Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-28
why old hickory Stuck to GwIn

lLl DlblOus
why CID Hickory Stuck TO GwIn.
A correspondent of the Home
Journal, in describing a recent
dinner party in New York, gives
the following Renaissance of the
past;
When DR.. Gwin to fulfill an en-
gagement left the table when dessert
came on, some one remarked ::
"There is a political mystery con-
nected with the doctors history
that will probably forever remain
unexplained, and that is why Gen.
Jackson, throughout his admins
tration 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 Marshal of Missis.
sippi."
Colonel Thorpe replied that he
believed he could explain it, and
then related the following interest
ing reminiscence: "0n one occa-
sion | was talking with Alexander
Barrow, then United States Senator,
who had at that time, recently re-
turned to his home in Louisiana,
from Nashville. Mr.. Barrow, who
was a sort of godson of "0ld Hick
ory's," but had become a bitter
political enemy, while in Nashville
was urged to call on the old hero,
who was dying of asthmatic con-
sumption. At first Mr.. Barrow de
clined, saying, he was not, owing
to a political misunderstanding
certain of a cordial reception. AS
sured to the contrary, Mr.. Barrow
went to the Hermitage. He very
forcibly described General Jack.
sons appearance, bolstered up in
an armchair, his eye still flashing
with undying energy, while hii
body was bent by disease anC
weakened by age. He received
'AlecR with the affection due to {
returned son, never alluding to pas
differences, but only to matters o
feeling and tenderness. Mr.. Bar
row, when about to retire, said
General, before l leave you, per.
NIT me to ask you why you so per
sistently kept Gwin in Office ; why
you did for years defy the Senate
and keep such a storm Of politica'
denunciation about your ears ?"
"Mr. Barrow added that in
stantly the General raised himsel
up, and assuming one of his fear
fully earnest expressions, energeti
cally replied: When my mothel
moved to Tennessee with myself, {
boy, and my older brother, who wa
a hopeless invalid, we were yer,
poor. The first person who calleC
upon my mother in her new homr
was Gwin's father, who was a Bap
tist preacher. He was a great com
fort to our family. After the coun
try was settled up he continued hi
visits. and alWays. when in thI
vicinity, stayed at our poor home
though there were lordly mansion
in sight, the dwellers Of which
would have gladly welcomed him
When the news reached m,
that l was elected President, one
idea alone for the moment filled my
mind, and that was-now | can re.
pay the kindness shown to my
mother by the old patriarch Gwin
by appointing his son to the bes
Office in my gift and, with eye
flashing fire, he confined, Il woulC
have kept Gwin in Office if l ha(
Deen lmpeached or driven iron
Washington at the point of tn,
bayonet.'
"The sceue," Mr.. Barrow said
"was singularly impressive, as th
old hero settled back on his pillow
exhausted by such unusual ant
severe excitement. 1t was probably
the last grand display of a feeling
that was the secret of Genera
Jackson's popularity with tn
masses, viz, his undying friend
ship, whether in season or out o
season, for his friends"
Retiring Gracefully.