Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-03-07
"Old Hickory.''-A New AnecdOte OF
Andrew jackson.


From Col. Forney's Anecdotes of |
Public Men," now in process of publ
cation in the Washington Chronicle, we |
take the following:
The other day an old Ohio Wing, |
at present Republican, related an
anecdote of Old Hickory which never
heard before, and which l think worth
preserving. After Jackson's first cleo
ton in 1928 q strong effort was made to
remove Gen. -, an old Revolutionary
soldier, at that time postmaster In one
of the principal New York towns. He
had been so fierce an Adams man that
the jackson men determined to displace
him. He was no stranger to jackson,
who knew him well, and was conscious
of his private worth and public services
but as the effort to get his place was
determined one, Gen. - resolved to
undertake a journey to Washington for
the purpose of looking after his case.
Silas Wright had just left his seat as a
representative in Congress from New
York. Never was the Empire State
more ably represented. Cool honest,
profound and subtle, Mr.. Wright was
precisely the man to head a movement
against the old postmaster. His infiu-
ence with jackson was boundless. His
| force in debate made him a match for
the giants themselves and as Mr.. Van
Buren, was then Jackson's Secretary of
State the combination was powerful.
The old postmaster, knowing that these
two political masters were against him,
called upon the President Immediately
upon his arrival, and was most courte-
ously received and requested to call
again, which he did several times, but
nothing was said about the postoffice.
Finally the politicians finished their
protest and sent it forward to Mr..
| Wright, with the request that it should
be delivered at the first opportunity.
The old postmaster heard from his
friends at home that this important
document was on its way, so he resolved
on coup de main. The next day there
was presidential reception, and among
the early visitors was General -.
After cordial greeting by Jackson, he
quietly took his seat and waited until
the long train of visitors had duly sal
uted the nations chief and passed
through the grand East room on their
way home. The President turned to
his venerable guest with some surprise
as he noticed him still seated on one OF
} the sofas, and entered into familiar
conversation with him, when, to his
; amazement, the old soldier said
: General Jackson, have come here tt
| talk to you about my Office. The poll
: ticians want to take it from me, anc
4 they know l have nothing else to live
: upon" The President made no reply
till the aged postmaster began to tax,
off his coat in the most excited manner
when Old Hickory broke out with tn
inquiry: "What in Heavens name ar
r you going to do? Why do you take Of
s your coat in this public place % "Well
S sir, l am going to show you my wounds
which l received in fighting for M,
/ country against the English p Put i
# on at once, sir p was the reply; I" / ar
) surprised that man of your age shout
d make such an exhibition of himself,
d and the eyes of the iron Presiden
s. were suffused with tears, as withou
l. another word he babe his ancient 70
!, good evening. The very next nigh
7. the crafty and able New York political
n called at the White House and sent
n his card. He was Immediately ushere
If into the presence and found jackson
e. loose gown and slippers seated before
blazing wood fire quietly smoking b
long pipe. After the ordinary court
sizes had been exchanged, the political
opened his budget. He represented Ii
district from which the venerable pos
master hailed; said the latter had bee
)" known as very active advocate
John Quincy Adams; that he had Ii
lie orally forfeited his place by his earne
opposition to the Jackson men, an
that if he were not removed the ne
I'd administration would be seriously i
IN jured. He had hardly finished the la
lie sentence, when jackson sprung to b
ae feet, flung his pipe into the fire, al
Id exclaimed, with great yehemence, q
take the consequences, sir take Il
1t; consequences. By the Eternal W
ri not remove the old mani cannot I
move him. Why, Mr.. Wright, do "
not know that he carries more than
to pound of British lead in his body
ia That was the last of it. He who W
1y stronger than courts, courtiers, or Cal
I'd nets. pronounced his fiat, and the ha
Ii ply old postmaster next day took t.
stage and returned home rejoicing.