Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-03

4 Andrew J sckson was great man; that
had many chances of achieving greatne
and that he avsiled himself Of them a
Prof. Sumner, writing und,r the inspirati
OF an age widely different from that of JAG
sons and removed fIom it by century, n
OF YEAR, but Of deeds and changes al
growth, attempts 70 make it appear that
was not oquSl 10 his cbaDceS, and that VIII
he DID accomplish was by dint
The ire pressible fighting element raih,
--tA-sg-by for,s sight, consideration, discretion
or state smaBlike tact ard skill. He regare
him a barbarian vii hout the restraints {
home-training or close society, and unable
distinguish between the man who dispute
his notions and the man who violated hi
rights. This is gross csrIcaiUre Of JACK
sons character Irascible and quick-teu
pered he was; and frank, candid and honei
in the avowal CT his principles, he was i'm
patient of those who were less 30, he was cve
suspicious to degree, but he was az far re
= moved from bsYbarism az any OF the lead
ing OF his time. His old soldier
who survived the contests in Alabama
Florida ard Louisiana, in which b,
not only won victories but the heart
of the American people, have always boIns
testimony TO his b x Inbred dignity. Websiet
who was a good Judge OF men, chars cterizeo
him as grave, mild and reserved, with man.
. ners more presidential than those of any
candidate" Manners make the man.
Prof. Sumner himself speaks Of Jacksob's
distinguished aud elegant bearing" Ii was
said of him that when he msde bis APP
pearsnce in Philadelphia as the frat repre-
sentative of Tennessee in Congress- that his
dress Tas that OF Western hunter; that his
lie ather suit was shrunken, old and ill-iiting /;
and his hair, worn in The fashion OF the
time, was tied with q rusty leatheren thong
& Tall, g5unt and awkward, but perfectly self
= Possessed, be was, even in this guise and
at that tmF, notable figure among
he historic soldlers ard statesmep,
who were hen making the Quaker Civ
as brlliian; a capital and desirable as a
place Of r.sidence az New York or Washing-
ion have since become. Tradition has
brought us complaint from some one of the
beauties Of Washingion's court as 10 the ILL.,
smelling feathers of The young statesman,
but not word that would contradict the
words OF Webster and tue admission of the
+ professor himself of a Personei remarkable
Tor its ease and grace and the kind and gem
lie mauntrs, behind which burned The terri
DE- earBcsIness that made him irresistible as
q soldier, and the tempestuOus temper which
politicians feared. His servants loved him,
his soldiers idolized him and his friend.
tdored him, and would go any length 10
serve or defend him. His hatred of oppres-
zion sHd il justice never slumber and he
never failed TO espouse The cause of the weak
he oppressed or the wTonstd This led
him into many OF the personal contests
hat 10 our more modern eyes de-
ract from the soberDefs and evenness
Df character which we love to in
vest such men with. But eholtr was an at
tribute OF his age. The code" was recog-
Hnized in all parts OF the county and the
beet of men thought it no derogation from
heir d gniiy TO yield at times 10 their PISS
ions Eve the Father Of his Country was
pot above this weakn,s IS as he discovered at
Aonmoulb Mems preiud,ces we're then |
very strong, and Jackson was the heir OF two |
centuries Of religious contention and Of in |
ense bigoiry, but it is much to bis credit |
hat he rose above this and through his |
whole life gave no evidence of the bitter |
hess, applicability and hate which in his
isy separated the Proestanis of the North |
bf Ireland from their Catholic fellOW-coun-
rymen. To the extent not OF federation,
Iut of perfect freedom OF conscience, he was
hyperion TO the surroundings and training of |
bis early life. Thoughtful men viii readily
pee that there must have been very severe |
mental discipline 10 bring about result so
marked as that which separates the eplight-
ened, Intelligent man from The narrow, intol-
Grant and blind bigot who IL impatient of those
who fer with him. Jackson loved his
country snd hate its enc mics, whether they
were British, Spausrds or Indiana. The |
fierce esrneslnets of his soul was an impulse
he could not always resist, but it cannot be
Faid of him that be ever allowed II to beiray
him into excuses In rep;ss he was like
child, yielding and plastic, devoted to his
wife aud the children they surrounded them
elves with. These all had the sweetest mem
bries of the man who is painted as implaca-
ble and unforgiving and characterized "a
barbarian by Prof. Sumner. His tender
hough fulness and sweet solicitude for his
Head wife is never forgotten by Tennesseaus
when they rehearse the story Of his LIE. Ills
owe Of children, his personal chastity, high
ense of honor. love of truth, his chivalrous
asrsBse of his wife on the least occasion and
his quick response TO to the call of women in
10 the case of Peggy O'Neil-these
Are not The attributes, belongings or attach
nents of barbarian. They are the won
Ilerful results OF soul-culture and self
5restraint. To his soldiers he like
ather, and like children they rallied at his
;all to the standard of our country, and i'm
|periiled their lives in enterprises that, by
] The light OF The military canons of our day,
we're rash and perilous 10 degree saVoring
.Df the forlorn hope. Like Lincoln at a later
iiay, he pat the constitution away and
gnored it on two or three Gee aslons. He
3Eonld not allow anything 10 interfere with
he supTemscy OF the military power, and il
has not YET been made clear that he was not
fnstified la all thai he did in Louisiana and
{Elorids. for which he was aiterward fined and
kebuked by Congress aud the courts. He
Was in both places surrounded by enemies,
and vigilance WIS much necessary al the
Rear as bravery aud discretion at the front.
