Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-19
"reminiscences of President Jackson.
BY y. =. TRisT.

lhprluGcu from the New \ ork Evening Post.
Shortly after becoming his Private Sccre-
tary, (at the period of the dissolution of his
first cabinct,) accompanied him from Wash
ington to the g Rip Raps,' an artificial
mound of stone, formed in the Chcsapca kc
Bay, opposite to Point Comfort, as the foun-
dation for CdStIc CdIhoun, one Of the dcicnccs
OF those waters, then in the process of cree
tion.
One evening, after had parted with him
Tor the night, revolving over the directions
he had given about some letters | was to pre-
pare, one point occurred, on which was not
perfectly satisfied as to what those directions
had been. As the letters were to be sent off
carly next morning, | returned to his cham
Der door, and tapping gently, in order not to
awake him if he had got to sleep, my tap was
answered hy g come in
lie was undrcssed, but not vet in bod as !
supposed he must be by that time lie was
sitting at the little table, with his wife :
minaturc-a very largo one, then for the
first time seen by me-bclorc him-proppcd
and the picture lay an open book, which bore
the marks of long use.
This book, as | afterwards learned was
hCr prayer hook Tho miniature he always
wore next to his heart, suspended round his
neck by Il strong black cord. The last thing
he did, every night, before lying down to hi,
rest, was to read in that book with that pic
turc under his eyes.
In Washington. where the servants brought
by him from Tennessee had not, any more
than their bcttcrs generally are there. been
proof against the influences under which 50
many of low grade and Of high. become what
in homclv phras', is called " thoroughly
spoilt and utterly ruincd.' on going one dav
into the Presidents office, | found that |
broke in upon tctc n tctc between him and
Charles, his negro driver; Charles was look
ing the culprit to his best; that is, as we'll
as he was permitted by II lurking smile
which betrayed his consciousness that moth
ing very terrible was coming. AS | entered,
the General was saving. - Charles. YOU know
why value that carriage This is the second
time it has happened. And if ever it hap
pens again. will scnd you back to Tennessee"
This lecture and threat Charles had
brought upon himself by having left his coach
box; as the natural consequence of which,
the horses had run away, and broken the
carriage.
Ia this scene, | was struck with the fact
that the Generals thoughts and feelings
dwct upon the carriage. upon the injury
sustained by it, without turning at all upon
the expense or the injury to the horses, noble
dapplc grcys-hiS favoritc colpr-of his own
rearing and descendants of his famous horse
TruXton. ! at once inferred that this ''why'
had reference to his wife and upon inquiry
Of Col. Eagle, my conjecture was verified.
Because the carriage had been hers, it was
better than any new one; 1t must never be
given up, but always repaired and made as
good as new, though the cost might be great
cr than that of II new one.
Stt.l HI ,-tt liam hut hn
world outside. he was believed to be for all
around him-always " ripping and tearing,
as 'tiS termed in western phrase, and BY
the Eternal ever in his mouth a habit, hv
the Ivy which | have in vain taxed my rccol-
lection for single instance of. Such was
he, habitualy, regularly. and without
shadow Of turning. To all about him, what
ever the relation in which they stood, and in
whatever capacity dependent upon him and
his humor for their comfort and happiness,
he WAS this always-neycr anything else.
There was more Of the woman in his nature
than in that of any man ever knew. OF
course do not mean to say that he was not
subject to anger, and at times to the most
vehement outhurstS of passion. ! have no
doubt that he could be, and has been per-
feet volcano. Though never witnessed any
thing of the sort. there was that about him
which told that he could be 50, and confirmed
what You heard of the trartulncSS of his
wrath. | speak of what he hahtually was
Ofthc numbcrl'ss eases which might he col
lcctcd, corresponding to those above related.
of the impression made by his manner. | will
mention one now because of the idea it affords
of him under another aspect, which was
quite II common one with him, namely, a dry
archncss in administering Il gentle rcbukc
b,, lnl ii
expect something of the kind in his compost
ton. on being informed that, with him, the
book of hooks-aftcr the bible, of course
was the Vicar Of IlakcfcM,
The incident am about to give occurred
to Mr.. buchanan, by whom | have heard it
related.
An American lady-a daughter, I think, of
Charles Carroll Of Carrollton-on her return
from a residence in England, during which
she had associated ON the most familiar foot
ing with the highest ariStocracy of the island,
among the rest the - Duke" being drSirouS
of seeing General jackson, an hour was ap-
pointed for him to receive her. y few
minutes before the time arrived. Mr.. Bucha-
nan, who knew of the arrangement, or per-
haps was Il party to it, upon going into the
President 5 Office found him there, immersed
in work, and very contrary to his won't, not
at all neat in his dress and personal ap-
paarancc: he had not even shaved. and had IL
oloycnly look otherwise, which hc had never
bcfpr, seen in him Alarmed ut the effect
this might have upon the expected visitor,
Mr. B. vcntured pom hint to the effect
that the hour being come, it would he adyiSa-
bile to engage in making preparations for the
visit.
"Mr. Buchanan" observed the General,
- once heard tell of IL man in Tennessee,
who got along very well in the world, and
finally made fortune, by minding his own
business" Saying which, he aros' and left
the room. In II very few minutes afterwards
he walked into the parlor to which Mr.. B,
had repaired, presenting as neat an ap-
pcarancc in every respect as if he had passed
hours at his toilet.
The lady departed, expressing the same ad-
miration of his manners tlnlt hundreds had
experienced before her.
A CR0w CoURT MARITAL. Well have
heard the crows talk to each other, and seen
Them plant scntrcs ont when they seed me
,v,t hun oc thon nn1 onrn 1 nrtilIv S,w tharn