Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-01-04
OLD HICKORY.
EAs As.emp, to Kiu pye.sae.. Jao1.or.

TAs Attempt to Kiu Prestdemt Jackson.
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 Ind been compelled 10 |
give great offenso to many who honestly
differed from him. His veto Of the
Bank bills and his prompt measures &c
put down notification ha.l infamed the
passions Of his political oppoAents
Many said and believed that he was
ruining the country, and be aggravated
the feelings against him by his unyield.
ing and imperious manner. A Mr.. Ran
dolph, who had been Lieutenant in
the navy and had been cashierod, at
tempted to pull Presidents Jsokson's
nose publicly, and, report says, more
than half succeeded. At least, the Pres.
ident's face was covered with blood.
His pride was wounded in this case, but
there was no actual danger. "Had I
known" said Jackson, "that Randolph
stood before me, l should have been
prepared, and l could have defended
myself. No villain ever escaped me
before, and he would not. had ii not
been for my confined situation" (The
President was seated in an arm-chaii
when attacked).
Far moro serious was the attempt
made upon the Presidents life Jan. 80
1886. 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 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 TO enter
the portico, d 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 q second
pistol from under his cloak and again
tried to shoot. But the second cap also
missed fire. President jackson rushed
furiously OF the assassin with upGtsed
cane, and would hive felled him to the
ground, but, before he could reach the
man, Lieut. Gedney, of the navy, had
knocked him down, and he was speedily
secured. The prisoner, who was an
English bouse-painter named Lawrence
Porter, explained his motives in words
which apply with singular aptness TO the
case Of the wretched Gulteau:
Hearing on all sides that the country had
been ruined by the measures OF Gen. Jackson,
the project OF Assassinating him had fastened
itself in his crazy brain. The physicians vho
examined him reported He stated that be-
lieving the President to DO the soursi OF all his
difficulties. hs was still fixed in hiAlp purpose "
kill him aud, II his successor pursued tho slane
course, to put him out OF the way ALSO"
Lawrence was placed in an asylum.
The insiuuations IT the Globe that he
was the agent Of conspiracy obtained
NO general credencs. But jackson him.
self always insisted that ADLER minds
than Lawrence's had instigated the rs
sauit. Miss Mariinesu, who Witnessed
the funeral ceremonies and had con-
fused view Of the exciting scene when
the President was shot at, writes in her
Retrospect Of Western Travel"
When did 20 to tho White House took shO
brisfest possible notice to the President OF the
"insane Attempt" OF Lawrence, but the word
reused his ire. he protested, in the presence
Of many strangers, that there was no insanity In
the case. was SILENT Of course. Ho protest
cd that there was plot aud that the man was
tool, and at last quoted the Attorney General
as his authority. 1t was painful TO hear q
chief ruler publicly trying TO persuade for.
dgner that any OF his constituents hated him "a
the death, and took the liberty to change the
subject
Gen. Jackson TO his dying hour sus.
pected George PoindeIter, Of Missis.
sippi, Of having participated in the at
tempt to assassinate him; but few, L
any, even Of his own partisans, shared In
this suspicion.