Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-27
Did jackson Write Hi. Messsge.I

Did Write His messsEcsG
The New York literary correspondent OF
the Boston Trareller gives the following inter.
esting particulars in regard to this subject.
He says:
A literary item has recently been going the
rounds of the press, which | am satisfied con-
veys q very erroneous impression. In the an
nouncement of the memoirs and confessions OF
Amos Kendall, which il is said viii be a pos
thumous work from this somewhat extraordi.
nary man, it is stated that it is susceptible OF
proof, that with but a single exception every
message or other public paper bearing General
Jackson's signature, while be was President,
was written by Mr.. Kendall. The exception, il
is avowed, was his celebrated Proclamation"
which was from the pen Of Edward Livingston.
This is q sweeping assertion, and | have the
best of authority to assert that there is no foun-
dation whatever for the statement. Mr.. John
c. Rives was printer TO Congress during the
whole term of Jackson's administration, and
he has repeatedly stated to public men at Wash
ington and in the presence Of many listeners,
that every document to which Gen. Jackson's
signature was attached, was written by the
General himself, with the exception Of one IN.
important paper. Mr.. Riyes states this from
the fact that when Jackson had anything to be
Published, he always sent for him to come 10 the
white house, and that he uniformly received the
manuscript from Jackson's own hand, and that
he was so familiar with his chiropraphy that
it was impossible for him TO be deceived.
Indeed, he represents that Jackson was pc.
culiarly sensitive on this point, and would not
allow even his Secretary, Major Donclson to
alter his manuscript in the most triding man.
ner. On one occasion, at the time Of his
message in regard to the French difficulties,
Major DoDelson had, at the suggestion Of some
members of the cabinet, modified the sense,
and made itless strong and severe than il was.
No sooner was it discovered BY Jackson than
he flew into a great excitement, and when Mr..
Rives entered his private Office to obtain It for
printing, he found tho old general busily en-
gagged in rewriting it according to the original
copy. Whatever may be ones personal opinion
of Jackson, "the integrity Of history" should be
preserved. At the same time the history OF
itself seems improbable, if we may Judge II by
the character for decision and energy which 4
universally accorded 10 the hero Of New
Orleans.
Another correspondent Of the Trdrellcr, in a
subsequent number Of that paper, settles the
question as follows:
In your paper Of Tuesday, a correspondent
has undertaken to prove by the testimony Of
Mr.. John G. 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 remarkable man,
there cannot be any doubt.o of its truth, IL We
take the testimony Of Mr.. Kendall himself Ii
happens that the writer Of this received that
from Mr.. Kendall's own mouth about two
years since. In reply to the remark that he
enjoyed the reputation at that time Of compo-
sing these papers he said, III 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" he added, was a most terse and
vigorous writer, and capable of writing any
document put forth during his administration
Mr.. Kendall is an unassuming man rs will be
seen by every one who becomes acquainted
with him, and rs may be inferred from those
remarks, and from the fact that he declines 70
allow the r Utilization OF any memoir Of himself
or his "reminiscences during his lifetime.