Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-01-28
General jackson.
HIS JOURNEY TO BE INAUGURATED-THE
ATTEMPT UPON HIS LIFE-HIs RELIC
/ IOUS BELIEF.

SUCdn UOhb Wy luO way VI Ui1C SuubOO -Aehob
and Ohio rivers as far as Pittsburg, and
thence by coach to Washington, without
any alarming incident, and was everywhere
received with the heartiest acclamatlons.
Acquiescence in the result of the election
was instantaneous. and his treatment hap
PLY disappointed the gloomy prognostica-
tions of his friends. 1t was a continuous
ovation.
While President, his life, owing to the
nature of some of the political measures
urged by him, and the depressing effect
they for time had upon the business of
the country, was often threatened. He
was twice attacked, but once only with
murderous intent. This occurred Janua-
ny 80. 1885. The President was attending,
at the Capitol, the funeral of the Hon.
Warren r. Davie, a late representative in
Congress from South Carolina. While
stepping out upon the porJico, holding the
arm of Mr.. WOODBURY., the Secretary OF
the Navy he was confronted by a strang-
er, who, at the distance of eight feet, de-
liberately leveled pistol at him and pulled
the trigger. The weapon missed fire. He
dropped it and instantly drew another,
which also missed fire. The President,
discovering his desperate design, released
his bold of Mr.. Woodbury's arm and ad
vanced toward him furiously with uplifted
cane, but before he could reach him Lieut..
Gedney, of the Navy, had knocked the as
sassin down and disarmed him. He was
taken to Jail and proved to be crazy En-
glisma named Lawrence, house paint
or by occupation, but long out of employ
ment, and like Bellingham, who slew Mr..
Percival, the British Prime Minister, in
1911, attributed his business misfortunes
to the Government, and held its head re-
sponslble for them. With greater human
ity than was shown Bellingham, Lawrence
was sent to a lunatic asylum, where. after
several years. confinement, he died.
The President for some time believed
this attempt on his life was the result of
conspiracy, and the person he most sus-
pected was the Hon. George Poindexter,
senator from Mississippi. There are pre-
served with his papers two afidavits,
which probably furnished the foundation
of such an impression.
ssDavld Stewart made an oath on the
Holy Evangels deposeth and saith chat
about the last day of December, 1884, or
the first of January last 1S35) he, the de-
ponent, saw Richard Lawrence 90 into
Senator Poindexter's dwelling house. on
Four-and-a-half street, on Tuesday before
the attempt to assassinate the President
of the United States; he, this deponent,
saw Senator Poindexter and Lawrence in
Senator Poindexter's passage-way in con-
versation."
ssMordicai Foy, under the same solem-
mites, testified that his shop is opposite to
the dwelling house of Senator Peindexter,
and that he hath seen Richard Lawrence
go into Senator Poindexter's house, aud
return out again at different times; and
particularly on the Tuesday previous to
President of the United States did he see
the said Lawrence go into Senator Poin-
dexter's house and return
Upon the back of these documents is in
dorsed in the Presidents handwriting:
David Stewart and Mordicai Foy-affi-
davits-said Lawrence frequently going in
Mr.. Poindexter's lodgings and coming out,
Tuesday before the attempt to assassinate
the President. He and Poindexter seen
in conversation on Tuesday before the at
tempt on the President, February 4, 1885,"
Gen. Jackson and Gov. Poindexter had
once been friends. The latter was his
ablest and most eloquent defender when
the Generals conduct in the Seminole war
was arraigned in Congress in 1919. While
their quarrel had its origin IN politics,
there was considerable admixrure of per-
sonal misunderstanding and repulsion. So
prejudiced was Jackson's mind toward his
former friend that he could have believed
almost anything of him. Lawrence's Wis.,
its to Gov. Poindexter's house were salts
factorily explained. He had called there
to solicit work.
1t is well known that Gen. Jackson join
ed the Presbyterian church near the close
of his life. He had promised his wife, who
was very devout member of that sect, to
do this as soon as he was free from poll
tics, and when improper motives could not
be imputed to him for the act. To graft
fly her pious wishes he had, at his own ex-
pense, built a small brick chapel on the
Hermitage plantation, which he regularly
1ffnndaH ynh n or
his death he was, believe, the ''ruling ell
der" of the congregation, an Office which
he was accustomed to declare he valued
higher than the presidency. There is an
old story that when the fact of his death
was communicated to Mr.. Clay, his great
rival in politics, the question loosely arose
as to the probabilities of his final saliva
ton. Mr.. Clay listened for moment and
remarked: ''Oh, yes, all - couldn't
prevent it !''s The Hon. Thomas L. Jones
relates an anecdote of similar nature
In letter of the late Gov. Call, of Flori-
da, who was once as have mentioned, on
the military staff of Gen. Jackson, and
was present al his obsequies, find this
"shortly after the funeral, one of his old
negro women at the Hermitage was visit
ing Nashville, and met with an acquaint-
ance, a negro woman also, who probably
belonged to Wing family and had i'm
bibed its political prejudices. "Do you
think your old masters gone to heaven?"
was asked of her doubtingly. ''Gone to
heaven!' answered the other with an air
of sanctifed disdain, why of course he
has" and added, eff he wanted to go dar,
I'D like to know who's gwine to stop
him." She evidently believed that even
SO doughty saint as Peter could not re-
slst the imperious will of her dead master.