Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-02-21
Did Jackson write his Messages!

Did Jackson write his Messages
The New York literary CORES
pondent of the Boston Traveller give
the following interesting particular
in regard to this subject. He says
A literary item has been going
the rounds of the press, which / an
satisfied conveys very erroneous
impression. In the announcement,
of the memoirs and confessions Of A.
mos Kendall, which it is said will be
posGhumous work from this some.
what extraordinary man, it is stated
that it is susceptible of proof that,
with but single exception, every
message or other public paper bear
ing General Jackson's signature
while he was President, was written
by Mr.. Kendall. The exception, it
is avowed, was his celebrated "Pro-
clamation," which was from the pen
of Edward Livingston. This is a
sweeping assertion, and have the
best of authority to assert that there
is no foundation whatever for the
statement. Mr.. John G. Rives was
printer to Congress during the whole
term of Jackson's administration, and
he has repeatedly stated to public
menat Washington, and in the pres
ence Of many listeners, that every
document to which Gen. Jackson's
signature was attached was written
by the General himself, with the ex-
ception of one unimportant paper
Mr.. Riyes states this from the fact
that when jackson had anything to
be published, he always sent for him
to come to the white house, and that
he uniformly received the manuscript
from Jackson's own hand, and that he
was So familiar with bis chirOgraphy
that it was impossible for him to be
deceived.
Indeed, he represents that Jack
son was peculiarly sensitive on this
point, and would not allow even his
secretary, Major Donelson, to alter
his manuscript in the most triling
manner. On one occasion, at the
time of his message in regard to the
French difficulties, Major Donelson
had, at the suggestion of some MEM
bers of the Cabinet, modified the
sense, and made it less strong and Sc.
we're than it was. No sooner was it
discovered by Jackson than he flew
into great excitement, and when Mr..
Rives entered his private office to
obtain it for printing, he found the
old general busily engaged in re."rl-
ting it according to the original copy.
Whatever may be one'spersonal opin-
ion of Jackson, ,"the integrity Of histo.
ry" should be preserved, At the
same time the history ofitself seems
improbable, if we may judge it by the
character for decision aad energy
which is universally accorded to the
hero of New Orleans.
Another correspondent of the
Traveller, in a subsequent number
of that paper, settles the question as
follows:
In your paper Of Tuesday, a cor.
respondent has undertaken to prove
by the testimony of MIR. John c.
Rives that Gen. jackson was the
writer of his own admirable State pa
pers, and not Mr.. Amos Kendall, to
whom they were commonly attrlbu-
ted. Though this may not ever be
believed by many persons, SO great
was the prejudice against that re-
markable man, there cannot be any
doubt of its truth, if we take the tes-
timony of Mr.. Kendall himself. 1t
happens that the writer of this re-
ceiyed that frsm Mr.. Kendall's own
mouth, about two years since. In
reply to the remark that he enjoyed
the reputation at that time OF COM
posing three papers, he said, 81 had
the reputation Of doing many good
things and more bad ones in which l
had no concern; and among the for.
mer was that to which you allude. "
"Gen. Jackson" he added, "was a
terse and vigorous writer, and capa-
BILE of writing any document put forth
during his administration" Mr.. Ken
dali is an unassuming man, as will be,
seen by every one who becomes ac-
ouainted with him, aud as may be inir-
red from these remarks and from the
fact be declines to allow disqualification
of any memoir Of himself or bis
I.,;.;sa.aos dur;no hia lifetime.