so generally known that General Jackson was
a man who, above all others, took responsibility in
peace or u war that that word brings the minds OF the
people OF this country bis almost certainly the
letters which spell it, But it is not well known that
he made Others take it in times OF profound peace
| know it well. He made me take it and that made
me know him so we'll. The occasion tor max ing me
take it was, his annual message got out from the off,
ces of the National Intelhgcncer and the United
Staes Telesraph before was sent to Congress soon
after came mo the Globe otfce-he LIST session of
the weny-hird Congress, belieye-and afterwards,
MS long as he President he gave all his
to me 10 have printed, with the admonition: i will
no Id YOU responsible, sir, if that gets out be-
lore Congress is ready receive it. Don't let any per-
son-not even my Cabinet ofiicers-have copy
of it before | send it to Congress-
"Ehe printer prints iron, the rough draught of the
Presidents message and often gets part OF the copy be-
fore the is completed invariably went at
ter the copy and took the proofs back to the President
myself which gave me an opportunity OF knowing
all about who wlote and who were consulted about
them. 1t has been said, and is no doubt believed
by many, that General Jackson did not write his
messages. Neither he any other pres dent
wrote those part of their messages which showed the
condition ofthe several departments. They are writ
ten by the heads OF the departments respectively
Nearly the whole OF the balance OF Gen Jacksons
sages was in his handwriting. The procamat on which
intended TO carry out his memorable toast, The
Union must be preserved, which was uttered as a
buke notification, when it first showed Its 'front.' at
the celebration OF Mr. Jeffersons birth day in Wash
ington, written by Mr.. Livingston. then Secre
frequently told his friends that he thought it better than
the finished production, aud not liable to the objections
OF the principles advanced in the latter. 1t was
General Jacksons invariabe practice to put down in
writing every official paper which he submitted TO the
public. He was however, al ways willing to admit
suggestions and permit alterations where he thought
them improvements
~ will relate anecdote, or incident, which will
lead to correct conclusion as to who wrote General
Jack.ons messages, and, also, who attended TO them
after they written.
'When went after the annual message which de-
manded ofthe French king Louis Phllippe) the in
demnity due TO citizens of the United States by the
French government found Major A. ]. Donelson,
then Gener al Jacksons private secretary, aud clerk
belonging the State Department MIR. DerrokD COM
pairing the copies to be TO both branches OF Congress
with the Rough draught General jackson was walk
ing the floor twenty thirty feet from them, smo-
king his pipe, paying attention to the reading,
thought. When they read tina, part of the message
which pressed the demand in the strongest terms Cen
eral jackson said "Donelsonl stop there that is
as wrote it," Major Dopelson replied: "General, the
Cabinet had meeting, and agreed to soften this lit
le and he then attempted to read on evidently very
much agiiated. General Jackson again said TO him:
"Donelsonl stop there; that is wrote it,. Major
Doneson made stammerlng reply saying General,
the Cabinet had meeting, and agreed to soften TINS =
little. cannot alter il in time tor Congress, and Mr.
RiveS is here waiting for the ge; and il he does
get 1t shortly, he cannot have II printed In time;
and continued 10 stammer on, reading II. General
Jackson then stamped his foot the floor a nd said
in a loud voice 81 say stop! and put that as wrote
IL. don't Tor The Cabinet nor for Mr. Rives
and Congress waiting. 1t shall be as wrote it," Ma
ior Donelson then opened his table drawer and took
from il 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 altera
Iion believe, filed away, but with many other pa
peers that | cannot ind them conveniently Many pre-
dcied the time that the supposed affont contained in
the ge would cause France 10 declare against
The United States. So far from it caused the money
10 he paid and Louis Philippe then King OF France,
thought so highly oil General Jackson that he sent an
eminent artist Mr. Healy to the Hermitage, 10 take
his likeness Tor him The likeness completed only
few days before the Generals death, and said to be
The best taken"
HE SYRACUSE CONFERENCE.-The specimen
oil the language used and applauded at the recent
Syracuse Convention, for the purpose of repeal
ing the Fugitive Slave Law. and DESTROYING the