The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-07-28
ANDREW JACKSON.
Who Wrote His Messages
~ ing "Reminiscences.


Who Wrote His MessageS-Intercst-
ing "Reminiscences
The following is an extract from
speech of Mr.. JOHN G. RIvEs, before
the Democratic Association of WASH
ington City, more than twenty years
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 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 GiO6C, states
that il 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,
Mr.. RIvEs proceeded as follows:
at 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 CT this country his
name almost as the letters which spell
it. But il is not so we'll known that he
made others take it in times of pro-
found peace. / 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 Nd-
tonoJ I,,telligeRcer and the United
States Telegraph before it was sent to
CvusroAs, soon after | came into the
Globe offlce-tne nrst 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 I:
Il will hold you responsible, sir, if
that message gets ont before Congress
is ready to receive it. Don't let any
person-not even one of my Cabinet
officers--have a 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. l lnvaria-
| 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 10y
many, that Gen. Jackson did not
I 4, t. Nniflanr no
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 i'll bis hand
writing. The proclamation which was
intended to carry out his memorable
toast, 1.-The Union must be preserved, u
that was uttered as a Tebuke to NULL
fication, when it first showed its front
al the celebration of Mr.. Jefierson''
| 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 il BETTE
than the finished production, and no
liable to the objections to some of tht
principles advanced in the latter. j
was Gen. Jackson's invariable practic,
TO put down in writing every oflicia
paper which he submitted To the pub
lie. He was, however, always Willing
TO admit suggestions, and permit al
terations where he thought them inn
provements.
Il will relate au anCed0te, or Incl
dent, which will lead 10 a correct con
clusion as to who wrote Gen. Jackson
messages, and, also, who attended L
them after they were written.
"When Went after the annual mes
sage which demanded Of the FTencl
King Louis Philippe the indemnify
due TO citizens of the United States bl
the French Government, | found Maj
A. J. DonelsOn, then Gen. Jackson
private secretary, and clerk belong
ing 10 the State Department, Ny
Derrick, comparing the copies To b
sent TO both branches of Congress viii
the rough draught. Gen. jackson wa
walking the floor some twenty or thlr
ty feet from them smoking MS pipe
PAVING no attention to the reading, a
thought. When they read that par
of the message which pressed the de
mand in the strongest terms, Gen
Jackson said: "DOnelson , stop there
that is not as | wrote it Maj. Donel
: son replied: General, the Cabine
. had a meeting, and agreed TO s0ite
this a little:n an he then attempted
read on, evidently very much agIta
ted. Gen. Jackson again said 70 him
, "Donelson stop there; that Is not 4
l wrote it." Maj. DOnelsOn made
stammeriBg reply, saying: "Genera
S the Cabinet had q meeting and agree
to soften this little. l cannot altt
it in time for Congress, and Mr.. Rive
is here waiting for the message, and
be does not get il shortly, he can NJ
: have it printed in time ami contI
> ued to stsmmer on regarding il.
"General Jackson then stamped n
: foot on the floor, and said IN lou
Il voice: Il say, stop, and pat that as
wrote it, / don't care for the Cabine
nor for Mr.. Rives and Congress wal
p ing. 1t shalt be as l wrote it, Ma
Donelson then opened bis table draw
y er, and took from it the slip which /
had cut from the message, and inser
ed it in the place of the alteratio
made By tie Cabinet. have bot
u the original and the alteration, b.
i iieve. filed away, but with so man
: other papers that | cannot find thei
conveniently. Many predicted at ii
> time that the supposed afIront COZ
IS tanned in the message would eau:
q France to declare war against q
United States. So far from it,
caused the money to be paid al
/ Louis Philippe, then King OF Franc
thought so highly Of General Jackson
that he sent "a eminent artist M
Healyj to the Hermitage, to take h
D likeness for him; the likeness WI
Y completed only few days before I.
. Generals death, and is said to be Il
best ever takeH."
The heather" Chinese goveTnme
has recently issued orders which vi