The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-10-27

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become the hero of living romance, the ideal OF
IN inhamed fancy, even before his life has been
invested with the mystery Of distance 2 FROM
that day to this these inquiries have beer, pro-
pounded in every variety of form, and with an
interest.
To answer these questions will be one object OF
this discourse and yet the public Will not expect
me in so doing to furnish new delineatlon OF the
life of Jackson, or rehearsal OF the story OF his
campaigns. Time does not permit this, nor does
the occasion demand it. By brief series OF as
Dendiug propositions do seek to furnish the solu
ton. find an explanation of the regard IN winch
the memory OF jackson is cherished
lst. Io the fact that he was the incarnation OF
those heroic qualities which fit their possessor to
lead and command men, and which therefore al
ways attract the admiration, kinde the magma
ton, and arouse the enthusiasm of the people.
There is natural element in humanity which
constrains it to honor that which is strong and ad
venturous and indomtabe Decision, fortitude
iutrepidity, determination, when con-
secrated to noble ends, aud especially when asso.
ciated with gentleness which throws q softened
charm over these sterner attributes, ever WIN and
lead captive the popular heart.
The masses who compose the commonalty, con-
sciously weak aud irresOlute, instinctivey gather
around the men of lofter stature in whom they
spontaneously follow the call of those whom they
think competent TO redress their wrongs and vln-
dictate their rights.
These are the leaders who are welcomed by the
people with open arms, and elevated to the high
places Of the earth, to become the regents OF So
ciety. to develop the history of the age 10 Wnlch
they i've and to impress upon 1t the noble image
of their own personality. SIS disJoverers love TO
trace great rivers to their sources so IN our studies
of the characters of those who have filled large
spaces in the public eye 1t interests US logo back
ward in search OF rudimentary germs which AFTER
wards developed into the great qualities which CON-
handed the admiration of the world.
Never was the adage, the child is the father
to the man" more strikipgly illustrated than In
the early history of the orphan boy whose name
became tower OF strength to the
armies he commanded, and to the eleven sover-
eign States banded aud battling together for sep
arate life.
There is no more graphic picture on the pages
of Mscauay than that of Warren Hastings az the
age of seven, lying on the bank Of a rivuet which
flowed through the broad lands which were once
che property of his ancestors, and there forming
the resolve that sill that domain should one day De
his, and never abandoning his purpose through all
the vicissiudes OF his stormy life, until, as the
" Hastings of Daylesford" he tasted JOY which
lions over whom he ruled in the Indian empire.
But stranger still was it to see pensive, deli
cate orphan child of the same age, the inheritor OF
a feeble constitution, yet with will even more in
domitable than that of Warren Hastings, renounc-
ing his home with relative who mistsking his
disposition, had attempted TO govern him by force,
and alone and on foot performing journey OF
eighteen miles to the house OF another klnsman,
where he suddenly presented himself, announcing
his unaterabe resolve to return TO his former
home, decision which no remonstrances or per.
suasious could induce him to revoke; aud stranger
still to see him the year after on loney island OF
the Mississippi river, in company with another
child few years his senior, maintaining himself
by his own labor, until driven by malaria from the
desoate spot where beneath the dreary forests and
beside the angry floods of the Father of Waters he
had displayed the self-reance aud hardlhood OF q
man, at a period of life when children are ordina-
rily scarcely out of the nursury. This nfexibility
of purpose and defiance of hardship and danger 10
the determination to succeed, was displayed IN all
his subsequent career; whether we see him al
West Point overcoming The disadvantages OF pre-
limnary education by severity of application al
most unparalleled, in accordance with the motto
he inscribed iu bold characters on page in his
common place book, "you may be whatever you
resolve to be J" or whether we follow him through
the Mexican campaign, winning his first laures at
Cherubusco, and at Chepultapec, where he received
his second promotion, or whether We accompany
him to his quiet retreat 10 Lexington, where after
the termination of the Mexican wag he filed nte
post of Professor in the Military Institute There
sffordiug new exhibition of his determination
overcoming obstacles more formidable than those
encountered in the field, in the persistent discharge
of every duty in spite OF feeble health and threat
eped loss of sight.
know of no picture in his life more impressive
than that which presents him as he sat in his study
during the still hours of the night, unable to use
book or lamp-with only mental view of diagrams
and models, and the artificial signs required in alb
struse calculations holding long and intricate pro.
cesses of mathematical reasoning with the steady
grasp of thought, his face turned to the blank,
dark wall, until he mastered every difficulty and
made complete preparation for the instructions OF
the succeeding day.
These years of self discipline, self enforced Sc
verify of regimen maintained with rigid austerity,
through years of secusiou from public life, consti-
tuted the propitious season for the full maturing
OF those faculties whose energy was so soon to be
displayed on field which attracted the attention
of the world.
When his native State, which had long stood in
the attitude of magnanimOus mediation between the
hostile sections in the hope of preserving the Union
which she had assisted in forming and to whose
glory she had made such contributions was men
aced by the rod of coercion and compelled to de-
eide between submission or separation, then Jack
SOD, who would have cheerfuly laid down his life
to avert the disruption. In accordance with the
of the political school in which he had
been trained, and which commanded his couscien
tious assent, hestated no longer but went straight
to his decision as the beam of light goes from its
God to the object it illumines. simultaneously
with the striking of the clock which announced
the hour OF his departure with his Cadets for the
Camp of Instruction 10 this city, the command to
march was given. Never was there home dearer
than his own, but he left it, never again to cross
its threshold From that time, as we are told, he
never asked or received furlough-was never
absent from duty for day whether sick or we'll
aud never slept one night outside the lines OF his
own command. And passing over thousand oc.
casons which the war afforded for the exercise of
his uncoDquerabe will, there is something impress
sive in the fact that in the very last order which
ever fell from his lips, was a revelation of It's un-
sbated force. After he had received his fatal
wound, while pale with anguish. and faint with
loss of blood, he was informed by one of his gen
erals that the men under his command had been
thrown into such confusion that he feared he could
not hold his ground, the voice which was growing
tremulous and low, thrilled the heart of that ofh
GER with the old authoritative tone, as he uttered
his final order, General, you mast keep your men
together, and hold your ground, .
These we're the elements which shaped Jackson's
distinctive characteristics as a soldier and COM
mander which may be most conclsely stated a
natural genius for the art Of war; without which no
professional training will ever develop the highest
order of military talent; power of abstraction and
which enabled him to determine
every proper combination and disposition OF his
forces, without the slightest mental confusion
even in those supreme moments when his face and
form underwent sort of TRANSPORTATION amid the
fame and thunder of battle; conviction of the
moral superiority of aggressive over defensive war
fare in elevating the courage Of his own men and
in depressing that of the enemy; an almost i9tui-
i've insight into the plans of the enemy, and an
immediate perception of the time to strike the
most stunning blow, from the most unlocked for
quarter; a conviction of the necessity of following
svery such blow with another, and more terrible,
20 as to make every success victory, and every
RI mol tho cpnn1u for