Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-12-21
OLD HICKORY.
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Andrew Jackson had many bitter enc
mics. Being naturally man Of violent
temper, he had never learned TO control
himself, and in the discharge Of his
official duty he had been compelled 10
give great offense 10 many who honestly
differed from him. His veto Of the
Bank bills and his prompt measures 10
put down notification had inAamed the
passions Of his political opponents.
Many said and believed that he was
running the country, and he aggravated
the feelings against him 10y his unyield-
ing and imperious manner. A Mr.. Ran
dolph, who had been a Leutenast in
the navy and he'd been cashiered, at
tempted 10 pull Presidents Jackson's
nose publicly, and, report says, more
than. half succeeded. Al least, the Pres
dents face was covered with blood.
His pride was wounded In this caso. but
there was no actual danger Had I
known, said Jackson, 'that Randolph
stood before me, should have been
prepared, and / could have defended
myself. 10 villain ever escaped me
before, and he would not, had IL not
been for my confined situation" (The
President was seated in an armchair
when attacked).
Far more serious was the attempt
made upon the Presidents life Jan. 80,
1885. On that day the President and
his Cabinet and both houses Of Congress
met in the hall Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives TO take part in the funeral
ceremonies Of a deceased member Of
Congress from South Carolina. As the
President, near the head Of the process
sion, was passing out from the rotunda
Of the Capitol and was about 10 enter
the portico, a man stepped out Of the
crowd, and. standing not eight feet from
the President, leveled pistol at him
and pulled the trigger. The cap missed
fire. The man instantly drew a second
pistol from under his cloak and again
tried TO shoot. But the second cap also
missed fire. President jackson rushed
furiously at the assassin with uplifted
cane, and would have felled him 10 the
ground, but, before he could reach the
man, Lieut. Gedney, 81 the navy, had
knocked him down, and he was speedily
secured. The prisoner. who was an
English house-painter named Lawrence
Porter, explained his motives in words
which apply With singular aptness 10 the
case of the wretched GuIteau
Hearing ON ali sides that tho country had
been ruined BY The measures Of Gen. Jackson,
the project Of sssassinAting him bad fastened
.tself In his crazy brain The physicians who
Examined him reported "fse stated that DO
heving The President 10 be the source OF all hi.
difAeuitiss. he Was still axed In his purpose 70
iall him and. II his successor pursued the same
course. to put him out Of the way Also
Lawrence was placed in an asylum.
The insinuations Of the GLOBE that he
was the agent Of n conspiracy obtained
no general eredence. But Jackson him.
self always insisted that ablsr minds
than LAwrenccs had inshgatsd the as
sault Miss Martineau, who witnessed
the funeral ceremonies and had con-
fused view o. the exciting scene when
the President was shot at, writes in her
Retrospect Of Western Travel:"
When did 80 70 the What's Horse took the
hriefc-t possible notice to the President Of The
''insAns Attempt" Of LA~rcnce. bat the word
roussd HE ire. He protested, In tho presence
Of many stranger. hat thsrs was no insanity IN
the case Vas silent of couse. he pro.e.t-
cd that there vas plot and that the nss was
tool and At AA quoted the Attsr.ey General
a. his authority. II Was palnfui 10 hear a
rbief ruler publicly trying 70 permade for.
,sgnsr that any of HE consttacrt< hstsd hin 70
the death, and I toot The nsesy 10 change he
rnbjest s-.lsr in.aaf 80 90. ass.- iH.
Gen. jackson 70 hs dying hour sus-
pssted George Peindexts~. d hissis-
ippi. Of having participated IN the az
tempt 10 assassinate him; but few, u
any. even u his own partisans. shared in
this suspicion