Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-15
HISTORIC JACKSON VASE.
Famous Souvenir Now Within Easy
View of Public,

Famous Souvenir Now Within Eas,
View of Public. ...
The State Historical commission
through its secretary, Mr.. A. s. Salley
Jr., has Just had the famous jackson
Vase" thoroughly cleaned up, repaired
and mounted in q glass case on 6
stand about three feet high, and nov
the seeker after objects Of interest ir
the state house may see this ver5
handsome piece Of plate and read 6
brief history Of it without putting
state officials to the trouble Of hauling
| 1t from its hiding place in a safe ol
vault, as has been the custom here.
tofore.
This very handsome silver vase
which stands aboat fifteen inches high
and is about eighteen inches long and
ten inches wide, was presented to An
drew Jackson by the ladies Of Charles
ton just after his victory over the
British at New Orleans, January 8
1915. At that time, in fact during
Jackson's whole life, he was regarded
as a native Of South Carolina, and the
people of the state were very proud
Of him. Jackson, too, was proud Of
being a native Of South Carolina, anc
when discussing that state never fall
ed to proclaim with pride that he was
native thereof. His own testimony
Is fully borne out by contemporary Of
ficial records, but, nevertheless
through the efforts Of modern history
fakirs the impression has been estab-
lished. long after his death, that he
was born in North Carolina at spot
about three miles from the spot upon
which he. and his contemporaries have
said that he was born.
This vase was made for the ladies
who raised the funds with which tc
purchase 1t, by Fletcher & Garniner
of Philadelphia. The handles repre-
sent coiled snakes and the top is sur
mounted by an American eagle. On
the four corners of the base are -four
more eagles, all with wings displayed
On the side of the base there is an
engraving of a battle scene and above
18th January, 1875" On one side OF
the bowl the arms Of South Carolina
are inaccurately engraved and on the
opposite side the words, Presented
by the ladies of South Carolina, to
Major General Andrew Jackson"
When he came to make his will,
General Jackson provided for the dis
posal of this vase In the following
manner, the provision here given be-
ing taken verbatim ct iteratim, cap
ltalization, punctuation. spelling and
all being reproduced as in the origi-
nal.
"The large silver vase presented to
me by the ladies Of Charleston, South
Carolina, my native State, with the
large Picture representing the unfurl-
ing of the American banner, present.
ed to me by the citizens of South Car
olina, when it was refused to be ac-
cepted by the United States senate, l
leave in trust to my son. A. Jackson,
Jr.. with directions that should our
country not be blessed with peace, an
event not always to be expected, he
will at the close of the war; or end
Of conflict, present each Of said articles
Of inestimable value. to that patriot
residing in the city and state from
which they were presented who shall
be adjudged by his countrymen, of
the ladies, to have been the most val
iant in defense of his country and our
country's rights"
About thirteen years after the death
of General Jackson final disposition
was made Of these two articles Of in
estimable value" Early in 1858, Gov
ernor Aston Of South Carolina, a man
who deeply appreciated those things
which go to produce broad culture,
wrote to Major Edward Biddle of
Louisiana, with a view Of getting In
touch with the younger Jackson and
having the vase disposed of. He sug-
gested that as 1t would be difficult to
select the most valiant man whom
South Carolina had sent into the Mex
lean war, the next foreign war In
which the United States engaged after
the making of Jackson's will, the best
disposition to make Of the vase and
picture would be to give them in trust
to the Palmetto association, composed
of the South Carolina survivors OF
that war; to hold for the last survivor
Of the association. Young Jackson ap-
proved Of Governor Alston's sugges-
ton and wrote the following letter to
the governor:
Memphis, Tenn, April 8, 1858.
His excellency. Governor Alston OF
South Carolina.
Dear Sir: The day before I left the
Hermitage, had the pleasure of read
ing a letter from you. addressed to
Major Edward Biddle of Louisiana,
relative to the vase and picture" be-
queathed by my father to that patriot
most valiant in defense of his coun-
try and our countrys rights, to be ad-
Judged by his countrymen or by the
ladies from tnat city anu state llohi
whence they were presented Your
suggestion, governor, / most cordially
approve Of, and can see no other mode
by which they can be satisfactorily
disposed Of than by the one suggest
ed: therefore have ordered them to be
carefully packed and boxed and given
in charge Of the Adams Empress COM
pany of Nashville. Tenn, to be safely
delivered into your hands at Charles
ton, S. c. Receive them, sir, and as
executor of the last will and testa-
ment of my venerated father, l hereby
a thorize you in my name and In your
own name, as governor Of the state
to present them to the survivors Of
that noble and valiant band Of men,
the Palmetto regiment. when the asso-
citation meets in May next, to be
handed down to the last survivor, etc..
with the remark, May these inesti-
matie gifts Of the dying patriot stimu-
late this heroic and patriotic band OF
men, and too, sir, the old and young
Of our favored land to remember his
cherished motto. Our Glorious union
it must and shall be preserved"
Nothing would have given me more
pleasure do assure you, than to have
been able to come on in person and
perform this pleasing duty, but other
engagements will prevent. Therefore
leave II in trust to YOU. sir hoping