The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-09
Pulling laoksOn's Nose.

the cornerstone laying Of the monument
erected to Mary Washington. the mother
Of the Father Of His Country. Although
this monument was not finished and dedi-
Gated until 1884 its cornerstone was Laid
in May. 1893. by President jackson. who
began his journey % Fredericksburg on
the steamer Sidney.
The steamer made a brief stop at Alex
andria 10 take on a military company
from that city. The Sidney. like all river
steamers OF that day. was q very primi-
tive concern compared with the splendid
modern palaces that ply our principal riv-
ers- The president was seated between
the dinner table and the berth, his spec
tacles on, a pipe in his mouth. and a
newspaper in hts hand. The pipe was
no doubt Of the corn-cob variety 10 which
Old Hickory was so much attached that
he habitually used it. even in the White
House. Several gentlemen OF the presi-
dents party were standing near the door
OF the saloon, or. rather. cabin. for such
IL was. A well-dreSsed gentlemen entered,
coolly shook hands with one Of the gen.
tlemen and courteousiy passed on. He
approached the president and commenced
10 withdraw the glove from his right
hand Supposing that IL was some person
who desired TO greet him, the president
took the pipe from his mouth and re-
marked: Never mind the glove. sir
The stranger in an inaudfble tone NUT
tered something about an injustice and
an ignominy put upon him, and, selzlng
the presidents nose gave it a violent
wrench. The by-standers. friends Of the
president. Instantly rushed 10 the rescue.
one of them dealing the assailant several
blows with an umbrella.
There was some blood on his face. No."
said he, Il am not much hurt, but In en-
deavoring 10 rise / have wounded my side,
which now pains me more than II did"
This wound in his side was received TWEEN
ty-two years before in his duel with Dick
inson. 1t gave him constant trouble and
eventually shortened his days The re-
doubtable old belligerent carried on his
person through most Of his life distressing
memorials of his many desperate encoun-
ters. In 1892 DR.. Harris made 4 deep in
cisiOn In Jackson's left arm, gave n hard
press. and out came a bullet which he
had received in the bloody ARRAY with the
Bentons. more than twenty years before.
The presidents assailant was quickly
known 20 be Lieutenant Robert Beverly
Randolph. a member of the Virginia fam
fly of that name. for twenty-five years in
the navy. and who had only eighteen days
before this assault been. by order Of the
president. dismissed from the service for
some irregularity In his accounts as pur-
ser. A citizen Of Alexandria excitedly adj
dressed the president and said: Sir. IL
y
and convicted. will IN fifteen minutes kill
Randolph for this insult 10 you" NO.
SIR" responded Jackson, 81 cannot do
that. l want no man to stand between
me and my assailants. Had known that
Randolph stood before me I should have
been prepared for him. No villain has
ever escaped me before. and he would
not had it not been for my confined situa-
ton"
This Lieutenant Randolph had expert
enced a most honorable service in the
navy, having been midshipman and lieu
tenant under Commodore Decatur. In the
notable career OF that commander In the
war of 1S12-14. He was no nonentity 20
be put up and down by the chief execu-
tive at his pleasure. The blood in his
veins ran in as rapid currents as In those
OF the stormy chief magistrate whom he
had assaulted. He disdained to offer any
explanations. A court Of inquiry had
found that the inaccuracies in his ac-
counts existed. but that there was not
ground to charge him with intent TO de-
fraud the government. Without further
formality Old Hickory published an or
der stating that he could not concur
in generating Randolph from intentional
fraud" and declaring that ne was "un-
worthy the naval service Of the repub-
lie"
In the midst of the confusion ana uproar
attending the incident Randolph walked
quietly from the wharf up into he town.
hired a horse and rode complacently rine
miles our into the country to attend a
wedding. TO which he had been invited. I'm
Fairfax county. He remained IN this vi
cinitv without molestation for two days
and four days after the occurrence on the
Sidney went in the neighhorhood. The
affair created intense excitement and
there was widespread expression of pub
lie Indignation. Much OF this expression
was. however. rather in Difference 10 the
exterior prOprieties than genuine mani
feStation Of regret; for beneath il there
could he Giscerned a secret satisfaction at
Randolph's course. II was n period or
violent political excitement. and rancor-
Gus political and even personal antIpa-
thies. The rumbllings and connections
Of the political earthquake that attended
the removal Of the hank deposits were be-
ginning TO be distinctly felt. William J.
Duane. the secretary of the treasury. had
plainly intimated 10 Jackson that he
would resign sooner than comply with
what he regarded an unconstitutional or
der 10 remove the deposits and only 4
few months were 10 eiapse before Roger
3. fancy was 10 relinQuIsh the office OF
Attorney General to assume Duane's port
folio Of the treasury and carry out the
imperious demand Of the president The
enemies. and while the former denounced
the attack OF Randolph as a more dia-
bolical act than the GunpOwder Plot u
Guy Fawkes. the latter defended his
course upon the technically correct ground
that a court If inquiry could only prefer
charges" which court-marlial must
finally pass upon.
Public meetings were held IN Washing
ton. in Alexandria and IN number Of the
principal cities 20 cOnsidsE the proper
steps to be taken 10 right the wrong. The
puZZling question propounded. bu; never
answered. was how TO magnify :ie affrout
10 the president above a mere assault u7-
on a private citizen. Jackson himself
had openly maintained that public offi-
Gals had no more immunity from personal
assault than individual citizens. This was
notably exemplified In the case Of the
bloody. not 10 say brutal. attack Of Sam
Houston upon Congressman Stanberry.
of Kentucky After the court IN the DIS
trict OF Columbia had imposed a fine ~
SJDo upon Houston. President Jackson BY
public procla nation declared that The ar
cused was abs0'yed from the penalty i'm
posed b. the court.
Under the impulse Of an excited public
opinion. thus suddenly evoked. a grand
Jury was summoned az Alexandra. srf
an Indictment found against Randolph:
hut he was never arrested. though he dis
Cained safety In hiC1t- Out % the per-
p.exity arising from the novelty 81 .-.e
case. and the desire % Jackson's -uoer-
sery!ceable friends % exait the affron.
above an ordinary assault. Il was suggest
ell that the chief justice Of the United
States be consulted. This functi1-ary
was ;he grea; jur.st John Marshall. who.
happening rot - be g. Washington - the
time was supposed 20 be ~ a;s home 81
the city 81 Richmond. and one Potter,
IL 4 -
Cd through Frets-tcks5urE u q coach
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