Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-01-29

'-'-~ - o va VIZ ~ ~
inst, in celebration Of its glorious
achievements and in memory of its
distinguished American chieftain.-
A number of letters were read from
distinguished gentlemen who were
unable to be present. Among them
we fad the following from Purser
Harris, of the United States Navy,
an old friend and former editor of
the Nashville Union and American,
for whom many Of our readers cher
ish the kindest remembrance:
UNITED STATES NAVY YARD,
New York, Dec. 81, 1856.
SIR: | thank your ancient and
patriotic Society of Tammany for
bidding me to participate in its ever
glorious Eighth Of January; for moth
ing more benefits the occasion than
your purpose to mingle the memories
of Jackson's brilliant achievements
at New Orleans with rejoicings over
the preservation Of the Union by
the late presidential election.
Residing with an hours ride Of
the Hermitage, it Was my good for
tune to enjoy the friendship and con-
fidence OF General jackson during
the last five or six years of bis earth
ly career; and the most grateful re-
collection Of him as Il beloved neigh
Dor and devoted friend renders your
invitation still more acceptable.
The quiet evening Of his life was
as serene and happy as its active
morning had been eventfuI and glo-
rious. When he gladly retired from
second term of the presidency to
his beautiful country seat on the
banks of the Cumberland, he seem.
ed to devote himself almost entirely
to preparation for the world beyond
the grave. His greatest delight was
in visiting the sick, and sending pro.
visions to the poor. He bad erected
IA neat church edifice on the grounds
Of the Hermitage plantation, where
he was accustomed to meet his neigh
bors every Sabbath, and unite with
them in public worship. He hat
even prepared lis own tomb in tht
flower garden adjacent 10 his dwell
ing house; and he frequently sait
that, having closed the business o
life, he only awaited marching orders
from his Great Commander on high
Yet, to the last, he continued to take
a deep and lively interest in all the
great questions that agitated thu
country, often manilesting the mos
anxious solicitude, and always de
claring his abiding confidence in tht
political virtue and intelligence o
his countrymen.
Some six months before the sum
mer's day on which be went to fna
rest, in bis garden of full blooming
flowers, a committee of the State 0
Louisiana awaited on him with an in
vitation to visit once more the scene:
of his early and brilliant military
achievements, and once more accept
the homage Of the city he had saved
His mental faculties were yet unim
paired, but his physical infrmitie'
compelled him to decline the invita-
ton; and he wrote them that since
the election, which had just closed
had resulted in another triumph o.
that democracy, by the election o
Mr.. Polk to the presidency, he was
quite ready to say, as said Simeon
of old: "Now, Lord, lettest thou
thy servant depart in peace
Who can doubt that if the veteran
we're still in the land Of the living
and were the recipient of an invita-
ton to your banquet, he would more
then ever rejoice at the late presi
dental election, and would now re-
spond joyously to your invitation, as
he did then to the invitation of Lou.
isiana?
Much as | would like to be with
you on this interesting occasion,
fear my engagements already made
will prevent. If toasts are in your
pr ogramme, let mine be:
The Preservation Of the Union
1t can be permanently insured only
by affectionate adherence to the In
dispensable compromises Of the fed
eral constitution.
Very respectfully,
Your obsdient servant,
J. GEO. HARRIS.