Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-03-08
SPEECHES ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESEN
TATION OF THE SWORD OF GEN. JACKSON
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20.
In the House of Repressatativss


Mr. SMITH, OF Tennessee. In asking the cono;5-
Grafton of the resolutions Just read Justice TO The
occasion requires few remarks from me and I
only regret that this responsibility had not deyolved
upon some one more capable than mvseIf NJ nar.
fJrming so important duty.
In all ages and in all countries il has been cns.
tomary TO commemorate the deeds of iIlustrious
men. Painting, poetry, and sculpture have been
brought INTO reqnlslhon to perpetuate the memory
OF their achievements and to keep alive the hearts
OF the young veneration for their ancestors and
pride of country.
Every Capitol in Christendom is adorned with
monuments erected to the brave and wise who have
by counsel or deeds given direction to the policy or
illustrated the pages Of their country's history
Their museums are filed with relics, which. from
their intimate personal association with the gallant
dead, ever keep wildly before the mind their pub
lie acts and private virtues These teach lessons az
impressive as towering monume its or GLOWING can
vas.
Brief as our existence has been. the history of m
nation on earth has been so fruitful OF stirring incl
dents--incidents which have had an influence not
only upon our own land, but upon the civilized
world The painters art has adorned the walls of
our capitol with representations of some OF the
most important OF these events. Here we have the
hrst grand scene OF our revolution the Declaration
Of Independence, upon which no American can Iool,
without experiencing feelingsof the most ennoblng
character The very features are preserved of the
statesmen who proclaimed doctrines which startled
the world from its long lethargic seep-reyived
again the spirit Of Sydney and of Hampdep and
gave the first Just conception Of the true dignity
and capacity ofman Their voices are all bushed in
death; but the echo of the appeal of l776 still lives
and is reverberating throughout the earth MAKING
strong the arms and hearts of those who for their
rights and liberties would proudly welcome death
and the grave
With what glowing pride do We look upon the
battle scenes here porrayedi-battesf fought not 70
further the schemes Of ambition, but in defence of
freedom and universal humanity. No enslaved peo-
pie have bewaed the triumphs of our warriors but
the whole earth has arisen and pronounced them
blessed
The battles and victories which the artist has here
celebrated were still fresh and green in the memory
of the people when the nation was again called to
arms to vlndlcate its honor and the rights of man
Many OF the leading spirits of the revolution still
lived Upon some the pslsyinO hand of Time had
been heavily laid; but in their hearts the love of
country and the fires Of patriotism still brightly
burned. They urged the young to the conflict
The voice Of Jefferson rang through the land cheer
ing the brave, nervlng the arms Of the timid. and
giving hope and courage TO the hearts of all The
warriors OF the revolution who still retained their
vigor buckled on their srmor for the conflict Con.
Splcuous among these were Van Rensselaer, of New
York, Smith of Maryland, and Jackson of Tenues-
see. Our countrymen, under the lead of their esI
liant commanders, trumphed upon the land and upon
the sea, and established forever our rank among the
nations 81 the earth. The actors in these scenes
are fast passing away But few Of the gallant lead
ers in this glorious war still survive and thew are
verging upon their three score and ten and must
SOON be gathered 10 their fathers. Duty gratitude
and patriotism, should prompt US to collect trophis
Of their victories, and garner up memorials which
will speak to future generations OF their greatness
and patriotism, aud which VIII keep the memory OF
their deeds OF noble daring alive forever III the heart
Of the nation.
Not long before the death OF that distinguished
cheftain, Andrew Jackson, he placed the sword he
had worn in all Of his battles in the war of 1872 in
the hands Of friend TO be delivered 10 his conpa.
triotin-arms the late General Robert Armstrong
who had in an eminent degree commanded his re-
=pect and enjoyed his confidence These two la
Inented patriots had shared together the hsrdships
Of the camp and the dangers Of the battle ED and
the hestowal OF this relic by the illustrious hero
was fit testimonial OF bis appreciation of one whose
courage he hsd seen tested on many bloody field.
and whose patriotism had often elected the warm
est gratitude and highest applause of his country
men.
1t was at the battle o. Enotochopco where the
little army commanded by Jackson was almost sur
rounded by the enemy, and in the heat of the con-
fict Gen. Armstrong was severely wounded But
he did not desert his post, and when unable longer
to WELD sword stand upen his feet he chung to
a small tree which stood near him, and cried INV
brave fellows, some may fall bnt save the cannon"
Such bravery elected the thanks and gratitude of
his commander and made him the worthy recipient
Of the fayorite weapon worn by him on that trying
occasion.
The family Of General Armstrong, actuated by
the patriotic impulses which ever characterized their
.s,lf a. IL.
gress. 1t seems TO me eminently fit that it should
become the property Of the government, and be
placed among the trophies of our victories and the
memeutoes Of our heroes, for it is associated with
the names Of two OF the 'bravest of the brave"
and with battles the history of which will fill the
brightest pages in our countrys annals.
In moving the adoption of the resolution on your
table accepting the sword do not feel called upon
to pronounce q eulogy upon General Jackson He
needs it not. God blessed him with length of
days, and he filed them with deeds of glory"
which have entered into the history Of the nation,
and become the heritage of his countrymen.
Mi ZoLLooFrER. Mr.. Speaker: 1t being my |
fortune TO represent the Hermitage district where
that great man lived, and where his remains are |
entombed, the House Will pardon me fer briefly |
giving utterance TO emotions which fill me on this /
peculiar occasion. The martial ranoy,, Of A,da,,T
Jackson has become national property. But il nust
be allowed TO TennesSeanstO feel more than an or
binary interest in that renown, and in This occs-
sion The brave-hearted, the world over 7 an
prehend pay TO his heroic spirit their true HOMAGE.
and l can well imagine that even the boldesl when
tresding the paths of danger, walk more erect and
confident under the broad sunlight of his chivaI- /
rous history; yet to those who were his neghbors |
when be tensnted the Hermitage and who inhabit /
the mountains and the valleys which sent forth the
gallant men who followed and upheld his standard /
IN all his vctories-men who saw this very sword |
unsheathed all his brilliant and perilous battle
felds--I say, sir, TO such a people something |
more than this feeling is but common impulse Of |
that human nature which we all readily compre-
bend. The sons of those gallant men are the pre-
sent young men of Tennessee. As these young |
men catch glimpse of this shining blade passing
into the depository of the nations precious relics, |
how csn il be otherwise than that their hearts will