Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-01-10
From he Paris an B,,aes 2 =
General jackson and Judge Douglas.

! While the aholitionists and know noihings
are continually heaping on the head of our dis
tlnguished senator all manner of abuse, and
with Greeley at their head, they will not suf-
| Ter him 10 visit his constituents in peace and
do that which every public man ought to do
| go among his friends and constituents from
time to time, 10 know if he has their conf
dence and is truly representing them-we. as
conductor of public journal, wish to recall
what one of our best men and greatest patri-
OTIS thought of our senator when he had a
chance to express his sentiments of public
man, then. in 1874. quite young man and
politician. The fact may be found in the life
of Jackson, III, entitled thus Interview with
Judge Douglas. "While attending the Nash
vile convention of August, 1874, We visited
the Hermitage (only twelve miles distant) in
company with Judge Douglas, of Illinois, and
some of our fellow-citizens. The Hermitage
was crowded with people from almost every
State, who had been invited thiiher by the ven
cradle patriot the day succeeding the conven-
ton. Governor Clay, of Alabama, was sit
ting near Gen. Jackson, who was himself sit
ting on sofa in the hall of his residence, and
as each person entered, Gov. Clay introduced
him to the hero, and he passed along. When
Judge Douglas was thus introduced, Gen.
jackson raised his still brilliant eyes, and
gazed for moment in the countenance of the
Judge, still retaining his hand Are you the
Mr.. Douglas of Illinois, who delivered
speech last session on the subject of the fine
imposed on me for declaring martial law at
New Orleans = asked Gen. Jackson. Il have
delivered speech in the House of Represen-
tatives upon that subject was the modest re-
ply of our friend. Then STOP said Gen.
Jackson, sit down. here beside me! desire to
return you my thanks for that speech. You
are the first man that has relieved my mind
on subject which has rested on it for thirty
years. My enemies have charged me with
violating the constitution of my country by de-
claring martial law at New Orleans; and nv
friends have always admitted the violation,
but have commended that the circumstances JUS
titled the violation. | never could understand
how it was that the performance of a solemn
duty to my country-a duty which, if had
neglected to perform, would have made mesa
traitor in the sight of God and man-could
properly be pronounced violation of the con-
siitution. | fell convinced, in my own mind,
that | was no: guilty of such heinous offence
but could never make out legal justification
OF my course, nor has II eUer been done, sir,
until you, on the floor of Congress, at the last
session, established it beyond the possibility of
caVll or DOUBT thank you Tor that speech
it has relieved my mind flom the only circum-
stance that rested painfully uponit Through
out my whole life, never performed an off
cial act which viewed as a violation of the
constitution OF my country, and can now 20
down to the grave in peace, with perfect con-
seriousness that have not broken at any peri
cd OF my life the constitution or laws of my
country"
Such are the words of Gen. Jackson at his
last hvee, (for he died shortly after,) ad-
dressed to one just beginning his career of
public usefulness. These words, too, are for
the American people, as well as for Judge
Douglas. They show how that great and
good man revered the constitution of his coun-
try, and that in performing a noble and nee
essary act 10 protect life and property, when
he was told he had violated that sacred instru-
ment, his heart was troubled, so careful was
he to preserve that charter of our liberties.