Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-12-12
From tRg PpFis Fsl2 Rlpds,

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Nothings are continually heaping on the
Head Of our distinguished Senator all man
ner ofabuse, and with Greedy at their.
head will not suffer him toglyisit his con.
stituents in peace and doSthat which eve
~ public man ought tod 90 among his
friends and constituent from. time to.
time, TO know if he has their confidence.
and is truly representing themAwe as a
conductor of a public journal ,Hwish to re.
call what one of our best'men, and great
est patriots thought Of our senator when
he had q chance to express his sentiments
OF public man, then in 1914, quite a,
young man and politician. The fact
may be found in the life Of Jackson, page
Ill, entitled Interview with Judge
Douglass While attending the Nash
vile convention Of August, j 844, we Wis
tied the Hermitage (only12miles distant)
in company with Judge Douglas, Of lii
nois, and some of our felloWrcitizens.
The Hermitage was crowded with people
from almost every State. who had been
invited thither by the venerable patriot
the day succeeding the convention.
Governor Clay, of Alabama, was near
General Jackson, who was himself sitting
on sofa in the hall Of his residence, and
as each person entered, Governor Clay
introduced him to the hero, and he pass
ed along. When Judge Douglas was
thus introduced, General Jackson raised
his still brilliant eyes, and gazing for
moment in the countenance of the
Judge, still retaining his hand. Are
you tue Mr.. Douglas, Of Illinois, who de-
liVereG a speech last session on the sub
jet Of the fine imposed on me for declat~
ing martiallaw at New Orleans?' asked
Gen. jackson. 4 have delivered speech
in the House of Representatives on that
subject was the modest reply Of our
friend. Then: STOP said General jack
son, sit down, here beside me 1 desire to
return yon my thanks for that speech.
You are the first man that has ever re-
lieyed my mind on that subject which has
rested on it for thirty years. My enemies
have always charged me with violating
the constitution Of my country by declar-
ing martial law at New Orleans !; and
my friends have always adm.tte the vi
olation, but commended that the circum-
stances justified me in that violation.
never could understand how it was that
the performance of a solemn duty to my
country-a duty which, If l had neglect
ed to perform would have made me a
traitor in the sight of God and man
could properly be pronounced violation
of the constitution. | felt convinced in my
mind, that L was not guilty of such Il
heinous offence but could never make
out legal justification OF my course, nor
has it ever been done, sir, until you on the
floor of Congress, at the late session, es-
tablished it beyond the possibility Of cavil
or doubt. l thank you for that speech
il has relieved my mind from the only
circumstance that has rested painfully up
on it. Throughout my whole life, new
Or performed an official act which view
ed as Il violation OF the constitution Of my
country, and can now go down to the
grave in peace. with perfect conscious
ness that [ have not broken at any peri.
I'd Of my life the constitution or laws Of
any country"
Such are the words O! General Jack
son at his last levee, { for lie died shortly
after addressed to one just beginning
his bright career OF public usefulness.
The words, too, are for the American
people, as well as Judge Douglas. They
show how that great and good man re-
Vorred the constitution of his country.
and that even IN performing Il noble and
NECESSARY act to project lie and property,
when he was told that lie had violated
that sacred instrument, his heart was
troubled. 50 careful was he to preserve
that charter Of our liberties. Who does
not wish 10 hear that TIE old heroes feel
ings and love for country and constitution
could be Infused into every American
heart? We should hear, then, no more
croaking about the value oil the Union
no more trailing the American, flag in
the dust on the fourth of July, as has
been done by the AbolitionistS in the
East.