Weekly Trinity journal., 1862-01-11
a Scrap of History.

Soon after General Jackson arrived in New
Orleans. in the later part of the year lSll he
placed that city and whole district within his
lines under martial law. This was considered a
wise. and even necessary precau ton, and was
zealously submitted to by the patriotic portion
of the population. After the great battle on the
| Sth of January, 1915, in which the British were
so totally routed the malcontcnts IN the city
began to murmur at the maintenance OF martial
law declaring that as the British had tled and
there was no danger from any foe, the confluence
of the military regime was downright tyranny.
Old Hickory paid no attention to these murmurs,
but went on his iron way, with an eye to the
safety of his country. But soon news came,
vague and unauthcntio, that peace had been
declared, and then the murmurs OF malcontcntS
became frequent and loud The French portion
of the population were especially clamorous, and
finally they began to get certificates of French
citizenship from the French counsul, hoping
thereby to be able to set Old Hickory at defiance
But they mistook their man. As soon as the old
hero learned what they were about, he ordered
them and their consul to leave New Orleans
within three days,-not to come nearer than l20
miles of the city until peace should be officially
announced He at the same time took judicious
notice of the rumors OF peace, limiting that they
might have been circulated by the enemy for the
purpose of throwing him oil his guard; he
assured his army and the inhabitants that the
fruits of their glorious victory should not be
| SnOtcneU lIOm lutHi ny it"ooh VI "liS i"ON w
vigilance on his part, and that, until he received
official notification from his Government that
peace had been declared, he should maintain
within his lines the most inaexihle discipline.
The proclamation produced prodiglous excite
ment Frcnchman named Louailler, who was
Il member of the Legislature, published in one
of the city papers defiant commentary upon 1t,
and declared, in substance, that the French
citizens would not obey such tyrannieal order
The General at once had the editor brought
before him, and demanded the name of the
author of the "niUtiHoHs article The editor
gave the authors name and a few minutes after
wards iouailer was tapped on the shoulder, as
| he promenading the street, by sergeant at
! the head of Il file of soldiers, and Informed that
he was " my prisoncro lie protested against
the arrest, engaged lawyer on the spot named
! Morrill,, to take charge of his case, and was
marched off to prison. Morrill, at once applied
| to the United States Judge named Dominick
! Hail, for IL writ Of habe1s corpus. The Judge
granted the writ; but when the official went to
serve it on the General, he seized it, kept pos
session of it cas- evidence against the Judge, ="
rave the officer II certified copy, aud at once
issued an order for the arrest Of Dominick
Hall, On a charge Of ditjng 10 erctte mminy IN the
canp.n 9" BE careful to permit no escapes,
wrote the General to the officer detailed to
arrest the Judge, "ds tho enlSsdries Ot the enemy
are more numerous Hd3 tOe erpected.' Rather Il
hard hit, that, for the United States Judges
Old llckurys pen was sometimes sharper thal
his sword. Judge Hall was speedily arrested
and imprisoned along with hs friend L0ualller
where they could talk over the matter at the
leisure But in a short time the General hat
the Judge escorted beyond his lines, and set a
liberty, with command not to come within thD
lines again until peace should be officially de
Qared. Not long afterwards peace 'cas Ollie tally
declared aud then the General, IN AN eloquent
and hcart-srrng proclamation, dlsbanded his
heroic army, permitted the civil power to resume
its legitimate sway, and released all prisoners
confined for dlsohcdienco to military orders.
Judge Hall returned to the city and deter
mined to have his revenge. lie soon had thC
General served with an order to show cause why
he should not be attached for contempt of court
etc, etc On the day of the return, the General
in citi2en's dress and accompanied by The
J renowned Edward Livingston as his counsel
: went to the courtroom, which was packed VIII
an eager multitude anxious to get Il glimpse o
the {" old hero" A soon as his tall and majestic
form was acen the audience burst into such {
tempest of enthusiasm that the Judge, not know
ing what the excited throng might do, gave
orders to adjourn the Court. Bat the Genera
entertained different views. Sprnging upon
seat, he waved bis arm, and at once silence a.
of the grave preVadcd the hushed multitude
Then, in n few words be reminded the audience
whore they were, and bcsought every man wh'
was a fyiend 10 him to behave with the decornn
due to the place and the occasion. 1hen turning
to the scared Judge, he said Tile same arm
hat protects this city from He Hpader aoW ais
protect this C6urf in the discharge Of is d"tB o
perish in the attempt.' So upder The protection .
, tie Generai, the Court went on.
The Judge refused, on technical grounds, tC
hear Livingston's argument in favor Of the Gen
erals course, and ordered the attachment tt
issue On the return day of the attachment, The
Judge propounded nineteen interrOgatores tha
the General declined to take any notice OF be
cause Livingston had been refused Il hearing il
his defence, and stated that he was ready to hear
and abide Ly the decision Of the Court The
Judge then fled linn one HaHsand doiiars, fo
which the General at once drew his check on q
city bank and thus the matter was for time
, ended But twenty seven years afterwards
d. 1912, the Congress 0i the United State
voted to refund TO General Jackson that $1,000
with interest to date, amounting TO some S2,l0O
and the money was paid over to the old man
amid the plaudits Of the nation. And thereby
Congress and the people set their seal Of appro
baton upon the old hero's conduct, and gave
Judges notice to beware how, in critical emer
gcnces they interfere with commanders called
into the field to defend the honor an the safety
of the country.