The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-15
CHATTER XVII.
CONTINUED.

friends"
vernon proposes to raise and equip
q company OF ri:iemen at bis own ez-
pense," remarked Jackson, "but be
fatty refuses to command it.
"Of course, lie would refuse that,
general" said the governor. "Iou
should not expect man OF his stamp
to come to that. / see that You have
not understood him. Plainly, you do
not recognize his importance. -
Important O. not important" ex-
claimed Jackson, permitting his nat
ural irascibility 10 appear, Il do not
need his advice or, for that matter,
yours either!"
Claiborne, who was no mean diplo-
mat, held his temper and smiled bland
ly. He had the utmost confidence III
jackson, and was determined not to
have rupture with him; but he feared
Mr.. Yernon'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 Latitte. by which the
former hoped to bring large number
OF the outlaws of Baratsria and other
resorts to the aid Of the government.
Jackson was favoring this scheme,
knowing that frebooters were capable
of doing most effective service as SOL
diers. He now asked for private in
terview with the general, and when
they had passed into. all adjoining
room, he said:
81 understand your feelings, gen
eral, aud am far from wishing to as-
gravate them; but let me say to You in
deepest confidence that Mr.. Vernon is
Just now an indispensable person to
us. He alone can control the mass Of
the creoles and especially the lawless
class. tell you that We cannot do
without him."
Claiborne spoke more from coniec
tucc than from any defuite 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 meu
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
TO assert the superiority OF the law,
and certain of his injudicious friends
hal magnified to him the evidences o.
seiilicn among tue creole population.
Added to all this, reinforcements were
SLOW in arriving, and such as had come
were miserably deficient in equipment,
without food and very inadeqnately
cle1 against the unusual cold Of the
season.
Hc felt that patriotism as well as
seit.int crest demanded OF the people
OF New Orleans aud OF Louisiana the
mosl enthusiastic and heroic selfde-
votion in behalf of his purposes.
Kaowing his own courage and genius
AMI seeing with the absolute vision of
the born general the supreme need o.
the hour, he could have 10 patience
with anything or anybody that did not
fell at once into line and obey his
every command. execute his every suS-
gcstiou and show that the most active
faith in his superiority.
Il despiso and dstest the whole
crew." he presently blurted out, "and
TIL blow them to everlasting scraps,
before loug, if they persist IN their
disloya!ty to the country. Claiborne,
YOU go a. once aud tell That legisla-
ture to adiourn--tell them that I
say So"
The governor stood for moment
coarouudAd; but it did not take long
for him to see that General Jackson
meant to be obeyed.
81 have already suggested al ad-
journmcnt," he replied, "but of course
there is some opposition.
"Bnt 1 will not permit opposition
from anybody, do you hear? This
thing is coming to 4 point right shortly.
Fam in command here and, by the
Eternal, am going to be master! You
so at once, governor, and tell that
legislature to shut up shop, aud if /:
doesn't do it I'll pitch it bodily into
the river They haven't got a Wilkin-
son to triae with now"
Along with General Jnckson's as
sumption OF superiority there went ~
immense capacity for being just wha,
he assumed to be. He overawei
Claiborne from the moment OF his ar
rival in New Orleans, and, to all in,
tents and purposes, took charge OF ID"
State Government.
II will never be kuowI just how fa'
actual treason went in p'cttinr the ha-
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
hare the power OF the United States
Gorarn,na,t ,yoll fix cd in T,ouisiona