The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-08-03
ANDREW JACKSON.
who wrote Ills Messages Interest
Ing "Reminiscences.

Ing "Reminiscences.
The following is All extract from a
speech OF Mr.. JOHN c. RlvEs, before
the Democratic Association Of Wash
ington City, more than twenty years
ago. Among other personal reminis-
cences, 1t contains two or three anec-
dotes of Gen. JACKSON, which cannot
fail to be read with the interest which
attaches to everything that tends to
illustrate the character Of that remark
able man. Mr.. RIvEs, who was asso-
ciated with FRANCIS p. BLAIR, ST., In
the publication Of the Glodc, states
that it was not only his fortune to be
"patronized by ANDREW JACKSON"
but 1t was also his good luck to know
more about his presidential career than
those most near and dear to him.
After thus presenting his credentials,
Mr.. RlvEs proceeded as follows:
ut is generally known that Gen.
Jackson was man who, above all
others, took responsibility in peace or
in war, and that word brings to the
minds OF the people Of this country his
name almost Us the letters which spell
| it. But 1t Is not so well known that he
made others take 1t in times Of pro-
found peace. l know it well. He made
me take it, and that made me know
him so well. The occasion for max
ing ME take it was, his annual mes
sage got out from the offices the No-
tiOnM MteUigCnccr and the United
States Telegraph before it was sent to
Congress, soon after | came into the
| GloGc Oilice-the first session Of the
twenty-third Congress, believe-and
afterwards, as long as he was Presi-
dent, he gave all his messages to me
to have printed, with the admOnition
Il will hold you responsible, sir, If
that message gets out before Congress
is ready to receive it. Don't let d,y
person-not even one OF my Cabinet
ofilcers--have copy Of it before |
send it to Congress-.
"The printer prints from the rough
! draught Of the Presidents message,
and often gets part OF the copy before
the message is completed. invaria-
bly, went after copy and took the
proofs back to the President myself,
which gave me an opportunity OF
knowing all about who wrote and who
were consulted about them. 1t has
been said, and is no doubt believed by
many, that Gen. Jackson did not
write his messages. Neither he nor
any other President ever wrote those
parts OF their messages which showed
the condition OF the several depart
ments. They are written by the heads
OF the departments respectively. Near
ly the whole Of the balance Of Glen.
Jackson's message was in his hand
writing. The proclamation which was
intended to carry out his memorable
toast, "The Union must be preserved y
that was uttered as, q rebuke to nulll-
tlcation, when II first showed It's front,
at the celebration OF Mr.. Jcllcrson's
birth day in Washington, was re-
written by Mr.. Livingston, then Sec
reta&y OF State. Mr.. Blair, who saw
the original paper has frequently told
his friends that he thought II better
than the finished production, and not
liable to the objections to some OF the
principles advanced in the latter. 1t
was Gen. Jackson's invariable practice
to put down In writing every official
paper which he submitted to the pub
lie. He was, however, always willing
to admit suggestions, and permit al
terations where he thought them im-
prOvements.
81 will relate al ancedote, or incl
dent, which will lead to q correct con-
clusion rs to who wrote Gen. Jackson's
messages, and, also, who attended TO
them after they were written.
"When went after the annual mes
sage which demanded OF the French
King Louis Philippe) the indemnity
due to citizens OF the United States by
the French Government, found Maj.
A. J. Donclson, then Gen. Jacllson's
private secretary, and clerk belong.
ing to the State Department, (Mr.
Derrlck,) comparing the copies to be
sent to both branches Of Congress with
the rough draught. Gen. Jackson was
walking the floor some twenty or thir-
ty feet from them smoking his pipe,
paying no attention to the reading, as
| thought. When they read that part
of the message which pressed the de-
mand in the strongest terms, Gen.
Jackson said: "Donelson stop there !;
that is not as wrote it." Mai. Donel-
son replied: General, the Cabinet
had q meeting, and agreed to soften
this little;" andhe then attempted to
read on, evidently very much agita-
ted. Gen. Jackson again said to him :.
'Donelson stop there; that is not as
| wrote it," Maj. Donelson made a
stammering reply, saying: General,
the Cabinet had meeting and agreed
to soften This little. / cannot alter
it in time for Congress, and Mr.. Rives
is here waiting for the message, and il
he does not get it shortly, he can not
have it printed in time,' and contin-
ued to stammer OH regarding it.
General Jackson then stamped his
foot on the floor, and said IN loud
voice: Il say, stop! and put that as 1
wrote 1t, don't care for the Cabinet,
nor for Mr.. Rives and Congress wait
ing. 1t shall be as / wrote it, Mai.
DOnelsOn then opened his table draw
er, and took from 1t the slip which he
had cut from the message, and insert
ed it in the place OF the alteration
made by the Cabinet. haye both
the original and the alteration, I be-
iieve, filed away, but with so many
other papers that l cannot find them
conveniently. Many predicted at the
time that the supposed affront con-
tanned in the message would cause
France to declare war against the
United States. So far from it, II
caused the money to be paid; and
Louis Philippe, then King Of France,
thought so highly Of General Jackson,
that lie sent an eminent artist (Mr.
Healy) to tho Hermitage, to take his
likeness for him; the likeness was
completed only u few days before the ,
Generals death, and is said to be the !
best ever takcn.n !
ldlencss Is the badge OF gentry, the
bane OF body and mind, the nurse Of
naughtincss, tue step-mother Of dis
cipline, the chief author Of ull mis-
ahinf nnn f,f tha al, .,;,a ia, nt,ch