Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-06-28
[FIom the Washington Union.l
INSULT TO ANDREW JACKSON

1t has become so much the Eablt OF quoting the
names of the illustrous dead of the revolutionary
struggle to and 20 dignity the enterprises of
political mercenaries that we were not surprised
when the memories of Washington and his COM
peers were appealed to in justification of the move
meut against conscience and equality which still
dishonors and convuses our happy country But
as if the patience of the people had been exhausted
by the repetition of such irreverent and blasphe-
nous proceedings, and as though an avenging God
had interposed to rebake them as 30 many wrongs
upon the immortal dead, Virginia, the moment the
know-nothing spoilers touched her borders, rose
instinct with gratitude for her sons, and made in
vincble by the indignation inspired by their insult
tiers, and hurled the hosts of prescription, crushed
and lifeless, to the soil which they polluted.
1t was, however, reserved for later period in
the canvass { as if to bring down another rebuke
upon these profaners of our country's beneactors)
that the name of Andrew Jackson should be held
up in approval of this movement of political huck-
sters and ingrates! There is something SO fresh in
the reeol ction of the character of Jackson-some-
thing so familiar to thousands who yet live among
US who shared his confidence and knew his thoughts,
there is in all minds vivid an impress of his face
and form, and voice, and so keen sense of the
example by which he ruled and elevated CRATE
full country-thst we had hoped to see his memo
res spared this refnementof outrage And, indeed
the leaders of the crusade upon everything good
and great, past and present, living and dead, long
seemed to fear 10 lay their hands upon his reputa-
ton, lest from the grave itself he should cry out in
protest and in agony at their wrong. Up to the
present moment they have hesitated before attemp-
ting TO that reputation az cover to their odious
and offensive purposes But desperate diseases re-
quire desperate remedes and q: last one man was
found who set the example which others have final
ly consented to follow. 1t is nice question with
u.s. however, whether this attempt originates in I'M
grateful malgnity to the departed hero, or in de-
sire to help party that is rotten even in its YOUTH
and dying daily before it is hall matured.
Andrew Jackson was the son of an Irishman.-
If he lived now he would find himself DISTINGUISHED
by those who seek his name and his authority TO
excuse their treason to the laws and their hatred
of their fellow -beings In his conflicts with the
savage and the foreign foe, this Irishmans son led
other Irshmen to victory and TO death. Ia the
hammocks and everglades of Florida, on the long
and weary march, 10 the bivouac and in the battle
among his friends and his associates were the GAL
liant men who came from other lands, not to fight
against us, but, if necessary, to die for our flag
There were few adopted citizens in the country
who were not his friends. At every election they
hocked TO his standard in masses, as they had flock
ed to his call in time of war. When the faithless
fled they stood firm; and when he most needed
friends they were by his side. And yet now, when
the grave covers him. and he sleeps his last sleep,
an attempt is made to wrest his name from the gal
sxy where it shines guiding star to posterty, and
to make of 1t reproach and stain, signal and
cry for party pledged to religious intolerance
and fanaticsl prescription!
But the legacy left by Andrew Jackson cannot
thus be squandered and dissipated. One man may
choose to forget the holy obligations of the past,
and the sacred lessons of the hero and sage but
the people will preserve their own hearts pure
Never before-not even in the palmiest days Of his
own glorious adminis,rstion-has the democratic
party been more devoted to its faith, more cent?
dent of the future, or more formidable sgsinst its
many-hued and hybrid sssailants. First in its al
fections are his counsels and his proud example.
The democratic heart still stils at his name and
rouses at the recollection Of his deeds. His fame
is watched and defended by the with jealous and
vgilant care His foes are still the foes of the de-
mocracy, and his words are like so many nspira-
tons to the party which he led and which survive.
unbroken and unde6led, though often attacked by
traitors and sometimes betrayed by ingrates.