Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-08-05
ANDREW JACKSON.
Who Wrote His Messages Interest
ing "reminiscences.

speech Of Mr.. JOHN e. RIvEs, before
the Democratic Association of Wash
ington City, more than twenty years
ago. Among other personal reminis-
cences, ii 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 ?. BLAIR, ST., in
the publication of the Gl0Jc, states
that it was not only his fortune to he
"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 a 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 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. knowit well. He made
me take it, and that made me know
him 50 well. The occasion for max
ing me take it was, his annual mes
sage got out from the offices the Nu-
tOndi LteNgcRcCr and the LHHcd
States IclcgTdJ)h before it was sent to
Congress, soon after | came into the
Gl0Gc oilce-the first session of the
twenty-third Congress, l believe-and
afterwards, as long as he was Presi-
dent, he gave all his messages to me
to have printed, with the admOnition
i will hold you responsible, sir, if
that message gets out before Congress
is ready to receive it. Don't let any
person-not even one of my Cabinet
ollicors-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 lie nor
any other President ever wrote those
parts Of their messages which showed
the condition of the several depart
mcntS. 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, "rhe Union must he preserved y
that was uttered as rebukG to Onulli-
lication when it first showed its front,
at the celebration of Mr.. JellersOns
birth day in Washington, was re-
written by Mr.. Livingston, then Sec
retary of State. Mr.. Blair, who saw
4 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. 1t
was Gen. Jackson's S invariablc practice
I 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
teratons where he thought them im~
. provements.
~ will relate an anCedote, or Incl
/ dent, which will lead to q correct con-
clHsion asto who wrote Gen, JaCkson's 5
messages, and, also, who attended to
them after they were written.
"When went after the annual mes
sage which demanded sof the French
King Louis Philippe) the indemnity
due to citizens of the United States by
the French Government, found Maj.
/ A. j. Donelson, then Gen. Jackson's
private secretary, and clerk belong.
ing to the State Department, Mr..
Derrick comparing the copies to be
sent to both branches Of Congress with
the rough draught. Gen. Jackson was
walking the floor some twenty orthir-
ty feet from them smoking his pipe,
paying no attention to the reading, as
thought. When they read that part
ofthe 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 Cabinet
had q meeting, and agreed to soften
this a little;n andh then attempted tC
read on, evidently very much agita-
ted. Gen. Jackson again said to him
'Donelson! ! stop there; that is not as
| wrote it.n Maj. Donelson made O
stammering reply, saying: General
the Cabinet had a meeting and agreed
to soften This a little. | cannot altel
it in time for Congress, and Mr.. Rives
is here waiting for the message, and i
he does not get it shortly, he can moi
have it printed in time and contin,
ued to stammer on regarding it.
General Jackson then stamped hi,
foot on the floor, and said IN louC
voice: Il say, stop! and put that as
wroteit, l don't care for the Cabinet
= nor for Mr.. Rives and Congress wait
ing. 1t shall be as / wrote it, Mai
f DOnelsOn then opened his table draw
er, and took from it the slip which ht
had cut from the message, and insert
+ ed it in the place of the alteration
! made by the Cabinet. | have boil
: the original and the alteration, be
r iieve, filed away, but with so many
0 other papers that | cannot find then
+ conveniently. Many predicted at th
time that the supposed ailront con
tanned in the message would caus
France to declare war against TN
United States. So far from it,
q caused the money to he paid; ant
' Louis Philippe, then King Of France
d thought 50 highly OF General Jackson
. that he sent an eminent artist (Ml
, Healy) to the Hermitage, to take hi
: likeness for MIN; the likeness wa
Q completed only Il few days before fl
{ Generals death, and is said to be tn
! best ever taken
G THE American Association for til
$ Advancement OF Science, will hold the
c next annual meeting at lndianapOli
II commencing August 10Th, Tho objec
e OF this association are, tn giVca strongI
n and more general impulse and Il MOI
Il systematic direction to scientific n
. search in the 'nitcd States, to piomo
II intercourse between scientific men
d different parts OF the country, and
t. secure increased facilities for their |
< bors. The permanent secretary /
n quests that members should hand in Il
titles their essays as early as possibl
in order to secure their presentation
tho associations