The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-12
BOSTON AND GENERAL JACKSON.

just AlbeI tuo OpohihB Va NoueEhA JAChS0n' y
second term, there arose between his admins
tration and the opposition a fearful war in re-
gard to the United tates Bank, which institu-
ton, headed by Nicholas Biddle, Of Pennsyl-
vanis, was regarded by the Democrats as an
opponent of the interests Of trade. On the
contrary, the Wings gave it their sanction and
most earnest support. 1t was supposed that
Webster's great speech in reply to Hayne had
brought Jackson over to the Wing side to
such degree that he would favor the Whig
policy of the United States Bank. To make
this more sure, Jackson was invited to visit
Boston, where an ovation was given, such as
was never rendered to any other President
since the days OF Washington. He was not
proof against the tlattery, and had nearly
yielded TO Federal persuasions, when David
Henshaw, that war-horse of Democracy,
averted the intent, and it was discovered soon
after Jackson left that he had actually signed
the order for the removal of the deposits
while at his hotel in Boston.
The wrath Of the Boston people can better
be imagined than described. They sought
every way to demonstrate it. In 1884, shortly
after this supposed overt act, the frigate Con-
stitution was hauled into the dry dock at
Charlestown, Commodore Charles Elliott being
at that time in command, and staunoh friend
and supporter of Jackson. Whatever were
his motives or his reasons, he gave an order
to Mr.. Laban S. Beecher, the we'll known
ship carver, then a young man but short
time in business, who kept at No. North
Market street, to carve full figure of Jack
son for figure-bead to be placed on the Con-
stitution. The Constitution, it will be remem-
bered, was Boston-built ship, built on the
present site of Constitution wharf. She was
the glory of the old North End, and on her
first voyage was manned mostly by Boston
men. The time, the circumstance, and the
order all provoked the Boston merchants,
and they appointed committee to wait on
Mr.. Beecher and request him to stop the work.
Old Captain Ben Rich, long since dead, was
the spokesman of the committee, a great
friend as well as a generous patron of Mr..
Beecher, being large shipowner. Mr.. Beecber
respectfully declined to accede to the demand
made by Captain Rich Another of the COM
mittee, Mr.. Alfred Richardson, waited upon
Mr.. Beecher with the same result Mr.. Beecher
threatening to shoot any man who should in
terfere with his work. AS soon as the facts
were made public the excitement became in
tense and violence was threatened, the prin-
cipal merchants of Boston taking part. At this
juncture, Commodore Elliott, being alarmed
for the safety of the fgure-head, with the
promptness and decision which were charac.
teristic of the bluff old Commodore, ordered
the work to be taken to the Navy Yard and
there finished, and informed Mr.. Beeoher
that he would send q well-manned barge to
the rear Of his shop by daylight. Mr.. Beecher's
place was situated SO that the rear OF the
building was on the edge Of the old Middle
sex Canal. The barge arrived at the time
designated, manned by thirty men, who were
provided with billets OF wood to defend them
selves in case Of attack. AS sort of teint a
portion of the men proceeded to the market
with baskets. Meanwhile Mr.. Beecher had
packed the unfinished fgure-head in a large
box and lowered 1t down by the run into the
barge; this accomplished, the boatswain piped
his whistle and the crew of the barge came on
board and she shot through the canal just as
the excited crowd, who had got wind of the
proceedings, appeared on the ground, 'the
little man in black" with his treasure, being
prominent object on board the barge for the
hisses of the crowd. Arrived at Charlestown,
Mr. Beecher was allotted convenient room to
prosecute the work, before which a sentinel
paced night and day. The fgure-head was
completed and bolted upon the cutwater Of
the Constitution before she left the dock and
guard against any intended attack by the mob
Commodore Elliott had placed the yard in
state OF defense.
The irmness Of Mr.. Beecher and the bold
ness of Commodore Elliott tended to increase
the excitement in Boston. There seemed to be
fixed determination that the Constitution
should not go to sea with that fgure-head.
How to accomplish the result was not SO easy
to decide upon. Bat way at once seemed
opened to them Captain Sam Dewey, a bold,
daring, and reckless man, had just arrived
from sea, and one evening while in company
with few kindred spirits the matter was
brOached. Captain Dewey declared that he
would cut off the fgure-head and produce il on
a certain evening. The boldness OF the pro-
position and the well known intrepidity Of the
man gained immediate oredence, aud il was
not long before preparations were made for a
grand celebration and supper at Gallagher's
hotel, the old SIackpole House. The night
fixed upon by Dewey was eminently propi-
tiOus-a fearful storm was raging, aeoOmpa-
MED by sharp lightning and terrific
thunder. Dewey had his oonfsderates at a
given point; he took a skif at Charlestown
bridge, and, without the aid of oars, dropped
| quietly alongside the frigate; fastening his
| painter to the lower bObstsys, he climbed up
to the head, being provided with a narrow
but highly tempered saw, and, watching the
beats OF the sentry SO as to avoid him on ap-
| proach, he sawed the fgure-head through just
above the lower jaw, placed a strong leading
line over the upper part, which, at a given
| signal, was responded to by his confederates.
Thes6gure-bead was safeybrOught to Comey's
wharf, and from thenoe taken to Gallagher's
where a brilliant assembly was gathered-of
all that gay crowd but few are left-and
there were wit, and sentiment. and song such
as have rarely been reproduced. As the time
and the occasion have been 30 long forgotten.
and as the asperities of political wrangles have
been 80 deeply buried, We leave them where
they were, but the Hartford Convention, with
Tim Bgelow at its head, could hardly have
matched the excitement that followed.
AS soon as Elliott discovered the insult 20
his chief he was like a roaring lion. Sending
a peremPtory message to Mr.. Beecher to ap,
pear at The yard, that gentleman appeared
1 tMT, BeecheT.n - said the irata Con1uo odnKa