The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-03
y THE OLD CONSTITUTION.

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A correspondent writes from Annap-
oils, Nd, thus amusingly: "a full
length figure OF Gen. Jackson has been
received, and Is to-day being erected
on a suitable pedestal in the grounds
Of the Naval Academy. II any one
thinks that Andrew Jackson should
not have q place in the naval school,
he will be enlightened by the follow
ing bit of naval history: During Jack.
sons first term, the famous frigate
Constitution was undergoing extern
sive repairs at the Charlestowh Navy:
yard, under the supervision Of Com.
modore Jesse O. Elliot. This thor
ough-going Democrat caused the old
fddle-shaped PROV Of the historic ship
to be taken down, and o wooden
model of the conqueror OF Pakenham
to be raised in its place. At this sac
rilege the old Wings Of Boston grew
indignant, and the figure was hardly
comfortably settled in its niche, be-,
fore an intrepid marine scaled the
heights Of the Constitution and cut the
Presidents head off. The Indignant
Elliot stuck it IN again, and set a
guard to watch it, but the same willy
executioner eluded the watch one
dark night, and the headless trunk
met tn eyes Of the ~confounded Com:
modore on his rounds the next morn:
inc. A second time the head was re-
covered by the indefatigable Elliot,
and rumor hath it that the President
sent him to sea in command OF the
Mediterranean squadron, to save his
own head and reward the unquench:
able zeal Of his admirer. Even jack.
son, however, could hardly pat him on
the back, when the party zeal Of this,
same officer led him TO FILL his gun
deck with jackasses on his homeward
VOYAGE, and to set on foot and to sub;
scribe to a testimonial service OF plate
to be presented, not to the President,
but to Commodore Elliot. 4 court
martial sentenced him to four years.
suspension from duty, but it appears
that all the jackasses in America must.
have been convinced Of his unselfsh,
wish to improve their breed, and
signed a petition in his behalf; for We.
find that he was restored to duty be-
fore the expiration Of his term OF
sentence. The fgure-head was, how
ever, suffered to rest in peace, and
seems to have followed, unmolested,
all the subsequent fortunes Of the an
Gent ship, until its arrival at Philar
delphia, where it is now being set In
order for the coming Exposition. As
It would be manifestly inappropriate,
with all Difference to the contrary opin-
ion of the eccentric Commodore, to as
sociate Andrew Jackson with timbers
that speak more audibly than the
oak Of Dodona, Of Hull and Balm
bridge, Of Chauncey and Stewart, of
Decatur and Somers, the figure OF the
President has been removed, and
sent, at the request Of the Superin-
tendent Of the Naval Academy, to
Annapolis. The figure is bareheaded,
and wears a dress suit Of the time;
over which an ample cloak falls, gath
cred at the throat with the usual cord.
A roll Of manuscript is held in the
right hand, and the left is buried In
the breast Of his brass-buttoned and
vtoluminous w~aist-coat. The likeness
which the features bear to the orig
inal is not bad, and the hair, at any
rate, stands up with perfect archeolo-
gical accuracy"