Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-03-05
Original Anecdotes of General Jackson

iHc 1olloWlnS interesting IclllillS
ccnces of the I" old hero of the hermi
tagc," from the pen of Col. II. b
Thorpe (Tom Oowen, the Bee Hunter,
recently appeared:
General Jackson not only stood BY
his friends, but he was slow to believe
anything against those in whom he put
confidence. One of the most honorec
and oldest citizens now residing il
Washington informed us that Just
after his arrival in that city, then {
young man, Mr. Woodbury., then Sec,
rotary of the Treasury under General
Jackson, said to him that ho was or
his way to the white House to in
form the General that one of his
especial appointces was n 'dcfaultcr
Nr. Woodbury. said farther, that tho
General was slow to believe anything
against his friends, and that he cx,
pected that he, the General, would say
or do something unpleasant when he
heard the statement. Mr.. Woodbury.
then took our informant along OH the
pretence of introducing him to the
President, but really to divide the cx-
pcctcd fire that would be evolved by
the real business Of the contemplated
interview. The General was found in
his favorite room, with his fcet against
the mantcl, cnjooing the heat of a
hickory wood fire, and the solace of
his favorite corn-cob pipe. Mr. Wood
bury after few unimportant remarks,
at last stated the object of his visit.
The moment the General comprehend
cd Mr.. Woodbury's statement he
brought his feet to the floor with a
crash, sprang up, and, almost livid with
anger, said that he believed the
charges made against his old friend
were false. Hc added: This man
fought by my side in tho Florida war;
! know he was brave, and I believe he
is an honest man. Mr.. Woodbury.,
who rctrcatcd to avoid the first effects
of the explosion, now stepped forward
and said that he had been unusually
careful to inform himself and that he
was forced to believe that the charges
were true. He then added, as if to
mollify the General, Il would like to
have you, Mr.. President, nominate
some one for the place Il will nomi-
nate no one,' said the General, inter-
rupting Mr.. Woodbury., at the same
time choking to keep down his feel
ings. Put in the vacant place whom
you please, but, mark me, Mr.. Wood
bury, I shall examine into this case
myself, and if my friend has been
wronged, I will grind the guilty
parties into the earth, just as do this
pipe as he threw the old corn-cob on
the floor, and ground it up under the
heel Of his boot. Mr.. Woodbury. gave
his young friend signal, and the two
hastily retreated. On reaching the
open air Mr.. Woodbury. said, 'Thank
God, that unpleasant duty is perform
ed. 1 hope will never have to per-
form another ono of the kind"
1t is useless to say Of n man govern
ed by principles SO noble, where his
personal relations are concerned, that
his public life could be failure at
least it could not be failure under a
popular form of government. But
this feature of strong personality was
still farther illustrated by prominent
act Of General Jackson's Administra-
tion. Soon after he was inaugurated
he appointed a then obscure young
man, named Gwinn, subsequently dis
tinguished as United States Senator
Gwinn, to the best paying office in his
gift, viz: United States Marshal of
Mississippi. The Senate was politi-
calIy opposed to the General, and it
rejected the appointment. The Gen
eral sent it in a second time, and
again it was rejected. Nothing, up
to this era, exceeded the party indig-
nation and abuse that was showered
upon the General for his violation OF
usage "and the Constitution" by such
an unparalleled outrage of renomi-
mating person to the Senate who had
been rejected. But General. Jackson
kept Gwinn in office until his successor
was confirmed, and thus fought the
battle with the Senate, keeping the
country in hot water and taxing his
party for defence. This continued fo1
four long years. With General Jack
sons second term came q. Senate
politically favorable, and Gwinn was
now nominated for the third time and
Was confirmed, and thus ended the
strife, - '>
Hon. Alexander, Barrow, United
States Senator, who was sort of God
childaof General Jackson's, informed
us that, after many years Of estrange
ment on account of political differ
ences, he paid a1ast visit to "the Her
mitage." BE found the once stalwar