Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-01-26

his counfrymen were taught tC
believe him The worst and most
Infamous of men. They never
believed otherwise; but no mat
ter they are all dead and forgot
ten nosV. The circumstances of
his marriage were obtruded upon
the public, and the character of
his wife, than whom a purer OF
better woman never lived, was
shamelessly assailed. For this
most incapable OF wrongs with
Jackson there was no forgiveness.
More than twenty years earlier
blood alone had atoned for it.
Not calmly, but with stern and
wratlful courage, Andrew Jack
son could endure all this. Once
only be was moved to tears of
grief, and he said to his wife =
FM yself | can defend; you can
defend. but now they have assailed
even the memory of my mother. .
His patriotism-"loyalty" had
not then been invented-was de-
MED; and for Lis alleged compile
ity with Burr, he was continually
denounced as a "traitor." But
this he laughed to scorn; and the
man and his popularity only
gathered strength from every as
sault of his enemies. The peo-
ule were for him. By an over
whelming majority he was chosen
President. His popularity could
stand everything and more than
that he could stand his popularity.
He was now President at last !;
and eight years of bitterness and
strife, and eight years also Of
glory and honor followed. Never
were such political combinations
Of talent. wealth; power power, influence,
formed against any man; never
were they so broken. Il tax the
responsibility" sa d the stern old
man OF the White House 1t was
done the people sustained f; time
has approved him. Among the
more memorable of the events Of
his Administration, were the veto
of the Maysville road bill; his
now historic toast, "0ur FEDERAL
Union it must be preserved" of
late so often misquoted; the re-
moval Of the Indians ; the disrup-
ton of his first cabinet; the veto
of the United States bank bill f;
his rupture with Calhoun, and
subsequent war with notification;
his reelection; the removal of
the deposits; the ''panic session."
and his heroic firmness amid diff
fculties by which any other man
would have been appalled,; bis
decided measures with France,
which compelled iGemnity and
extorted admiration from yelling
ton and Louis Philippe; the at
tempted assassination by Law
renee; and the Specie Circular
His frailties and virtue alike, were
called into exercise at every step;
and at the end of eight years OF
more eventful administration than
the country had ever before wit
messed, he retired forever to the
seclusion of private life, victor in
every conflict and over every foe.
Was Andrew Jackson rash
man? For years he was SO re-
garded by enemy and friend,
alike. But he shall himself an
swer. Eight years ago an emf
nent citizen of Tennessee, related
to me personally that. jackson Of
ten complained that his real char
acter was so little understood.
Even those who ought to know
me BEST" he was accustomed to
say, "call me rash. But they are
wrong, all wrong,sir. | never did
a rash thing in my life-asnle8s 1
intended It," And no man was
more ciroumspect; none more Wig
liant or prudent f; no one more ST.
lent when it was not wise to speak
out ; and none knew better how a
secret should be kept. Exacting
in his friendship, he more than
returned all that he required
Prone to suspect that no enemy
could do right, be believed with
profoundest conviction to the last
moment, that no friend could do
or intend wrong.
At the close of his administra-
ton, he retired again to. the Her
mitage, where in such quietude
and seclusion as is permitted to
one so illus;rious, he passed the
eight remaining years Of a long
and, eventful life.