Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-09-08

made his sppearsace 10 Congreos. For
several yesrs preceding thess h1d been
. struggle over bill proposing e refund
to Gen Jsckson the 6ne q 1000, inn
posed upon him BY Judge Hall, Of New
Orleans, during the defence OF that city.
Some Of the best minds 10 Congress bad
considered the question, and It had been
- was thought, thoroughly discussed.
The bill had never become law. 1t
was contended BY the old hero's enc
mics that this declaration Of martial
law was violation Of the Constitution.
His friends while denying this excused
it on the ground Of necessity. The
friends of the bill supported it - .
measure Of gratitude boon due BY 2
grateful country to her patriotic and
successful defender.
On that ground it was mainly sup.
ported. On the 7th Of January Judge
Douglas obtained the floor. He was
then unknown to Congress; his was .
new face and . strange voice in those
halls. He did not follow the beaten
path in his advocacy of the bill. lie
At once took high aud strong ground 10
the defence Of Gen. Jackson's conduct.
He denied the legality Of Judge Halls
judgment. The position was bold one,
the speaker attracted attention, and as
he warmed with the subject he soon OBJ
tanned the ear of the House. His speech
was success it established his charac-
ter as lawyer and . debater. From
that time to the present day he has
never heen compelled to address empty
benches or az impatient, inattentive au
dlence. The bill passed the House and
subsequently the Senate.
After the adjournment Of Congress,
Messrs. Polk aud Clay having been NOM
mated for the Presidency, q monster
Democratic meeting was held at Nssh-
vile, Tenn, to which delegations and
distinguished men from all the West
ern States we're invited. A large dele
cation from Illinois, including Mr.. Doug
las, went to Nashville. The attendance
was immense. The accounts describe
it as a monster gathering; forty acres
we're scarcely able to afford standing
room for the vast assemblage Of men
and women. Some of the most bril-
liant orators of the day wore there, aud
for several days addressed the multitude.
Many had come from a great distance,
not only to attend the Convention but to
see the great man who had for 80 long .
period and so prominently occupied the
hearts Of his countrymen. They could
not leave without the long wished for
pleasuse of seeing Andrew Jackson.
The moment the speaking had closed
the immense throng turned their steps
towards the hermitage. A witness
says:
Il remember well the vast process
sion, the countless multitude, as it came
surging down the main road leading to
the home Of Jackson. AS the people
entered the avenue leading from the high
road TO the plain but cspacious dwell
ing, the old patriot, though feeble from
age, reused himself once more to re-
ceive the sincere and unbought homage
of his grateful and con6diDg country
men. He took seat on the sofa in the
large hall opposite to the porch and en-
trance. The multitude filled every
standing point in front Of the mansion.
Affectionate friends surrounded him j;
the throug asked but for the privilege of
seeing and taking him by the hand once
more. They approached him 10 files,
shook hands with him and passed on
through the hall. Thousands passed
thus before the old hero-at last our
friend Judge Douglas, of Illinois, ap-
preached.
remember how pale he looked, and
how small and plain be seemed beside
the hundreds of robust and gallant spec
linens of Tennessee manhood. Gov.
Clement G. Clay, Of Alabama, 6ena-
tor of the United States, bad been for
some time acting as the medium of in
PRODUCTION to strangers. The scene
that ensued was one never to be forgot
ten.
One of the Illinois delegation who
accompanied Judge Douglas, was Will
liam Walters, Esq, editor Of the Illinois
State Register, the most influential as
we'll as the ablest conducted paper in
the State. Mr.. Walters was ' ith Judge
Douglas at the time of his introduction
to Gen. Jackson. and on his return to
Springfield, few days af:er, he publish
ed the following description Of what
took place:
Everything that relates to Andrew
Jackson, the hero Of New Orleans, aud
the friend Of his country, is of deep in
terest to the American people, and
although the incident we are abont to
relate is in itself of no great interest, it
becomes SO to US in consequence of those
connected with it. At the Nashville
Convention, in August last, we visited
the Hermitage, only IL miles distant,
in company with Judge Douglas and
some other Of our fellow citizens. The
Hermitage was crowded with people
from almost every State, who bad been
invited thither by the venerable patriot
on the day succeeding tho Convention.
Gov. Clay, Of Alabama, was near Gen.
Jackson, who was Himself sitting on q
sofa in the hall, and as each person
entered the Governor introduced the
hero, and he passed along. When Judge
Douglas was introduced, Cen. Jackson
raised his still brilliant eye, and gazed
for moment in the countenance Of the
Judge, still retaining his hand. "Are
YOU the Mr.. DonOlas- If Tllinn;e ~ho