The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-09

less black, aud pale and majestic he walked
down the aisle with the slouching stride of
the race horse. By an involuntary move
ment every member rose to his feet, in cour-
tesy to the great man. Mr.. Randolph
stepped into the aisle to meet him. When
Clay saw him he seemed to grow a foot
in height, but lis face never lost its traR-
guilty. Mr. Randolph was very much
excited and said: ''Good morning, Mr..
Clay"
Mr.. Clay bowed politely. Randolph then
went on excitedly:
Il have duty TO perform-so have you,
sir. Leave your seat here as 1 will leave
mine. Tell your people as L will tell mine
that the time has come when, II they would
save themselves from ruin and preserve the
liberties for which their fathers bled, they
must leave these people of the North. Do
this, sir; although never did before will
follow your lead in the effort to save our
people,"
Mr.. Clay listened quietly and without
apparent surprise. When Randolph had
concluded he said without raising his voice.
"What you propose, Mr.. Randolph, re-
quires more than monetary consideration"
and passed on. In few days his famous
speech on the compromise was made and
the trouble passed over for the time
President jackson was a remarkable
man. Did you know him well2'
IL did, married the daughter of Abner
Green, at whose house Jackson's wife lived
while she was awaiting her divorce. and
she and our child spent the night with Jack
son at the White House. [ remember
that there was in the corner of the fireplace
a box of corn-cob pipes, out of which the
stems protruded. l asked the President why
be was so ford of cob pipes. He replied:
For the simple reason that they burn out
before they begin to stink
Colonel Sparks was eloquent in his praise
of "Old Hickory" and developed two points
that are interesting and new. Said he: alt
is not a. all certain that jackson was born
in South Carolina; indeed. the special proof
seems to go to show that he was born in
ireland. Judge Alexander Porter, of
Louisiana, was an Ir'shman, and his parents
lived in the neighborhood of where Jack
sons parents lived. He visited Europe
shortly before his death, and made diligent
inquiry into the history ofthe Jacksons, and
learned enough to satisfy him that Andrew
was born in ireland and brought to Anne j "a
when two years old. Judge McNary, who
had investigated, held the same opinion, and
always commended that jackson was four
years older than he thought he was"
He says further: jackson once told one
of the advices his mother-a little, dumpy
red headed Irish woman-gave him when
he left her for the last time. ANDY she
says, you are going into a wild and strange
country and among rough people. Never
tell lie, nor take what amt your own, nor
sue any body for SANDER or assault and bat
terry. Always settle their cases YOURSELF
jackson was a negro trader despite the
proof to the contrary made by his friends.
He had a small store in Brainsburgh, in
Claiborn County. At this trading point he
received the negroes sent to him by his
partner and sold them to the neighborhood
and into Louisiana. / have now several
bills of sales of negroes signed by Jackson:
in which his signature runs clear across the
page. He quit negro trading because he sold
an unsound negro into Louisiana and had to
stand loss on,him. He and his partner
qusrreled in adjusting this loss and he quit
the business"
"Were you acquainted with any intimate
friend Of WashingtonT
IL knew intimately the man who knew
him perhaps better than any other man ever
did 4 Colonel Rev. Talmage, who was
Washlngtons favorite aide. The circum-
stances under which / knew him were in
teresting. passed the old gentleman one
as he was mending his gate. 1 was then
a student. l raised my hat and bowed pro-
foundly. He was struck with my evident
respect and asked Judge Reeve who ] was
and why l had been so respectful. l re-
piled: Say to him that l could never walk
in the presence Of man who has had the
confidence of the great Washington with
my hat on my head This reply pleased
him so much that it gained me place at bis
Preside"
"He was full of "reminiscences of Wash
ington?"
"Oh, yes; ana very entertaining il was to
hear him talk familiarity of the Father of his
Country. He said that no character in
history has been so consistent as Washing
tons. He was stern, slow, reserved and
cold. Even Hamilton. whom he loved and
trusted above all men, never ventured upon
the slightest intamscy. 1 never saw
General Washington laugh and only once or
twice did l ever see him smile. l never
saw him exhibit the slightest surprise or
/ was with HIM when he
received Information of Arnold's treachery,
and he received it as impassively as if it
were an Orderly's report. Of all the officers
of the army Greene was his favorite, and he
was right-for Greene was a superior mill
tarv man to Washington. heard Washing
ton say that Greene was the only man who
could retrieve the mistakes of Gates and
save the Southern country. Mrs Washing
ton was less amiable than ner husband. She
always remembered that she was wealthy
when she married Washington, and she
never let him forget it. One of Washing
toms strongest points was the quickness with
which he read men. He mistrusted Burr
from the very first, and was rarely deceived
in men, In this strain have L heard Col
onel Talmsge talk of Washington by the
hour. And let me remark here that l have
known many women who knew Washing
ton. / never yet saw one that liked him.
Governor Wolcott told me that he heard
Mrs. Adams say she never believed t1at
Washington bad been "more than polite to
Mrs. Washington"
"Was this Talmsge the same who super
intended the execution of Andrea"
Yes. sir; and l have heard him tell of
that sad affair score Of times, and always
with tears. 1t was he who begged Wash |
ington to at least allow Andre to die a SOL |
dier's death" Said he: The saddest duty !
| ever had to perform was communicating |
his refusal to Andre He saw my embar- |
rassment and feeling as l approached, and
rising said, II thank you, Colonel, for the |
interest you have taken in my my case, but
l see that it has proved of no avail; yet
am none the less grateful" He paused