Eastern times., 1855-03-15
DistorieaI.
THE SWORD OF JACKSON.

THE SWORD OF JACKSON.
The following speech of Hon. Thomas H..
BENTON, on the occasion of the presentation of
the sword of jackson to Congress, will be
read with interest. We copy from the
Globe.
Mr.. BENTON said Mr.. Chairman, the
manner in which this sword has been used for
the honor and benefit of the country, is known
20 the world the manner in which the privi-
lege was obtained of so using it, is but little
known, even to the living age, and must be
lost to posterty unless preserved by contem-
poraneous history. At the same time it is
we'll worth knowing, in order to show what
difficulties talent may have to contend with,
what mistakes governments may commit, and
upon what chances and accidents it NAV de-
pend that the greatest talent, and the purest
patriotism, may be able to get into the service
of its country. There is moral in such hsto-
ry which it may be instructive TO governments
and to people TO learn. When a warrior, or a
statesman, is seen in the midst of his career
and in the fullness of his glory, showing him
self to be in his natural. place, people overlook
his previous steps and suppose he had been
called by general voice-by wise councils
to the fulflment of natural destiny. In a
few instances it is so: in the greater part not.
In the greater part there is toilsome, uncer-
tain, discouraging, and mortyfying progress to
be gone through before the future resplendent
man is able TO get on the theatre, which is to
give him the use of his talent. So it was
with jackson. He had his difficulties to sur
savage tribes and the conquerors of the con-
querors of Europe but he had to conquer
his own government frst-and did it-and that
was, for him, the most difficult of the two for,
while his military victories were the regular
result of genius for war and brave troops
to execute his plans--enabling him 10 com
mand success-his civil victory over his own
government was the result ofchances and ac-
cidents, and the contrivances of others, in
which he could have but little hand, and no
control. proceed TO give some view of this
inside and preliminary history, and have some
qualification for The task, having taken some
part, though not great, in all that relate.
Retired from the United States Senate, o
which he had been member, and from the
supreme judicial bench of his state, on which
he had sat as Judge, this future warrior and
President-and alike ilustrious in both char
acters-was living upon his farm, on the
banks of the Cumberland, when the war o
/ 1912 broke out. He was major general il
Tennessee militia-,he only place he woulc
continue 10 hod-and TO which he had beer
\ elected by the contingency of one vote-ss
/ close was the chance for a miss in this frs
step. His friends believed that he had militia
ry genius, and proposed him for the brigadier
appointment which was allotted to the West
jackson was proposed again and was agail
left to attend to his farm. Then batch o
generals, as they were called, was authorize,
bv law-slx at a time-and from all parts o
the Union and then his friends believed tha
surely his time had come. Not so the fact
The six appointments went elsewhere, AM
the hero patriot, who was born to lead armie
to victory, was still left to the care of hi
fields, while incompetent men were leadin,
our troops to defeat, to captivity, TO slaughter
for that is the way the war opened. The doc
to military service seemed to be closed an
barred against him; and was so, so far as tn
government was concerned.
1t may be wondered why this repugnance t
the appointment of Jackson, who, though no
yet greatly distinguished, was still a man @
mark-had been a Senator, and a suprem
Judge, and was still a major general, and
man of tried and heroic courage. | can tel
the reason. He had great many home enc
mics, for he was man of decided temper, ha
great many contests, no compromises, alway
went for a clean victory, or clean defeat
though placabIe after the contest was ovel
That was one reason, but not the main ono
The administration had a prejudice again:
him on account of Colonel Burr, with whol
he had been associated in the American Sci
ate, and to whom he gave hospitable recel
ton in his house, at the time Of his wester
expedition, relying upon his assurance tn;
:. his designs were against the Spanish domiRio
in Mexico, and not against the integrity of tn
Union. These were some of the causes, n.
all, of Jackson's rejection from Federal mi
itary employment.