Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-01-15

in the Presidential elections of lS2l-'2S
and ~, which is as follows: In 1874
Jackson received 20, l97, and John Quincy
Adams DIG votes; in lS2S Jackson receiv'
ed H,090 votes, and Adams 2,2i0; in 1872
Jackson received 2S,7l0 votes, and Henry
Clay l,A36, From the above returns we
see that rs long as Jackson appeared
simply as the leader and the friend OF
the plain people, he was invincible rs Il
candidate, and carried all before him
here in Tennessee. And | heard DIR. Bo-
vell-himself n voter at the time-say
That in 1882 every vote in this county,
except three, was cast for Andrew Jack
son., and these three were two of the Sc
Viers and a Mr.. Hunt.
But in 1886, when Jackson presumed to
assume the roll of Il boss and attempted
to force the freemen of Tennessee to vote
for Van Buren, rather than for their own
favoritc son, Hugh l.. White, he became
as poWerless in Tennessee politics from
that time a. Sampson was among the
Philistincs after he was shorn Of his
locks. And the Presidential election OF
1886 Will always stand out as one of the
most remarkable in the history OF our
State, from the fact that Hugh l.. White
received Tenncssee's electoral vote, and
that too against the combined influence
of Jackson in the White House, Van Blu
rem as Vice President and James X.
Polk in the Speakers chair. And again,
In 1910, with Jackson here on the ground
to direct affairs, with Van Buren, in the
White House and James X. Polk Gov
ernor of this State-backed as they were
by the influence of all the Federal and
State patronage, still Tennessee voted
for Harrison and Tyler by u large ma
iority. And still again. in 1874, with Mr.,
Polk himself a candidate for President,
and with Jackson here to lift up his voice
n write letters against his old time
enemy, whom he had fought and hated
for twenty long years, Tennessee cast
her electoral vote for Henry Clay. And
the fact that Tennessee cast her electoral
vote against the Democratic candidate
for President in 1876, 40, N, '4S and ~,
was largely, if not altogether, due to
Jackson's war on White in 1867. But
Notwithstanding these seeming foibles
Jackson was nevertheless a great man
and possessed a wonderful hold upon the
plain people; and that he, more than any
other President, took an interest In, and
gave his personal attention to their af-
fairs, the following Instances will show;
one day a poor widow called upon him
with the complaint that a certain clerk
in one of the departments was In arrears
for his board, and wouldn't pay her. The
President told her to get him to give her
his note, and to bring the note to him.
She did as directed, and the President
indorsed his name on the back in his
usual bold hand, and the scamp was
careful to pay it at maturity. Another
landlady came to him and complained
that a clerk in the Law OniGe was due
her for a board bill, and wouldn't pay
her. Jackson Immediately sent for the
clerk and asked him why he did not pay
Mrs. Beals for his board. The clerk said
that his family had been sick, but that
he would pay her just as soon as he
could. "Rut she needs the money, and
you must pay her now" said the old
Heneral. 81 would be glad to do so, but
can't" said the clerk. "You shall,p said
the General, "and I'll lend you the NOM
ey," handing him the amount.
The doctrine, originally enunciated
by Mr.. Marcy, that "to the victor be-
longs the spOils," was, for the first time
in the history of the Government, put
into practice during Jackson's time. 1t
was soon ascertained, however, that the
President would not consent to have
faithful officers who had served their
couQtry, especially In the field, removed
on any pretense. General Miller, distin-
guished for his %gallantry at the battle of
BridgeWater, was Collector at the port
of Salem; but Greene, Henshaw, and Il
number Of other good Democrats of Bos-
ton, put up a job on the old General and
got him to send in the name of one Of
their friends for the place. Col. Benton,
thinking that some mistake had been
made, called on the President and asked
him if he knew who was collector of the
post at Salem, Mass. Jackson replied
that he supposed that 1t was some" Hart-
ford convention Fedcralist. seen. Mil
Ter has been collector for Salem for years
past,n said Col. Benton. "What! not the
hero of the frontier who fought so des-
perately in the late war;" exclaimed the
President. eyes, sir; the brave soldier
who said 'lll try when asked if he could
carry the enemy's position" The Presi-
dent flew into a passion at once, and eX-
claimed: "Hhesc Internal politicians,
Is there nothing sacred from their rapa-
city? Call Donaldson. Pll send up and
withdraw the nomination at once. Here,
Donaldson, write to Miller in my name.
No, I'll write myself" And he imme-
diately wrote to Miller with his own
hand, reciting all the circumstances in
the case and assured him that he should
remain in office as long as he lived. 1t
is said that this affair taught the party
illdlld=tlN d IN0Npll llpli IlllIl IlldIlN VI
them prOtited afterward. These little
instances give us a glimpse into Jack
sons inner life As President; and show
that while he was seemingly rough at
times, and if a man deserved a whipping
he was ever ready to thrash him; but if
any one, even the most humble, was de-
serving of kindness, he had great big
warm heart under that rough exterior,
kind and gentle as Il woman'S, and he
was ever ready TO meet out Justice to
any and all that deserved it. John
q. Adams, who Was elected President
over Jackson in 1910. was a candidate
for election in 1898, and Jackson was
his successful competitor. And so far as
education and attachments went, he was
perhaps the most scholarly and the best
equipped man of any of our Presidents,
but he was utterly devoid Of any of the
arts and tricks Of the successful politi-
clan; and had neither the aptitude nor
the inclination to make himself solid
with the plain people. During the cam
paign of 1898 Mr.. Adams not only care
fully abStained from meddling with the
election himself, but discountenanced
the interference of the Office holders, the
power Of the administration being i'm
partially exercised without reference to
the result. Mr.. Mclean, the Postmaster
General, was IN active partisan of Gen.
jackson and did not hesitate to use all
the power and patronage of his depart
ment to the prejudice of the cause of
Mr.. Adams. But the President had such
elevated notions of the dignity and pro-
priety of his position that he treated
Mr.. Mclean with the courtesy and con
-sideration due to their official relations.
Two years after Mr.. Adams retired
from the White House he came back to
Washington as a member of Congress.
And after serving for a number of years
in the House, there was q vacancy in the
Senate from Massachusetts and Mr..
Adams very naturally desired the place.
But Daniel Webster, the great defender
of the constitution. whom we are wont
to look upon as the godlike Web