The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-05-03
GENERAL JACKSON.
A SKETCH OF OLD HICKORY.
BY PRESTON HAY.
CHAPTER 1.


As Gen. jackson has now been dead
about thirty>four years, and as he passed
several of the last years of his life in retire
ment, it follows that, to the great majority
Of the Americans of this day, he can be
known only through history or tradition.
Of the men who were of an age to eniov
his confidence, to participate in his strug-
giles, or to share his honors and triumpha,
1t is safe to say that none remain. From
the battle of New Orleans in 1915, till the
day of his death in 1915, period of some
thing more than thirty years, he was un-
doubtedly the foremost man in tie estima-
ton of his countrymen, and during much
of the time the most conspicuous in Ameri-
ican politics. After his election to the
Presidency in 1928, the eyes Of the civilized
world, as well as those of his own country,
were upon him; and believe it is now the
nearly unanimous opinion of men of all
parties, and in both hemispheres, that he
was one of the most remarkable, if not
one of the greatest men not only of his
own times, but of all time. His biog-
raphy has been written and rewritten,
and his achievements, both military
and civil, are enrolled in the history of his
country. SO far, therefore, as his public
and much of his private life are concerned.
little can be told which has not been better
told elsewhere, than 1 could tell it. cam
not forbear remarking, however, that, in
my opinion, a strictly impartial and relia-
bic life of the man, and history of bis
times, have yet TO be written. Such as we
have partake too largely of the passions
and pref 1dices of tho writer's, and are too
unqualitiedlY eulogistic or defamatory to
meet tho requirements of truth. In the
following brief sketch, I shall do no more
than Rllude to some of the prominent
events of his life, and this only by way of
accounting for the remarkable ascendancy
which he gained over the minds of all class !
es of men. The celebrated remark of DR.. |
johnson, "that no man could take tempo |
rary shelter from a shower of rain under |
the same shed with Mr.. Burke, without
perceiving himself to be in the company of
a great man" would unquestionably have ap-
piled as well to Gen. jackson as to Burke.
OF all the faces l have ever looked upon,
his was the most impressive, and conveyed
power. In what that power consisted, or
in what way it would be likely to manifest
tself, the beholder could form no concep-
ion, but of its presence he could have no
ioubt. 1 have seen many countenances
which bore the stamp of greater intellect,
md have heard speak and converse thous.
ands who surpassed him in acquired infor-
nation; but not one of them inspired
uch veneration, such awe may say, as his
Ind this was not a transient emotion, nor
confined to particular persons or localities
The first men of the nation were as con-
cious of it as the casual observer and he !
uled Cabinets and Congresses with as un- &
United sway as he did his humble st fol. |
overs.
first saw Gen. jackson on the Sth of a
anuary, 1927, the 18th anniversary of the J
attle Of New Orleans. 1t was a mere
lance, as he rode through the city Of Il
at the heal of an escort Of &
lounted men, attended by band of music, d
he object being TO have him present that :
ieht at a ball given in honor of the man n
nd the occasion. I looked at him with Il
glow of enthusiasm, for his name had J
rom my earliest recollection been as famil- !,
IT as a household word, and he was the o
rst man 1 ever saw who had made for v
imself a place in history, or acquired :
lme in any way. saw him occasionally.
at not often, during that and the succeed.
g year, in which be was elected to the