The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-11-21
CHAPTER XVII.
CONTINUED.

CONTINUED.
ooh, it was Faval's work, perhaps. -
said Claiborne. "You know that Yer
non and Favsl have always been great
friends"
"Vernon proposes to raise and equip
q company of rifemen at his own ex-
pense," remarked Jackson, "but ne
fatty refuses to command it."
"Of course, he would refuse that,
general" said the governor. "You
should not expect man Of his stamp
to come to that. I see that you have
not understood him. Plainly, you DO
not recognize his Importance.
"Important or not important" ex-
claimed Jackson, permitting his nat
ural irascibility to appear, II do not
need his advice or, for that matter,
yours either!"
Claiborne, who was no mean dlplo-
mat, held his temper and smiled bland
". He had the utmost confidence IN
Jackson, and was determined not to
have a rupture with.him; but he feared
Mr.. Vernon's influence, and knew that
it was necessary to prevent, if posi-
BILE, any further disagreement between
him and the commanding general.
Negotiations were in progress between
the governor and Lafitte, by which the
former hoped to bring large number
of the outlaws of Barstaria and other
resorts to the aid of the government.
Jackson was favoring this scheme,
knowing that frebooters were capable
of doing most effective service ms SOL
diers. He now asked for private in
terview with the general, and when
they had passed into an adjoining
room, he said:
II understand your feelings, gen.
eral, and am iar: from wishing to ag-
gravate them; but let ire ssssy taS9u in
deepest confidence that Mr.. Ternop is
lust now an Indispensable person to
us, He alone can control the mass of
the creoles and especially the lawless
class. I tell you that we cannot DO
without him."
claiborne spoke more from conjec.
ture than fromany definite knowledge.
He did know, however, that Mr.. Yer
mons influence was as powerful as it
was mysterious; that his wealth,
though great, and his liberality,
though democratic, could not wholly
account for the hold he certainly had
upon the dangerous class of pers ons
who constituted in reality the larger
number of the effective fighting men
of the State.
Jackson walked the floor. He had
been terribly worried with reports Of,
plots and combinations against him in
the city. The legislature had not done
as he wished, the courts were disposed
10 assert the superiority of the law,
and certain of his injudicious friends
had magniAed to him the evidences OF
sedition among the creole population.
Added to all this, reinforcementsi were
slow in arriving, and such as had come
wero tniserably deficient in equipment,
without food and very inadeQuately
clad against the unusual cold of the
season.
He felt that patriotism as we'll as
self-interest demanded OF. the people
Of New Orleans and of Louisiana the
most enthusiastic and heroic self-de-
votion in behalf of his purposes.
Knowing his own courage and genius
and seeing with the absolute vision of
the born genera! the supreme need of
the hour, he could have no patience
with anything or anybody that did not
fall at once into line and obey his
every command, execute his every sug-
gestion and show that the most active
faith in his superiority.
"I despise aud detest the whole
crew." he presently blurted out, "and
ri blow themtto everlasting scraps,
before long, if they persist in their
iisloyalty to The country. Claiborne,
YOU 20 at once and tell that legisla-
ture to .diourn-tell them that I
say so.'
The governor stood for moment
.onfou dded; but it did not take long
for hin to see that General jackson
maant to be obeyed.
."I have already suggested an ad-
Journment," he replied, "but OF course
there is some opposition.
. R. ''But 1 will not permit opposition
from anybody, do you hear? This
thing is coming to pointright shortly,
I am in command here and, by the
Eternal, l am going to be master! You
go at once, governor, and tell that
Legislature to shut up shop, and if it
doesn't do it I'll pitch it bodily into
The river. They haven't got Wilkin-.
son to trife with now"
Along with General Jackson's as
sumption of superiority there went an
immense capacity for being just what
he assumed to be. He overawed
Claiborne from the moment of his ar
rival in New Orleans, and, to all in
tents and purposes, took charge OF the
State Government.
It will never be known just how far
actual treason went in plotting the be-
trayal of Jackson and the delivery of
the city to the British commander; but
the movement was more than an in
cipient impulse. There were many
men in New Orleans who dreaded to
have the power of the United States
Government we'll fixed in Louisiana.
Wilkinson had more than winked at a
free and easy understanding with the
fcrbana, robbers and smugglers, and
there can be little doubt that Clai-
borne. although he would have pre-
@E