Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-11
ANDREW JACKSON.
Cme OF the Pr ointment Traits of His Char
acteI-rI,ha NiclriuSo,, lN.,al

CINE OF the Pr ointment Traits of His Char
acter-The Dickinson DueI. % go
A correspondent of the Chicago Inter
Ocean has recently been travelling in
Tennessee, and he gives an interesting
description of some of the prominent
traits In Jackson and his wife, while
writing from the Hermitage:
THE DICKINSON DUEL.
LII was almost as notorious as the
rr-Hamllton affair at the time, but
few OF the facts have not been miscon-
strued. A singular chain of circllm-
stances connected with the marriage of
jackson, and to which I shall allude,
caused considerable scandal, which fol
lowed him even to the White House, and
was the one subject to which his warm
est friends dared not allude. Jackson
was hereby jealous of his wife's repu-
tat1on. A breath of suspicion against
her, suggestion of her impurity, al
ways caused eternal hatred of those who
uttered 1T. To suspect her was some
thing that could not be forgiven. With
Dickinson he had long and bitterfeud.
Both were lawyers, and it was their fate
to always meet at the bar. Frequently
their mutual hatred found vent, and
several times challenges for duels pass
eel between them, which were always
withdrawn through the influence
OF friends, and tacit re-
cancellation effected. But one day
Dickinson said something that reflected
upon the chastity of Jackson's wife, and
that was the objectionable sin. Jack.
son challenged him, regardless of the
was matter OF public gossip. Bets
were made with large odds in favor of
Dickinson, who was regarded as the best
shot in the state. The agreement was
that after the word "fire was given
each could use his own discretion.
jackson was of cool, and Dickinson of
nervous temperament, and the former
supposed that the latter would shoot at
the word, preferring himself to run his
chances and take deliberate aim. The
supposition proved correct. Dickinson
fired instantly, the ball taking effect in
JacksOn's side, hairs breadth from
his heart. The dust pulled from
heavy wooden coat he wore; the old var
rlor staggered moment, but recovered
himself, and without lifting his pistol
looked his antagonist in the face. Dick
lnson was astounded at the unwonted
failure of his aim. j ..-.. .. .9.
cd d--n you," he. shouted, 81
thought sent you to HI" ~.
Jackson, who had not yet cooked his
pistol, raised it deliberately, aimed and
pulled the trigger; but it did not fire.
He examined it as cody as if it was the
merest matter in the world; put on a
fresh cap, and shot Dickinson dead.
"When I found he had not killed
me" said Jackson afterward, 81 in
tended to give him his life; but when
he cursed me I knew it was his hate and
not his honor he was fighting for.
Jackson's wound was very severe
one, and troubled HIM until the day of
his death,
1t was a law of Tennessee, in early
days, that a man could be divorced
from his wife only by two successive
acts OF the Legislature, and it took two
sessions Of the body to accomplish the
feat. Application for divorce was made
personally before the Legislature, and
it was decided by vote whether the
cause should be heard or not at the next
session. If the decision was favorable,
the case was investigated by commit
tee, who reported at the next session,
favorable OF otherwise, according to the
evidence, and the decree of divorce was
granted or refused as the case might
be.
Mrs. Jackson's first husband was
miserable scamp named Robards. She
left him and induced him to apply to
the Legislature for a divorce. He did
SO, and she supposing the decree grant
ed, after year Or more married An
drew Jackson. After time it was dis
covered that Robards had not taken the
case to the Legislature for it's second
hearing and decree had not been
granted, although Jackson had been
living with Mrs: Richards for two years
as his wife. But divorce was finally
obtained, and Mr. and Mrs. jackson re-
married according to the law. This in
society and the State was the skeleton
in the closet at the Hermitage.
This led to the death of Dickin-
son, and was the cause of nearly all of
the seventeen duels in which Jackson
was engaged. He would allow no man
to reproach his wife for unchastity; and
she, it seems, was quite as sensitive. In
his campaign for the Presidency this
scandal was revived, and there is no
doubt it shortened her life. The as
PERSONS upon her character crushed
her; that she, who had been chaste,
faithful wife for thirty years
the guide, the leader and the ornament
of religious circle-should be dragged
into the public prints and held up to
the contempt of nation as an adul-
teress was more than she could endure.
She died of heart disease. Said one of
her friends:
"Her heart was broken; it was clear
case of broken heart"
The allusion to this matter in her cpl
taph is very delicate and tender.
Mrs. Jackson is remembered by the
| older citizens of Nashville as an ex-
tremely religious woman. The General
h11 ~ L. L. H.