The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-02
The Days Of Jackson.
OLD HIcKoRY's LAST NIGHT IN THE WHITE
HOUSE.

When Senator Allen arrived in Wash
ington he found the city filled with
strangers who came from all parts of the
country to be present at the inaugura-
tion of President-elect Van Buren,.
Among them were a number of leading
men from Ohio, and they occupied SO
much of their newly-elected Senator's
time, that it was not until late on the
night of the Sd of March that he had an
opportunity of speaking informally and
freely with his lifelong friend, President
jackson. On that night, however, he
went to the White House, Senator of
the nation, to see the man who, little
more than twenty years before, in the
Lynchburg tavern, and laughed over his
boylsh curiosity, and wondered at his
ready tongue. Without ceremony, be-
ing well known to the attendants, he
was shown into the Presidents bed
chamber, Chief Justice Taney and Sena-
tor Forsythe of Georgia, afterward Minis
ter to Spain and Secretary of State, were
already In the room, and jackson him.
self active, and to certain extent rest
less, 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 young Irishman who acted as his
body and waiter, turned to his
visitors and said:
Gentlemen, I think the occasion will
warrant me in breaking over one of my
own rules. Let us drink little Ma
deira."
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 fin
ished writing letter upon which he was
engaged, sealed, directed it, and light
| ing his cob pipe again, took Whit or
two, and stood watching the face of o
great, tall, old-fashioned clock, which
stood in the corner, It was five minutes
before midnight, five minutes before the
beginning of the day upon which An
drew Jackson would cease to be Presi-
dent of the United States. Slowly the
minute hand moved round the dial. The
silence in the room became almost pain
full. It was broken by the clear, sharp
bell Of the clock striking the last hour Of
] o day which had gone forever. Then
4
! towards his friends, said, with o quick,
| nervous laugh,
Gentlemen, am no longer Presi-
| dent of the United States, but as good a
oitisen as any of you"
subsequently he expressed to them Q
feeling of great relief at the prospect OF
escaping from the official cares which
had begun to weigh most heavily upon
him, saying to Allen, among other
things of the same sort, l am very glad
to get away from all this excitement and
bother"
That day Van Buren, was inaugurated
President of the United States, and Jack
son, ct the end OF his second term, left
the White House--left it SO poor that he
was obliged to borrow from his friends
$1,000 with which to rebuild Hermit
age" his old family mansion, which
seme time before had been burned te
the ground. III,
After the short executive session Of the
Senate which followed the inauguration
of the newly elected President, Senator
4 Allen returned to his home. Of hls ser.
vice in the Senate, which is matter Of
public record, nothing need be said here,
Just before the expiration Of his Arsi
q term he went behind the Legislature, il
I may be allowed the expression, and for
the first time announcing the doctrine
that United States Senator was q popu.
lar representative, went directly to the
people as q candidate for reelection.
The result was that the Democrats had Q
handsome majslisy Ia tl.e Legislature,
| and he was reelected without any oppo-
sition. In the meantime, Harrison had
| been elected to the Presidency and bad
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 a Sketch of Vim
AIIen, In the Neu York Times.