Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-12-15
i. OLD SERIES, VOL. 16. NO. IL.
p,p JACKSON WRITE u,s MESSAGES.

4
The New York literary correspondent OF
| the Boston Traveller gives the following lu-
tercsting particulars in regardto this subject.
| He SAYS:
A literary item has recently been going the
rounds Of the press, which am satisfied CON
veys very erroneous impression. In the
announcement of the memoirs and confessions
of Amos Kendall which il is said will be
pnsthumuus work from this somewhat e1
traordnary man, il is stated that il is suscep-
tble of proof that with but single exception
every message or other public paper hearing
General Jackson's signature. while ne was
President was written by Mr.. Kendall
The exception. it is avowed, was his celcbra-
ted Proclamation" which was ircm The pen
of Edward Livingston This is n sweeping
assertion, and have the best of authority to
assert that there is no foundation whatever
for the statement. Mr. John c. Rives was
printer to Congress during the whole term OF
Jacksons administration, and he has repeat.
edly stated to public men at Washington and
in the presence of many listeners, that every
document to which Gen. Jack.on's signature
was attached was written by the General
himself, with the exception OF one unlmpor-
trnt paper. NJ. Rives states this from the
fact that when Jackson had anything to be
published he always sent fer him 10 come TO
the white house, and that he uniformly re-
ceived the manuscript from JackSon's own
hand, and that he was so familiar with his
chirography that it was impossible Tor him
to he deceived.
Indeed. he represents that Jackson was
peculiarly sensitive on this point, and would
not allow even his secretary Major Donelson,
to alter his manuscript in the most triilng
manner. On one occasion, at the time Of his
message in regard to the French difficulties.
Major Donelson had, at the suggestion OF
some members Of the cabinet, modified the
sense and made it less strong and severe than
it was No sooner was it discovered by
jackson than he few into great excitement,
and when Mr. Rves entered his private Office
to obtain 1t for printing he found the old
general busy engaged in rewriting it accor-
ding to the original copy. Whatever may be
ones personal opinion ofJackson, "the integ-
rity OF history" should be preserved. Atthe
same time the history of itself seems impro-
bable, if we may judge it by the character for
decision and energy which is universally ac-
corded to the hero Of New Orleans.
Another correspondent Of the Traveller, in
| n subsequent number of that paper, settles
! the question as follows:
| In your paper of Tuesday correspondent
has undertaken to prove by the testimony Of
Mr.. John c. Rives that Gen. jackson was
the writer Of his own admirable State papers,
and not Mr.. Amos Kendall. to whom they
were commonly attributed. Though this may
not ever be believed by many persons, so
! great was the prejudice against that remark
able man, there cannot be any doubt Of its
truth, if We take the testimony of Mr.. Ken
dali himself. 1t happens that the writer of
this received that from Mr. KeudalrS own
mouth about two years since. lnreply to the
remark that he enjoyed the reputation at
that time of composing these papers he said,
Il had the reputation Of doing many good
things and more bad ones in which | had no
concern, and among the former was that to
which you alluded" Gen. jackson" lie
added, was most terse and vigorous writer,
and capable of writing any document put
forth during his administration Mr. Ken
dali is an unassuming man, as will be seen by
every one who becomes acquainted with / I'M,
aud rs may be inferred from those remarks,
and from the fact that he declines to allow
f the publication of any memoir of himself or
his "reminiscences during his lifetime.