Daily national Democrat., 1860-10-06
From the Schenectady IN. " Democrat.
General Jackson and Judge DougIas--An n
Interesting Incident.

years preceding, there had been strurrl,
over TIL proposing to refund to Gen. Jack
son the tne of one thousand dollars. imposec
upou him by Judge Hall. of New Orleans
during the defense of that city. Some ot
the best minds in Congress had considered
the question, and it had been, as was thought,
thoroughly discussed The bil had never
become law. 1t was contended by the old
heros enemies that his declaration of martial
law was violation of the Constitution. His
friends, while hot denying this, excused it on
the ground of necessity. The friends of the
bill supported it as a measure of gratitude
boon due by a grateful country to her pa
triotic and successful defender
On this ground it was mainly supported.
On the 7th of January, Judge Douglas OBJ
| tanned the floor. He was then unknown TO
Congress-he was new face and Il strange
voice in those halls lie did not follow the
beaten path in his bold and manly advocacy
of the bill. He at once took high and strong
ground in defense of Gen. Jackson's conduct.
He denied the legality of Judge Halls iudg,
ment The proposition was bold one; the
speaker attracted attention. and as he warm
ed with his subject, soon obtained the ear of
the House. His speech was a success it es-
tablished his character as a lawyer and a
uaN.
he has never been compelled to address emp
ty benches or an impatient, inattentve au-
dience. The bill passed the House and sub
sequently the Senate.
After the adjournment of Congress, Messrs.
Polk and Clay having been nominated for the
Presidency, a monster Democratic Convention
was held at Nashville, Tenn, TO which dele
cations and distinguished men from all the
western States were invited. large dele
CATION from Illinois, including Mr.. Douglas
went to Nashville. The attendance was i'm
mense. The accounts describe it as mon
ster gathering forty acres were scarcely able
to afford standing room for the vast assem-
blage of men and women. Some of the most
brilliant orators of the day were there, and
for several days addressed the multitude.
Many had come from great distance, not
only to attend the Convention, but to see the
great man who had for so long period and
so prominently occupied the hearts Of his
countrymen. They could not leave without
the long wished for pleasure of seeing An
drew jackson. The moment the speaking
had closed. the immense throng turned their
steps towards the Hermitage. A witness
says:
Il remember well the vas. procession, the
countless multitude, as it came surging down
the main road leading to the house of Jack.
son. As the vast concourse of people enter
ed the avenue leading from the high road to
the plain but capacious dwelling, the Cd
patriot. though feeble fron age, reused him
self once more to receive the sincere and un-
bought homage of his grateful and confiding
countrymen. He took a seat on sofa in the
large hall opposite to the porch and entrance.
The multitude filled every standing point in
/ of Go, 1.
surrounded him; the throng asked but for the
privilege of seeing and taking him by the
hand once more. They approached him in
files, shook hands with him, and then passed
through the hail. Thousands passed thus
before the old hero-at last our friend Judge
Douglas, of Illinois, approached.
81 remember how pale he looked, and how
small and plain he seemed beside the hun
dreds of robust and gallant specimens OF
Tennessee manhood. Gov. Clement G. Clay,
of Alabama, Senator Of the United States,
had been for some time acting as the medium
of Introduction to strangers. The scene that
ehsued was one never to be forgotten"
One of the Illinois delegation who accom-
panied Judge Douglas was William Walter,
Esq, editor of the Illinois State Register
the most influential as well as the ablest con-
Quoted paper in the State. Mr.. Walter was
with Judge Douglas at the time of his intro
duction to General jackson, and on his re
turn to Springfelda few days thereafter he
published the following description of what
took place:
Everything that relates to Andrew Jack
son, the hero of New Orleans, and the friend
of his country, is of deep concern to the
American people; and although the incident
we are are about to relate is i'll itself of no
great interest it becomes so to us in conse-
quence of those connected with it. At the
| Nashville Convention in August last, We
visited the Hermitage only twelve miles dis
tant, in company with Judge Douglas and
some other of our fellow citizens. The Her.
mitage was crowded with people from al
most every State who had been invited
thither by the venerable patriot on the day
succeeding the Convention. Gov. Clay, o
Alabama, was near Gen. jackson, who wa:
! himself sitting on a sofa in the hail. and a:
each person entered, the Governor introduced
him to the hero, and he passed along. Wher
Judge Douglas was introduced, Gen. jackson
raised his still brilliant eye. and gazed for q
moment in the countenance of the Judge
sill retaining his hand Are you the Mr.
last session on the subject of the fine imposed
]
| leansY asked General Jackson.
al have delivered speech IN the House
of Representatives upon that subject was
the modest reply of Mr. Douglas.
"'rhen stor,' said Generalal jackson; sit
down here beside me. | desire to return to
YOU my thanks for that speech. You are the
first man that has ever relieved my mind on
a subject which has rested upon it for thirty
years My enemies have always charged me
with violating the Constitution of my coun-
try, by declaring martial law at New Orleans
and my friends have always admitted the
violation, but have contended that circum-
stances justified me in that violation.
never could understand how it was, that the
performance of a solemn duty to my country
"a duty which, if | had neglected, would
have made me traitor in the sight Of GOO
and man--could properly be pronounced q
violation of the Constitution.
al felt convinced in my own mind that
was not guilty Of such heinous ofiense
but could never make out legal justification
of my course nor has it ever been done, sir
until you, on the floor of Congress-, at the
last session, established it beyond the posi-
Lility of cavil or doubt. ] thank you, sir
for that speech. 1t has relieved my mine
from the only circumstance that rested pain
fully upon it. Throughout my whole life
never performed an official act which | view
ed as Il violation of the Constitution of ny
country, and | can now go down to my
grave in peace, with the perfect consciousness
that have not broken, at any period OF my
life, the Constitution or laws of my country
Thus spoke the old hero, his couutenanc
frightened by emotions which it is impossi
ble for us to describe. We turned to lool