The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-08
Why Old Hickory Stuck to Gwin,

A correspondent of the Home journal,
| i'll describing recent dinner party in
New York, gives the following reminis-
cence of the past:
When DR.. Gwiu, to fulfill an engage
ment, LETT the table when dessert came
on, some one remarked: "There is DO.
litical mystery connected with the Doc.
tors history that will probably forever
remain unexplained, and that is why
General jackson, throughout his admin.
lstratlon Of eight years, in spite of the
Senate, and apparently in defiance of
public opinion and the law, maintained
DR.. Gwin in office as United States Mar.
shal of Mississippi"
Colonel Thorpe replied that he
believed he could explain it, and then
related the following interesting remit
ntscence: "On one occasion [ was talk
ing with Alexander Barrow, then United
States senator, who had, at that time.
recently returned TO his home in Louisi.
ana, from Nashville. MIR. Barrow, who
was sort Of godson of 'Old Hick0ry;s,J
buthad become bitter political enemy.
while in Nashville was urged to call on
the old hero, who was dying Of a3thmat.
ic consumption. At first Mr.. Barrow
declined, saying he was not, owing to
polltlcal misunderstanding, certain OF q
cordial reception. Assured to the
contrary, Mr.. Barrow went to the Her.
mitage. He very torcibly described Gen.
eral Jackson's appearance, bolstered up
in an arm chair, his eye still flashing
with undying energy, while his body
was bent by disease and weakened BIZ
age. He received 'Aleck' with the al
lection due to returned son, never al
ludlng to past differences, but only to
matters OF feeling and tenderness. Mr.,
Barrow, when about to retire, said
General, before L leave you, permit
me to ask why you 80 perststently kept
Gwin in office; why you did for years
defy the Senate and keep such storm
of political denunciation all that time
about your ears p"
"Mr. Barrow added that instantly the
General raised himself up, and assum.
ing one of his fearful earnest express
s ons, energetically replied: When my
mother moved to Tennessee with NV
self, boy, and my older brother, who
was hopeless invalid, we were very
poor. The first person who called upon
my mother ia her new home was Gwin's
father, who was Baptist preacher, He
was great comfort to our family. Al
ter the country was settled US he con.
tlnued his visits, and always, when in
the vicinity, stayed at our poor home,
though there were lordly mansions in
sight, the dwellers in which would have
gladly welcomed him.
"'When the news reached me that
was elected President, one idea alone
for the moment filled my mind, and that
L can repay the kindness
shown to my mother by the old patri.
arch Gwin, by appointing his son to the
best office in my gift;' and, with eyes
flashing fire, he continued, 4 would have
kept Gwin in office if had been i'm.
peached or driven from Washington by
the point the bayonet.'
"The scene,' Mr. Barrow said, was
impressive. as the old hero
settled back on his pillow, exhausted by
such unusual and severe excitement.
1t was probably the last grand display
Of feeling that was the secret of Gen.
eral Jackson's popularity with the
masses, viz: His undy1ng friendship,
whether in season or out OF season, for
his friends"