Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-08-02
LAST NIGHT IN THE WHITE
HOUSE.

When Senator Allen arrived in Wash
ington he found the city filled with strang~
ers who came from all parts of the coun
try to be present at the Inauguration of
President-elect Van Buren,. Among
them were number OF leading men from
Ohio, and they occupied so much of their
newly-elected Senator's time, that it was
not until hate on the night on the Sd OF
March that he had an opportunity of
speaking informally and freely with his
life long friend, President jackson. On
that night, however, he went to the
White House, Senator of the nation
to see the man who, little moro than
twenty years before, in the Lynchburg
tavern, had laughed over his boylsh Gu
riosi ity, and wondered at his ready tom
que. Without ceremony, being well
known TO the attendants, he was shown
into the Presidents bed>chamb ber. Chief
Justice Taney and Senator Forsythe OF
Georgia, afterward Minister to Spain and
Secretary of State, were already in the
room, and jackson himsel active, and
| to n certain extent restless, as usual, stood
in the middle of the floor smoking short
corn>cob pipe. He congratulated Allen
warmly upon his election TO the Senate,
and then calling to a young Irishman
who acted as his body servant and waiter,
turned to his visitors and said
Gentlemen, think the occasion will
warrant me in breaking over one of my
own rules. Let us drink little Madei
ra"
The wine was brought. JACKSON took
a small glassful-it was the first liquor
he had been known to touch for seven
months-and then. asking his friends to
excuse him for few moments, he finish
ed writing letter upon which he was
engaged. sealed, directed it, and lighting
his corn cob pipe again, took Whit or
two, and stood watching the face of a
great, tall, old fashioned clock which
stood in the corner. 1t was five minutes
before midnight, five minutes Sberore the
beginning of the day upon which An
drew Jackson would cease to be Presi-
dent of tie United States. Slowly the
minute hand moved around the dial. The
silence in the room became almost pain
ful. 1t was broken by the clear sharp,
bell of the clock striking the last hour
Of day which had gone forever. Then
Jackson, starting suddenly and looked
toward his friends said, with quick
nervous laugh :
Gentlemen, am no longer President
Of the United States, but as good a cii-
zen as any of you"
Subsequently he expressed to them a
feeling of great relief at the prospect of
escaping from the official cares which had
begun to weigh most heavily upon him,
saving to Allen, among other things of
the same sort, 81 am glad to get away
from all this excitement and bother"
That day Van Buren was inaugurated
President of the United States, and
Jhtk SNn, Nv tht tllu W HIS etc"hu 'o'ii,
left the White House-left it so poor that
he was obliged to borrow from his friends
S., 900 with which to rebuild the "IIer-
mitage," his old family mansion, which
some time before had been burned to the
ground.
After the short executive session Of the
Senate which followed the Inauguration
Of the newly elected President. Senator
A Hen returned to his home. OF his SER
vice in the Senate, which is matter Of
public record, nothing need be said here.
Just before the expiration Of his first
term he went behind the Legislature, if
may be allowed the expression, and for
the first time announcing the doctrine that
n United States Senator was popular
representative, went directly to the peo-
pie as a candidate for re election. The
result was that the Democrats had
handsome majority in the Legislature,
and he was re eleceed without any oppo-
sition In the meantime, Harrison had
been elected to the Presidency and had
died. Tyler had gone into the White
House, and, with the help Of Allen and
two or three others, had broken up the
Wing party From Sketch Of Wm.
Allen IN the N. T. Times.