The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-07-13
stephen A. Douglas Interview
with Gen. Jackson.
To the Ed. Enqairer:

lowing paragraph:
81 prefer Mr.. Douglas because he is
my friend, and | know of no obligation
more sacred than that of friendship; pre-
fer him because he bore the flag of the
Democracy in the darkest hours of its
history, when even the bravest hearts al
most trembled in the face of the political
tempest because General Jackson, in his
old age and in his own house declared he
(DougIas) had smoo:hed his path to the
grave, and seemed to place his mantle up
on him, as the prophet Of Israel in the
oden time, aEnointed the future magis-
trates of the people because he advocates
the rights of men in the Territories, as
well as in the States, to regulate their do
mestic policy"
An esteemed friend assured me, after
the publication of the card, he was not
aware that General Jackson had spoken SO
strongly in favor of Mr.. Douglas. The
following are the particulars of tho incl
dent to which | alluded, promising that
Judge Douglas was elected member Of
the twenty eight Congress, and took his
seat on TIE 1st of December, 1913:
For several sessions of Congress an eff
fDIt hal been made TO restore the fine inn
posed upon General Jackson by Judge
Hall, for declaring martial law, and tax
ing such other steps as were necessary for
the defense of the city of New Orleans,
during the last war with Great Britain
TIE proposition 10 effect that object was
renewed shortly after Judge Douglas took
his seat, aud many able speeches were de
liyered by members on both sides of the
ques.i ion. On the seventh day of January
1874, pending the discussion OF the bill
and after the subject seemed to have been
exhausted by the older polite. ans, the
floor was assigned by the presiding officer
of the House TO member small iii stature
and ID stranger to the National Councils
and to Washington audience. The HAS
siye forehead aud piercing blue eye of
him who WAS about to speak indicated
that he was not without valuable attributes
Of mind anl character yej Eo one Of the
vast audience which thronged the CALLER
ie- during that exciting debate, could i'm.
ag;ne what remained to be said upon the
subject; to them it was apparently cx-
hausted. The SPEAKER, however, had
made but little progress in his remarks be
fore all eyes were upon him, and pro
found stllMeSs prevailed over hall and gal
lerlcs. It was seen that he had struck
out new course, aud was presenting the
question IN a new light. lie took the
high ground that General Jackson stood
Justified legally and morally in what he
had done, and the effect was electric
Judge Donglas, ''the little giant" Of Hi
uoiS, was the speaker, and bis was pro
nouaced the speech OF the session 1t is
before the world, ana the world can Judge
OF its merits.
a few months af,crward, Judge Dong
las, in company with a delegation from
Illinois, attended the Nashville Conven-
ton ; while there they paid their respects
to General jackson at the Hermitage
The following is the report of what oc-
Cured, as was published shortly afterward
in an Illinois paper; every ything that
relates to Andrew Jackson, the Hero OF
New Orleans aud the friend Of his coun-
try, is Of deep interest to the American !;
| and although the incident we are about 70
relate is, in itself, of no great interest, it
becomes SO in consequence of those con
nected with it:
At the Nashville Convention, of Au-
gust last, we visited the Hermitage, twelve
miles distant, in company with Judge
Douglas, of this State, and some others of
our fellow citizens. The mansion was
crowded with people from almost every
State who had been invited thither by the
venerable patriot on the day succeeding
the Convention.
Governor Clay, Of Alabama, was near
General Jackson, who was sitting on So
ia in the hall, and as each person entered,
the Governor introduced him to the Hero
and he passed along. When Judge Doug
las was thus introduced, the General rails
ed his eyes and gazed for moment in the
countenance of the Judge, still retaining
bis hand. al Te you the Mr.. Douglas, OF
Illinois, who delivered a speech last ses-
sion on the subject of remitting the fine
impoted on me for declaring martial law
at New Orleans {? asked the General.
81 have delivered speech in the House
of Representatives upon that subject was
the modest reply of Judge Douglas.
'Then stop said General Jackson !;
Sit down here beside me. l desire to
return you my thanks for that speech
You are the first man that has ever re-
lieved my mind on a subject which has
rested upoL for thirty years. My enemies
have always charged me with violating
the Constitution OF my country by deHla
ring martial law at New Orleans, and my
friends have always admitted the violotion
but have contended that circumstances
justified me in that violation. | never
could understand how it was that the per
formance Of a solemn duty to my country,
aud one which. if had neglected it would
have made me a traitor IN the sight of
God and man, could properly be pronoun-
ced violation Of the Constitution. |
felt convinced III my own mind that | was
not guilty Of such henous offence but |
could not make out legal Justification OF
my course, nor has it ever been done, sir,
unti you, on the floor OF Copgless, at
the late session, established it beyond the
I possibility OF caYiI or doubt. | thank
. you, sir, toT tAa; speech It has reiie' Ell
ny mind fr,,ro the p,,fr rtrtsr.ulst1rce thtt