The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-08-03
ANDREW JACKSON.
Who Wrote His 1Iessagcs-Imterest-
ing "Reminiscences.

/ who Wrote His 1Iessagcs-Imteresf
ing "Reminiscences.
The following is an extract from /;
speech of Mr.. JOHN G. RIvEs, befor,
the Democratic Association of Wash
ington City, more than twenty year
| ago. Among other personal reminis
cences, it contains two or three anec
dOtes of Gen. JACKSON, which cannot
fail to be read with the interest which
attaches to everything that tends tC
illustrate the character Of that remark
able man. Mr.. RIYEs, who was asso-
ciated with FRANCIS P. BLAIR, ST., in
the publication of the Globe, states
that it was not only his fortune to be
''patronized by ANDREW JACKSON -
but it 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,
MIR. RIvES proceeded as follows:
''It is generally known that Gen.
Jackson was man who, above all
others, took possibility in peace or
in war, and that word brings to the
minds of the people Of this country his
name almost as the letters which spell
it. But it is not so well known that he
made others take it in times of pro-
found peace. I 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 Ma
tiondt Lateltigencer and the United
States Telegraph before it was sent to
Congress, soon after 1 came into the
Globe Office-the first session of the
twenty-third Congress, I believe-and
afterwards, as long as he was Presi-
dent, he gave all his messages to nee
to have printed, with the admOnition
4 will hold you responsible, sir, if
that message gets out before Congress
is ready to receive it. Don't let any
person even one of my Cabinet
Officers-have a copy of it before 1
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 a 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 Gen.
JacksOn's message was in his hand
writing. The proclamation which was
intended to carry out his memorable
toast, 1.-THE Union must be preserved, "
that was uttered as a rebuke to nulii-
ficatiOn, when it first showed it's front,
at the celebration of Mr.. JefTersOn's
birth day in Washington, was re-
written by Mr.. Livingston, then Sec
retary of State. Mr.. Blair, who saw
the original paper has frequently told
his friends that he thought it better
than the finished production, and not
liable to the objections to some of the
principles advanced in the latter. It
was Gen. JacksOn's invariabIe 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
teTations where he thought them im~
prOvements.
II will relate an ancedote, or Incl
dent, which will lead to a correct con-
clusion as 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 PhiIippe} the indemnity
due TO citizens of the United States by
the French Government, I found Mai.
A. J. DonelsOn, then Gen. Jackson's
private secretary, and clerk belong
ing to the State Department, {MT.
DeTTick,) comparing the copies to be
sent to both branches of Congress with
the rougn 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
1 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 l wrote it." Mai. DOneI-
son replied: General, the Cabinet
had meeting, and agreed to soften
this little;n and he then attempted to
read on, evidently very much agita-
ted. Gen. Jackson again said to him
''DOnelsOn stop there; that is not as
L u
reply, saying General,
the Cabinet had meeting and agreed
to soften this a 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 on regarding il.
General Jackson then stamped his
foot on the floor, and said in loud
voice: i say, stop! and put that as /
wrote it, don't care for the Cabinet,
nor for Mr.. RiveS and Congress wait
ing. 1t shall be as I wrote it, Mai.
DOnelsOn then opened his table draw
er, and took from it the slip which he
had cut from the message, and insert
ed it in the place of the alteration
made by the Cabinet. l have both
the original and the alteration, be-
iieve, filed away, but with so many
other papers that | 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 If, it
caused the money to be paid; and
Louis Philippe, then King of France,
thought so highly of General Jackson,
SAlett LII 5CAsb OIL CAlAllEAAL III bA5L MI
Healy) to the Hermitage, to take his
likeness for him; the likeness was
completed only a few days before the
Generals death, and is said to be the
best ever TAKEN"
The American Association for the
Advancement of Science, will hold their
next annual meeting at indianapolis,
commencing August 10th. The objects
of this association are, tn give a stronger
and more general impulse and more
systematic direction to scientific re-
search in the United States, to promote
intercourse between scientific men in
different parts Of the country, and to
secure increased facilities for their Ia
bors. The permanent secretary re-
quests that members should hand in the
titles Of their essays as early as possible
I.nf.