The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-11-16

AMMO. 1887. N. VAN pvRrN, pREsrDrnr.

Jackson's Presidency expired on the Sd of
March, 1887. The next day, at 10, he
appeared with his successor, Mr.. Van Bu-
rem, OH the elevated and spacious eastern
portico Of the capitol, as one of The citizens
who came TO witness the inauguration Of
the new President, and no way distinguish
ed from them, except by his place on the
left hand of the President elect. The
day was besu,iful-clear sky, balmy ver-
nal sun, tranquil atmosphere; land the
assembage immense. On foot in the large
area in Front Of The steps, orderly without
troops, closely wedged together, their faces
turned toward the porlico-presenting 10
the behelders from all the eastern windows
The appearance Of deld paved with hu-
man faces-,hs vast crowd remained rlv-
tied 10 their places, and profoundly silent,
until the ceremony of Inauguration was
over. 1t was the stiffness and silence OF
reverence and affection, and there was no
room for mistake as to whom this mute
and impressive homage was rendered.
For once, The rising was ecllpsed by Ihe
setting sun. Though disrObei Of power
and retiring 10 the shades of private life, it
was evident that the grea, cx-President
was the absorbing object Of the intense
regard. AT The moment that he began 10
descend the broad steps Of the porlico to
take his seat in The open carriage which
w,s :, hea: him away, the deep, repressed
feeling of ,be dei,se mass broke forth, ac,
clamaIions and cheers c:"rsling from the
heart and filling the air--sG'h : r"0
nsyer commanded, nor man in pow e. "
received. 1t was the affection, gratitude
and admiration OF The living age, saluling
for the last time great man. II was The
acclaim Of posteriy, breaking from The DO
SONS Of contemporaries. 1t was the anti
cipalion Of iuturi,y--unpurchasable hon.
age to The hero.palriot who, all his life, and
in all the circumstances Of his life, in peace
and in war. and glorious in each, had been
the friend Of his county. devoted 10 her,
regardless of self. Uncovered and bow.
ing, with look Of unaffected humility
and thankfulness, he acknowledged in
mute signs hes deep sensibility TO this af'
fecting overflow of popular feeling. l was
looking down from side window, and felt
an emotion which had never passed
through me before. had seen the inau-
guraiion of many Presidents, aud their 60
ing away, and their days Of state, vested
with power, and surrounded by the spleu-
dors of the first magstracy of great re-
public. Bu, they all appeared to me as
pageanls, brief 10 the view, unreal to the
touch, and soon 10 vanish. But here there
seemed 10 be reality-a real scene--'
man and the people--he, laying down and
Withdrawing through the portals Of ever
lasting fame; they, sounding in his ears
the everlasting plaudils Of unborn geuer'
ations. Two days after, | saw The patriot
ex.President in the car which bore him of
TO his desired seclusion-I saw him depart
with that look Of quiet enjoyment which
bespoke the inward satisfaction Of the soul
at exchanging the cares Of office for The
repose Of home. History, poetry, oratory
marble and brass will hand down the mil
ilarv exploits Of Jackson; Ills work vii
commemorate the events Of his civil ad
minis,ration, not less glorious than hi
: military achievements, great as they were
and this brief notice of his last appearance
|, al the American capitol is intended TO pre-
s serve some faint memory of scene, tn
:, grandeur of which was so impressive I,
!. the beholder, and the solace Of which mus
have been so grateful 10 the heart OF III
departing patriot
Eight years afterwards he died at til
i Hermitage, in the full possession Of all hi
6 faculties, and strong to the last in The ruI
!, ing passion of his soul-love Of country
Public history will do justice 10 his publ
4 life but further notice is wanted oi hIr
/, "a notice of the domestic man--oi tn
man at home, with his wife, his friend
his neighbors, his slaves; and this ie'
some qualifications for giving from m
d long and varied acquaintance with him.
: First, his intimate and early friend-ihe
rude rupiure-a(terwards friendship an
= intimacy for twenty years, and until h
n death; in all forty years, OF personal oil
:, serva,ion, in the double relation of lrien
{ aid foe, and in all the walks OF life, publ
l. and private, civil and military
The first time that General Jackson wi
. At Nashville, Tennessee, in l70o-he
: The Bench, Judge of the then,'superi'
I Cour,-and youth of seventeen bac
!. in The crowd. lie was then a remarkab
man, and had his ascendant over all wi
approached him, no, the effect Of his hll
judicial station nor of the senatorial rat
n which lie had held and resigned, nor