The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-29
WILLS OF THE PRESIDENTS.
Remarkable Documents on Record
In tho District OF Columbia.

| "lAiLS oH THE PRESIDENTS.
Nemarkab1e Documents on Record
In tho District or Columbia.
Several members Of the local bar ir
Washington have been engaged re
comfy In u systematic investigation o.
the records OF the register Of willis fol
the District Of Columbia. The re
search has brought to light number
| OF very remarkable documents and
many testaments written by prominent
government officials.
In the registers Otllce are tho origi.
nal or copies Of Wills executed by six
OF the Washington, Madi,
son, Monroe, John Quincy Adams,
Andrew Jackson and Franklin piorce
That OF Monroe Is the only original OF
the half dozen; was made in New York.
and would have been probated there
except that the testator's only pro.
perty WAS grant from Congress. This
claim was the single credit account
mentioned In the will with which the
Presidents son.in-law, Samuel L.
Gouyerneur, was to pay the dead mans
debts.
Poverty is also indicated In the will
OF "Old Hickory Andrew Jackson,
Senior" as he styles himself. The
u,
cording to his will, by the debts OF his
well beloved nephew and adopted
SON. Andrew jackson, Jr. Madison
left his house In Washington and other
holdings Of realty to Dolly Madison
and her heirs. With tho exception of
Washington, Adams was the wealthiest
Of the Six. Charles Francis Adams
was his executor and, by tho terms Of
his fathers will, held in trust for Mary
Louisa Adams, Il granddaughter OF the
tcstator, several houses on Il street, u
store and house on Pennsylvania
avenue, and estate known as "UOlumbia
mills and whole block In tho north
ern part OF tho city.
testamentary in the district-Salmon
=. Chase. Justice Chaso's will is
chiefly noteworthy for tho fact that,
although he intended to devise all his
real estate, the paper is Witnessed by
only Two persons, Instead Of three, as
the law requires.
Caleb Swan, first paymaster general
OF the army, made his will in 1907 and
as sort OF preamble outlined his
whole military history. Toward tho
close he asks that his children may
be taken carelof by Phil, B. Key, Fran
els S. Key or DR.. John Wecms and ef-
fectually protected against all and
every sort OF injustice and oppression
attempted or contemplated to DO prac-
ticed upon or toward them by wicked
and designing men or women, or any
Individual or either OF the sexes."
Thomas lSiLchie was an editor and
publisher Of much distinction In the
first hall OF the century and an intl-
mate fIiend Of w. w. COrcoran and
DR.. John G. Hall, both Of whom Wit
messed his will. When Mr. Ritchie's
will was examined (it was dated June
IL, 1854, and was probated only fow
months latcr) IL was found to contain
the following observations on exDan-
sion:
1--WE are already the greatest power
among lhe nations. We are destined
to he greater still; but let us not be too
ambitious OF ipordinate acquisitions or
too rapid In our advances. Let us not
be too anxious to set our foot from the
mainland to the Islands; unless, Indeed,
as In the case of Cuba, We arc threat
ened by the barbarization OF that
beautiful islands and It's conversi IN
into a black and hostile neighbor-
hood"
AS indicated by the records, the his
tory o. the Office OF register Of Wills is
full CT interest. The office came into
existence with the creation Of the dis
trict. In 1870 1t was enacted that one OF
the judges OF the District Supreme
Court should hold special term for
probate business, and that enactment
brought to close the existence Of one
OF the queerest courts In tho country.
1t was the only court in tho nation
which Issued Writs in tho name OF the
United States. All other Foderal tri-
buDals speak for the President Of the
United States.
On one occasion the impersonal form
peculiar to this bench WAS found very
appropriate. Gen. Grant, then Presi-
dent, came into the court in 1860 to
take out letters parliamentary as oxecu-
tor OF tho will OF Gen. John A. Raw
Inns. Then, instead OF having "the
President OF the United States" Issue
writ to himself "the United States"
directed President Ulysses g. Grant"
to properly and faithfully execute the
will, which was vt the time being ad-
mltted to record. 1t Is said that his
persOnal observation OF tho methods In
use prompts Il President Grant to ap-
prove the act passed IN tho following
year which did away with tho court
altogether.