The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-08
AT TT AGAIN


come back and be born again. 1t
would be out of the natural order OF
things. but Andrew was given to do
ing strange and unusual things in
life, and this would be only another
OF them. We would not have him do
this. however, unless his new birth
place be selected so that there should
be no possibility of doubt about 1t, Tor
that question has again bobbed up ON
one of Its periodical visits to humani-
ty When we think of 1t We are some
what inclined to say, with old Thomas
Haywood:
Seven cities varied for Homer. being
dead.
Who living had no roof to shroud his
head,
or, as another quotation has 1t;
Seven cities warred for Homer, being
In which the living Homer begged his.
bread.
Jackson was never, unless while in
tine army, without roof over him,
no. do we know that he was at any
time forced to beg his bread, but it is
a fact that he went through some
pretty rocky experiences while So
Jol rning on earth, fighting his painful
way to prominence, and lighting to
keep his place after he got 1t. But,
however, that may be, we know that
there is now a recrudescence of the
dispute as to whether Old Hickory
was born in North or South Carolina.
The matter Is perennial and several
other things. and the newspapers of
tao two States rise up and howl about
once a year--in the Spring, usually
and say things about each other. Then
the Virginia editors sail in and add
to the confusion by taking sides and
arguing from different stanipoints. 1t
is really none of their business, but
they can't keep their, fingers out of 1t
for the life of them.
1t Is somewhat singular that there
should be and remain such divergences
OF information, evidence and belief as
exists regarding the exact place of
Jackson's birth. He was born in
what was known as the "Waxhaw Set
Element" and the controversy Is as.
to which State 1t was in at the time
of his birth, or If the State line has
since been removed thereby throwing
his natal spot in different State from
the one 1t occupied at his birth. Curl
oil sly enough, the historians, the BIZ
ographers, the encyclopedias and all
other sources of information may be
exhausted without arriving at any
thing definite. Occasionally We get
word from a far-off source that seems
positive, like one from The Houston
(Tex) Post. The Washington Herald
having butted in with the direct as
Carollnian, The Post replies:
The truth of the matter is that
Mrs. Jackson left her home about f1f-
teen miles distant from the South
Carolina line, on March 10, 1857, one
afternoon; to walk to the home e. Of
niIht overlook her. she Stoned at a
neighbors house several miles away
| from the South Carolina line. 1t was
| the same night that Andrew JACKSON
made his appearance. When the mo-
| Their was able to resume her journey.
| several days after. she continued her
| way to the home of her South Carolina
relative. taking her infant with her.
| It was the presence of young Jackson
and his mother in the first weeks of
| his life in South Carolina house, To-
| Gated in the South Carolina portion of
| the Waxhaw settlement, that led to
| the impression that the general first
saw the light in south Carolina.
That. it will be observed, is about
as straight and definite as language
can make it. The truth of the mat
ter is" begins the statement, and The
Post follows it up with direct and
positive terms. There are no refer
ences to heaFsay or to reports, tradi-
tions and legends, but direct state
ment of facts, If The Post knew the
facts. We do not know upon what
1t bases it's assertions and statements,
but we do know that the language
used is very positive. 1t must be noted
as we go along that the mother was
evidently anxious to have her babe first
see the light on the South Carolina
|
objection she had to North Carolina
as a place to bring forth children, but
she plainly did her level best to pre-
vent the heir expectant from being q
Tar Heel If she had been blessed
with the facilities of modern methods
of travel there is little reason to doubt
that she would have landed the young
Jackson we'll beyond the line and set
tied 1t forever. On such small mat
tiers do great events hinge, and what
a pity it is that there was no rail
way for her to hurry over to the home
of her relative.
Any one not fully Informed might
think such positive testimony as thai
of The Post would settle the matter
definitely, but one thinking so would
be long way from home. Editors
especially the Carolina and Virgins
brand, are not built that way. They
are like the old parson of whom Gold
smith wrote, Fen though vanquished
he could argue still" What is worse
they rarely admit that they have the
worst of the argument. They reminc
us of the old song of the Dutchmar
who had made for himself a mos
wonderful cork leg, but when he put
1t on and started to walking h'
couldn't stop. We are told that he