IProl Summer has evidently no sympathy
lVyith his suhiec. lie is cold, calculating
Il .,,d NJ 10 ha al ra-i
..aorseLessIy from our idol. Yet his book is
.welI worth ST udyipg. He has grouped in lis 3S6
.paees or, at mass of contradictory and con-
matter which he is careful to put |;
Ibefore Inc reader in his own way, guided by
sprsdil, 81 ions anything but democratic. That
Inc int noe 10 be fair aud tries 10 be just eau
hot be doubted bRt no man ever yet has
risen superior to his surroundings, The air
OF New England is not as BGrm as that OF
Tennessee, and the policies of the NORTH, die
ateJ by the trade necessities OF Boston, have
always been at variance with those Of The
South Besides Jackson was pre- eminently
a M an of action; Prof. Sumner ia a man oil the
closet 10 chsF scter, tss,es. occupation and
surroundings they are as vide apart "a the
4 poles. 1t could not, therefore in justice be
Expected that the professor would glow with
'aBythiag of the enthusiasm OF the
khsf -nder of NsV Orleans, or that he would
Hook beyond the statesman directing ois
|contess With the peysstenes 81 rarely |
energetic raihre and paint the trader " ms
store at Clover Bottom. or the husband,
father and master at the Hermit age. AT the
|Gre-ide Jackson's real nature was paramount
As the professor admits, he was avetse TO 1
public ife. He resigned his first Office as |
pablic prosecutor Sf Washington county, n.
C and subsequently aosRdoned congress
l=saonal career and the supreme bench, The |
Senate was not to his liking either, ard he ]
was glad when finally released from all the /
cares of pa bic life, he retired 10 the delight
ful shade OF his estate near the Cumberland. |
Bat this interesting book ia not wholly de- |
voted To Jack on. lis friends and enemies |
are all sketcised with as free and bod hand.
OF Mai William 3. Lewis, who survived
him many years, aud who was nearer 70 him
than any other man, Prof. Sumner gives us
this portrsiI:
Lewis was the great father of the wire pullers.
He first practieed in mastery ana seientlhe way
the art Of starting movements, apparently sponia-
neous at distance and in quarter fro1l which
movements MAJ produce, at the proper time aud
place, the effects intended by the true agent who
In the meantime prepares TO be acted on BY she
movement ia the direc ion in which, from the be-
ginning. he desired % ge on this system pontiiI
Palliative is concealed. . lewis showed
Iia1t sstuteness in his maneuvers IhGre vas
SSotbisg vulgar about him There breadth
"a reneralShip about his proceedings. de was
SerS iar-sichted aud prudent He had the
,reaat knowledge required by the wire-pulier-
knowledge of men He knew the class
srnonc. whom JacEsou's popularity was
SfTouezst: he knew their notions. prejudifes,
tastes and instincts He knew what motives 10
.tnssl To- lie wrote very we'll When he wanted
a. 30 straight to a point be would do so When ne
,yanted To produce effects or suggest adrotly with
snt coming to the point he could do that too He
ala knew Jackson we'll. He ne doubt sincerely
Ieved and admired Jackson. He thTeS hjs whole
soui into the endcavor 10 elect Jackson. bsit ae
aever Showed any selfish or interested purposes IN
Shst connection. So long Jackson was unin-
Sormed or unparalleled an any matter ne was ut
fae disposal Of any one who had won his ccnh
denes. and who desired to influence him ON that
tnstter lie coud thea be led 10 accept any view
III il Whjek was put belSte him an u way TO strike
MS mind Lewis knew how 10 put thing before
Iackson's mind However. when jackson had
adopted any view notion has piiud became set or
blasted and It was not easy. even for those who
1rst influenced him, TO deheet his nlind from
rieidity of inference or his conduct from direct
deduction. He etta4 outs'riPped the wishes and