The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-01-26
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial
FOOTPRINTS OF OLD HICKORY.
ANOTHER A. J.

ANOTHER A. J.
Jonesborough, Washington county,
East Tennessee, is the Oldest town i'll
the State, and within its boundaries
are clustered many tender recollec-
tions of the past, many illustrious foot
prints in the sands of time, many rel
les of historic interests, and many
grogshops. The old town was once
the Capital of the district ofFranklin,
and much that pertained to that an
cient government, in martial way,
is still pointed out to the stranger.
Here it was, if we may believe sun
dry old documents mellowed by time,
corroborated by sundry old men mel
lowed by apple brandy, that Andrew
Jackson studied and practiced law.
occupied the bench, fought his first
duel, arrested criminals, played cards,
ran horses, engaged in chicken fights,
bet at sho oting matches, tlirted with
the mountain girls, drank the best
brandy of home manufacture, and did
number of things that the impartial
historian overlooks when he chroni-
cles the deeds of our departed great.
JACKSON AS JUDGE.
! In the Courthouse are number of
old books containing the records of
the "Court of equity" when Andrew
Jackson was Judge. From the rec
ords it appears that he entered upon
the duties of the position September
u, 1899. This entry appears: Sep
tember term, 1899. AT a Court of
equity opened and held IN the town
of Jonesborough, for the district of
Washington, in the State of Tennessee,
on the 18th of September, 1899. Pres
ent, the Honorables Archibald Roane.
David Campbell and Andrew Jack
son, Esquires."
This is the first entry that recog-
nizes Jackson as Judge, and the last
one is in 1874. His signature is rath-
er cramped and crooked, some like
that of Andrew johnson. a line drawn
under it and two dots after the Chris
tian name.
1t was while he was Judge here that
he arrested the notorious desperate
Bean, whom nobody else could arrest.
Many of Beans descendants are still
living here, and the place where Old
Hickory's eyes brought him down is
still pointed out.
As the story runs, Bean went away
and left his family for two years.
When he returned his wife celebrated
the advent by presenting him with a
new born babe This was a new de.
parture in the domestic economy, and
Bean did not accept the situation with
very good grace. He demanded an
explanation, and in the absence of 4
satisfactory one, he sharpened his knife
and deliberately cut off both ears of
the poor little baby, playfnlly remark
ing, as he did so, that he wanted to
distinguish it from his own. Some
/ thought it was an innocent proceeding,
a practical joke on the baby, in fact,
while others considered it an outrage
that should be punished. The grand
jury took that view of The case and
indicted Bean. Bean. as usual, brush
ed up his horse pistols and said that
they might indict and be ID, bat
they couldn't arrest him. The Sheriff
tried it and was vanquished. Court
came on, the criminal docket was call
ed, and the clerk reported Bean mot
taken"
whats the natter asked Judge
Jackson OF the Sheriff
Nothing the matter; only I can't
arrest him. replied the official
'Then, by the Eternal! summon the
county to help you, and bring him in
here" thundered the Judge.
/ The Sheriff gathered up some citi
Zens, and advanced on Bean. The
latter backed himself up against {
house to prevent rear attack, drew
his pistols, and told them to come on
He was center shot. and to have ad
vanced would have been certain deatf
to some. No one cared to sacrifice
his life in giving the others a chanc.
to make start. The Sheriff report
; ed TO Jackson that Bean could not bt
taken without sacrifice of lives.
'sBy the Eternal summon the Court
thundered the irate Judge; and itht
Court" was summoned.
ed empty handed and bareheaded up
on Bean. His friends tried to re
strain him, as he valued his life, but ht
needed them not. He kept his colo
eyes fixedly upon the desperate, walk
ed right up to him, jerked his pistol
away, took him by the collar, ant
marched him off to Jail,
JAcKsoN's EARLY LIFE.
Jackson was born in South Carroll
ma, in 1867. He crossed the noun
tains and came to this place whel
twenty-one years of age. From al
!, accounts he was an exceedingly wil'
, man, but after he came here it il sait
that he had determined to reform
One of the reasons given for his NOV
ing here was that he might break ava,
from his wicked associates" and be
gin life anew; but as he continued t.
: engage in personal encounters, hors
racing and betting, it is not clear il
i what his reformation consisted. Th
next year after coming here, 1889, h
d determined to visit the colony on tn
J. Cumberland, where Nashville no,
,e stands, and made the journey throug
d the wilderness, two hundred miles
= He returned to this place, and engae
< ed in the study and practice of tn
Is law. He never was a very close stt
Sc se dent, and, although he rose to the pc
: sition of Supreme Judge, he was PC
: what could be properly termed frs