The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-04-14
SWORD OF GEN. JACKSON.

livered by Mr.. Cass IN the v. o oena'e' vi
the presentation Of the sword worn by Gen.
jackson at New Orleans, presented to Con-
gross from the family of Gen. Armstrong 1
deceased. MI ii,slt'. I" INV
Mr.. Presidcnt:-I must ask the indulg-
ence of the Senate for requesting that its
usual business may be suspended to give me
an opportunity to discharge q trust which
has been committed to me--a trust had
not the heart to decline, but which / knew
| had not the power to fulfil, as such mis-
sion should be fulfilled. hold inmy hand
the sword of General Jackson, which he
wore in all his expeditions, while in the
military service Of the country, and which
was his faithful companion in his last and
browning victory, when New Orleans was
saved from the grasp Of a rapacious and
powerful enemy, and our nation from the
disgrace and disaster which defeat would
have brought in its train. When the hand
of death was upon him, General Jackson
presented this sword to his friend, the late
General Armstrong, as testimonial Of his
high appreciation Of the services, worth,
and courage OF that most cstimable citizen
and distinguished soldier. whose desperate
valor, on one occasion, stayed the tide Of
Indian success. and saved the army from
destruction. The family Of that lamented
depository, now that death has released him
from the guardianship Of this treasure Of
patriotirm, are DESTROYS it should be surrcn-
dcred to the custody Of the national lcgis-
lature, believing that to be the proper dis
position Of memorial, which, in all time
TO come, will be cherished one for the
American people To carry that purpose
into effect, now offer it in their name to
Congress. fr lra 4
Mr.. President, this is no doubtful relic,
whose identity depends upon uncertain ira
dition, and which owes its interest to an
impulsive Imagination; Its authenticity is
established beyond controversy by the pa
pers which accompany it, and it derives its
value as well from our knowledge of its
history, as from its association with the
great captain, whose days Of toll and nights
Of trouble it shared and witnessed, and
who never drew it from the scabbard but
to defend the honor and the interests Of his
country.
This is neither the time nor the place to
pourtray those great traits of character
which gave to General jackson the ascen-
dency that no man ever denied who APP
preached him, and that wonderful influence
with his countrymen which marked almost
his whole course from his entrance upon a
public career till the grave closed upon his
life and his labor, and left him to that
equality which the mighty and the lowly
must find at last. Still, from my personal
and official relations with him, and, trust
l may add, from his friendship towards me
Of which had many proofs | cannot with.
hold the acknowledgment Of the impress
sion which his high qualities made upon me
and which become more lasting and pro-
found as time is doing its work of separa
ton from the days of my intercourse with
him. 1Isu u
| have been no careless observer of the
men of my time, who, controlled by events
or controlling them, have stood prominent
among them, and will occupy distinguished
positions in the annals of the age: and cir
cumstances have attended my opportunities
of examination to the old wosld as well as
to the new But say, and with deer
conviction of its truth, that never have
been brought into contact with man who
possessed more native sagacity, more pro
tundity Of intellect, higher powers Of OBJ
scrvation, or greater probity of purpose
more ardor of patriotism, nor more firm
ness Of resolution after he had surveyed hi,
position and occupied it, than the lamented
subject Of this feeble tribute, not to him
but to truth. And will add, that during
the progress Of determination upon impor
tant subjects, he was sometimes slow an(
generally cautious and inquiring, and h,
has more than once told me, anxious ant
uneasy, not seldom passing the night with
out sleep, but he was calm in his mind ant
inaexibla in his will, when reflection hat
given place to decision. The prevailing
opinion that he was rash and hasty in hi
conclusions is founded upon an erroncou
impression Of his thoughts and action
upon want of discrimination between hi
conduct before and after his Judgment ha,
pronounced upon his course.
This is not the first Offering of simila
nature which has been laid upon the alta
OF our country, with the sanction of the Il
gislatiye department of the government