Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-12-16
DEATH Of CEN. ,Ackson.
Old Hlokory's Last Hours Described IN /,
6 Letter iron, His SON to Ftlend.

II =
(Tenn.) Democrat letter written
by the son of Andrew Jackson, de-
scribing the last hours of Old Hick-
ory, at the Hermitage. Mr. Smith
found the letter among the papers Of
the late Chief Justice A. o. p. Mich
olson, who was Columbian, and
whose descendants in Columbia have
loaned his papers to Mr.. Smith to
aid him in preparing historical arti-
cles. The letter follows:
Hermitage, June IL, 1845.--Col,
A. o. p. Nicholson--Dear Sir
Your kind favor of the 18th instant
has been reed and read--I take plea
sure in complying with your request
as far as am able to do.
1t may hot be amiss for me in the
first place to introduce an interest
ing scene that occurred just two
weeks previous to my fathers death
on the Sabbath day; it was COM
munion of the Lords Supper in the
Hermitage Church; he appeared
unusually solemn that morning, aud
regretted exceedingly that he was
not able to accompany his family to
the church, and requested bis daugh-
ter (Mrs. J.) to invite the Rev. Mr..
Lapsley to return home with us, and
he would partake of the sacred feast
Cat honey; he then took the mem
bers of his family by the hand and
said "God bless YOU"
After returning from the church
the whole family, with the Rev. Mr..
Lapsley and DR.. Curry, assembled in
his room. He was very feeble, but
conversed upon religious topics
was calm and resigned, and said that
he was ready to 60 whenever his
Divine Master thought fit TO take
him that he suffered great deal of
bodily pain, but the Lords will be
done.
He then partook of the Holy
Communiop-it was a solemn scene
and frequently referred to his
death and felt confident it was not
far distant, but that he had no fears
Of it, let it come when it might, but
he would say, "When | have suffered
sufficiently the Lord will then take
me to Himself, but what are all my
sufferings compared to those of the
blessed Saviour who died upon that
crossed tree for rne-mine are moth
ing" Not murmur was ever heard
from him-all was borne with amaz-
ing fortitude; he spent much of his
time in secret prayer, as was evident
from the movement Of his lips and
hands.
On Thursday evening previous to
his death he said "What promises
are those in the Portuguese hymns ?''
and repeated:
When thro' the deep waters 1 call thee to
The rivers of woe shall not thee over
flow.
He then quoted many passages of
Scripture and conversed beautifully
upon the holy invitation given by
our beloved Saviour for all to come
unto Him, etc. About 12 o'clock of
the same night his daughter was at
his bedside and inquired how he felt.
He replied, "Pretty comfortable, but
feel that cannot be long with you
all-and my request ia, when depart
hence, that you will send for my old
friend, Major Lewis, (Judge Camp
bell, etc., but, said he, I expect he is
too feeble to Gomez to make arrange
ments with my son for my funeral. /
wish to be buried in plain, unosten-
tatious manner, without display or
pomp or any superfiuous EXPENSE"
etc. lie then rested for the night.
The next day he remarked to me he
was ready and willing to meet bis
Saviour. He conversed about his
farm and business and talked much
OF his beloved country; of the GER
tainty he felt of the annexation of
Texas; Of the letters he had Just re.
ceired from our ministers there
(Major Donolson) & the stand taken
by his olds& carly friend & compan-
ion in arms, Genl. Sam Houston, on
the subject---all Of which convinced
him that it would soon take place.
He spoke of the Oregon difficulty
and doubted not but the present
administration would do its duty to
the country 81 expressed hope &
prayer that it would be amicably ar
ranged by the two governments g. If
not, let war come, said he.-Tbere
would be Patriots enough in the
Land fonnl to ropcl foreign invasion
como from whatsoever source---to
maintain sacredly onr just rights &c
to perpetpate our glorious Constitu-
tion & Liberty and that ho trusted
% prayed our glorious Union be pre-
served.
On the SANE day (Fs;'!ay) in the
evening of his solicitnde for his
country being 80 great, he wrote with
his own hands Long Letter to Col.
Polk, President Of The III 6 hia