The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-01-22
ANDREw dAoKsoNI

WAYNE County Dsmoo'at }

Az the fplufhl VI lhb olu JncfhuH Dthl-
0crhts Of Wayne county, ", ID, Otis, ESD,
interviewed Hon. Benz. Patton, nj Eos
silland, his residence near Hickaylllo,
Defiance county, OHIO. The Judge lives
ON a large body OF land which he entered
nj government rates 40 years ago. This
farm adjoina, the lOuTlshing town OF
Hicksyille,
He said to Mr.. Otis, you ask mo for
some personal, rec0llectlOns OF General
jackson 10 be presented ut the approach
ing annual celebration at Wooster. In
complying with your request ! shall
have 10 do two things 10 which have an
aversion, One Ia TO talk about myself In
q public way. Another Ia 10 repeat some
matters that have already been made
public,
Well, | am willing 10 do almost any.
thing 10 Oblige the old Democracy OF
Wayne county, who have never failed 10
appreciate the character OF the hero,
patriot and Statesman, Andrew Jackson
80 here | 20, NJ the risk OF displaying an
old mans %garrulity, or plunging Into
The mlre of egOtlsm.
saw General Jackson i%naugurated
on the 4th OF March, 1890, / was then
about 10 years OF age, living and pursu-
Ing my studies In Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Gen. Robert Dlsha, a near relative OF
mine, was then q member OF Congress
from Tennessee. aa was also Mr.. james
X. Polk, afterwards President, and one
OF the purest men In all respects, that
ever lived. ! saw a great deal OF them
both, and WIS In q measure, under their
care and guidance, They were close and
political friends OF the "Old hero" They
Introduced me 10 him NJ hia rooms In
Gadsby'a Hotel before he was inaugnra-
ted. / was frat somewhat awed by his
stately presence, But that feeling soon
vanished when | noticed his kindly,
cordial words and ways toward all who
approached him. lilo was naturally
graceful In his movements, and AWAY
gracious, polite and c~0nsiderate toward
his friends, and especially toward young
people and the ladies, But | imagine
that II q known enemy had appeared In
eheep's clothing amongst his friende, his
cOuntenance would have worn and nn-
mlstAkhblo fr0wn, instead OF a hypocrit-
ical smile, lie was utterly Incapable OF
OF discrimination or hypocrisy.
The Inauguration was 4 very plain,
simple gu OF affair and In that respect
reflected the true spirit and genius OF
our plain republican institutions, The
President walked from his quarters at
Gadeby's Hotel TO the Capitol, A good
part OF the way no went bare headed.
lie was accompanied by n few pei eonal
friends, and among,t them were some
venerable men, with gray heads, who,
like hlm'elf, had served 10 the war OF Tho
Revolution. lilo moved with head erect,
and, Notwithstanding hi' ace, as
straight as an arrow, To my young
mind and heart the spectacle was q
grand one, grand In its simplicity, and
grand In its personal and historical
associations. Fuss aud feathers, pomp
and pagantry would huye spoiled Its
effect.
lilo WIS not lncomm0ded by the crowd
pressing on him. American citizens In
these days had too much r%elt.res ect TO
indulge In Idle curiosity NJ the expense
OF good mannere--t0o rood a sense or
their own status ~ American ffeemen
10 engage In any sort OF mar worship,
But II tho people did not press upon
him on the way, they waited for, and
met In large numbers nj the East
ern portico OF the capitol, whore they
listened quietly and soberly to his In
aupurhl address. The PRINCIPLES ret
forth In that address will live shile tho
Republic lives, snd can 0nl, die with IL
10 DO buried In the same grave.
But 10 tell the truth, while | stood
near enough TO hear anl thing no said,
| did not hear the one half OF the address.
A beautiful young lady tom Baltimo' .,
richly and tastefully dresser In black
silk velvet. stood In q c0mmandlns posi-
ton on tho pottico, and, she although a
stranger TO me, absorbed 10 much OF my
attention that | almost Loaf sight OF the
President and his address.
| had never before been that far
away from homo, | spent Ave days In
Washington. | stopped at tho Mansion
House, now Wizards, my hotel bill
amounted 10 1926. Wood was the only
fuel then used. Candles we're u,ed In
stead OF gas, The best HAVANA aud
Principe ciS airs cost ONE I've cents each.
II | ha d spensed with a FIRE In my room
and cigars, my bill Would have AmCun-
ted TO about a. Two or three years ago
| came across this bill amongst my I'D
pappre. Ac0ny OF II was then published
In the Cleveland PLAN Dealer, and from
II copied into many other Iapers. The
original Ia In the os essi0n OF our
member OF CONGRESS, Hon. ". d, Hill,
who writes TO me that II Ia an object OF
no little cuIio ity TO hiq fellow meu bera.
II members II Co1gre = could now live
VI the hotels In washington Tor Sl.2b q
day, they would soon grow rich on 5000
n year.
/ was introduced 10 n number OF the
distinguished monlof TINT day, amongst
the rest % Mr.. Burgess, OF Rhode leland.
lilo was a large, broad shouldered man.
He had been o college professor, .He
was the man who gave John RANDOLPH
such h terrible scoring on the floor OF
Congress. | called with Gen. Disha NJ
Mr., Ra' dolph's quarters 10 DO Intro
duced 10 him. But no was not In, and l
did not meet him, n matter that have
deeply regretted from that day 10 this.
There was such u blenning Ia HIS com.
position OF tccentricity, genius, and
scholarship, OF personal, social, and
political roma CO, us 10 Import 10 his
character q peculiar attraction.
l was greatly imp essed by tho impos.
Ing presence and dlgnlb d manners or
the leading mon | met NJ that time In
Washing on. The prominent men OF the
present day would suffer In q COMPARE
son with them In Theses respects.
Some month"; after tho Inauguration,
by invi alton from Commodore Elliott,
who had been ASSIGNED TO tho command
OF our naval squadron In the West Indies
and Gulf Of Mexico, l went with him
az Secretary, aud spent q year abroad on
q man Of war. On my return l was
bearer dispatches 10 the government At
Washington, and again had the plea ure
OF seeiug n good deal OF Cen. jackson.
The fact 10 | had matters OF public and
national interest 10 talk 10 him about.
The Pennsylvania Magazine ~ History
ana uin0ranhv NJ fQlQ 0ivAa ma tina