Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-09-05
ALFRED SANDERS, Editor.
RxrRospEcr1yE.

Jackson was member of the House of
Representatives during Washingsoa's Ad.
minis,ration, and if SO, whether he had voted
agaius, an address approbatory of that Adj
minisira,ion. 1t was denied tn at Jackson
was such member. and, of course, that he
had given such vote, and on the other
hand it was confidently asserted that he was
member OF the House OF Representatives
a, the time referred to, and had voted in the
manner stated. We left the parties thus
divided, bat this difference Of belief with re-
gard to historical facts whose truth or I'M
truth could be so easily ascer,ained, in
duced us to refer to the Annals Of Congress,
though we were confident in our own men,
ory that Gen. jackson was member. and
was one Of the minority Of twelve which
voted against the proposed address.
On referring to the Journal of the House
Of Representatives. pages 1889. 1890, Gales
g. Sea,on's edition, we ind that Andrew
Jackson was Representative from Ten
nessee at the second session of the Fourth
Congress. that being the las,year of Wash
ington's second term.
twas customary at that period both for
the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives TO present addresses responsive to the
messages of the President, and these ad-
dresses might be either in unison with or in
opposition TO the message, according to the
feelings or Judgments of the two houses Of
Congress. The contemplated retremen,
Of Gen. Washington. which fac, had been
announced in his las, message. made the &C.
casion one Of more than ordinary interest;
andin Consideration of that event, his friends
aud supporters in both bran ches Of the Leg
islaiure, sought to characterize the proposed
address somewhat more by the animated
expressions of the heart, than is generally
deemed compatible with the cold formaiity
of state paper.
On the Sth of December, 1896, in the
House of Representatives, q committee con-
sisting of Messrs. Ames, Baldwin, Madison.
Sitgreayes and w. Smith, were appointed
TO draw up the address. The committee
reported on the 18th, and on the quest, n
Of adopting their report, there was an ami
mated discussion Of three days DURATION
To look at the address now, and by the re-
Elected light Of all subsequent events, it may
seem surprising that any member of an
American Congress could vote against it.
Its warmest expressions appear tame, when
contrasted with the extraordinary services
rendered by the man in whose behalf it was
made.
William B. Giles Of yirginis. was the
leader of the opposition, and the address
was principally and most ably advocated by
Fisher Ames, of Massachusetts,, and Will
liam Smith, of South Carolina. In the
course of the debate, Mr.. Giles said he be-
Iieved the Administration had been neither
wise nor firm, that be was one Of those who
did not think so much of the President as
come others did, that he wished him to re-
tire. that the Government would go on very
well without him, and he doubted not there
were thousands of citizens in the United
States who could I'll that high Office with
credit and advantage. He said he wished
the President as much happiness as any
man, bat he did not regre, his retreat, and
wished him quietly at his seat at Noun,
Vernon. These and many similar express
sions were used BY Mr.. Giles, and it is per-
hsps not incorrect to conclude that they
were also entertained by the final minority
oil twelve.
On the 10th of December, the House
during the preceding debate having agreed
TO some immaterial verbal alterations, and
being about to take the final vote, Mr..
Blount moved to strike out the following
clause in the last paragraph
"For our country's sake, FOR the sake of
Republican liberty, il is our earnest wish
that your example may be the guide of your
successors; and thus, after being the orna-
nent and safeguard Of the present age, be.
Come the patrimony Of your descendants. y
The yeas and nays being taken on the
motion to strike out this paragraph, it was
decided in the negative, yeas "a, nays 81
Andrew Jackson voting in the affirmative.
(Ann. Con. p 1868
The vote then being about to be taken
on the final passage Of the address, Mr..
Blount wished the yeas and nays nigh, be
taken, that posterity might see be did not
consent 10 the address, and the main ques-
tion being put, it was resolved in the affirm
aiive,-yeas 81, nays IL; Andrew Jackson
voting in the negative. CAnn Con. p. 1867
The Address was intended as personal
and political compliment TO Gen Washing
ton on the occasion of his retirement from
public life, and such is an abstract Of the ac-
ton Of the House Of Representatives in re-
gard TO it as derived from the authenticated
proceedings Of that body. We have pur-
posely RETAINED from referring 10 any ex.
traneous matters BY which members nigh,
have been influenced, aud have simply sta
ted the facts as they are placed upon the
record
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