The Washington herald., 1907-03-03
REVISED BY MADISON
How JacksOn'S Notification
Edict Was Prepared,
NEW STORY OF FAMOUS PAPER
IL Was Written by the President
Himself, but Was Sent to Madison
Before II Was Revised by Livings-
ton-A Picturesque Scene at the
Home of the Aged VirEinian.


President Andrew JacksOns "prOclama-
ton" against the notification resolutions
of the South Carolina convention was the
most sensational political paper ever put
forth in these United States. Mark, say,
the most sensational; not the ablest
paper In my opinion the ablest paper
ever put forth upon the principles Of gov
eminent was the Virginia Bill Of Rights,
drawn by George Mason in 177s; and next
to that in ability l would place the Vir-
ginia Resolutions and Report Of 1883,
drawn by James Madison.
But II ever a deliverance from the White
House burst upon the country Ike a rat
thing peal of thunder It was Jackson's
proclamation" We have. after much
ldiligent investigation, recovered a story
in connection with the proclamation which
has never been published. and constitutes
a page OF the history Of those stormy
times that possesses an engrossing IN
terest. We were put upon the track Of
this investigation By the late Maj. James
". Walker of Madison County, Va, who
was adjutant general OF Mahone's bri-
gade In the war between the States. and
for many years law partner Of Mai. John
Mcdowell Darlington in Washington City
| It has been often stated. and probably
is generally believed. that Mr. Livingston,
Jacks0n's Secretary of State. wrote the
proclamation. There is not d word OF
truth in It. A pamphlet containing the
proceedings Of the South Carolina conven-
tion was put into the hands OF President
Jackson the latter part OF November
(lS52). and stirred the patriotic heart Of
the old hero 10 its pTofOundest depths.
He went 10 his Office alone and began
rapidly TO indite page after page Of the
memorable proclamation, writing with
that great steel pen OF his which, when
he wrote, as he often did. in a violent
temper, made a noise like the saving Of
wood. He dashed or the sheets with such
rapidly that he was obliged to scatter
them over the table 10 let them dry 4
gentleman who came into the room after
fifteen or twenty pages had been written
observed that three Of them were glis-
tening with ink at the same moment
/ The warmth, the glow. the pith, the pas
I sion Of the proclamation were then and
! there produced by the Presidents own
T hand. After he had completed IL he did
( indeed. according 10 the most authentic
account, put Il into the hands OF Living
stOn, TO polish il up and put a few finish
Ing touches 10 It. but the proclamation,
so far as the scope and composition are
concerned. and especially the vig0r and
virus Of Il. emanated from that big steel
pen. and that strong and stern and vehe-
ment mind Of Andrew Jackson.
Journey to Madison.
But before President Jackson put the
rough sheets Of the proclamation into the
hands Of Edward Livingston for revision
and polishing touches, he subjected Il
to another's scrutiny; and here is where
my story comes in. The venerable
James Madison. the father Of the Con-
stitution. and the wisest statesman IN
America, and next 10 Edmund Burke the
wisest IN the world. was then. in his
eighty-second year, an invalid at hts
Montpelier home, IN Orange County
He had written a letter to Mr.. Joseph
Q. Cabell on May 81. 1880 and a letter
to Mr.. Edward Everett, Of Massachusetts.
in August. 1890 latter the Hayne and
Webster debate in January beforel. in
both OF which letters he denied that his
resolutions and report OF 1889 meant
notification. In these letters he said his
resolutions looked 10 a convention Of the
States 10 amend the Constitution 50 as
TO avert the trouble threatened BY the
hostility Of South Carolina 10 the collec-
ton of taxes at the port OF Charleston
IL is not my purpose 10 20 into this con-
troversy; but It was. no doubt. these let
ters that induced President Jackson 10
submit his proclamation 70 the sage OF
Montpelier. And now / proceed 10 give
the bTand-neW story OF the scrutiny to
which "Old Hickory submitted this
memorable paper before he put it in the
hands Of Mr.. Livingston.
The President had brought with him
from Tennessee. 10 be his companion
and adviser at the White House, his init
mate friend, Maj. William 3. Lewis, of
Nashville. To this gentleman he in
trusted the rough sheets Of the procIa-
nation, TO be taken to Mr.. Madison for
inspection and comment. These sheets
were put into the hands OF Mai Lewis
on Tuesday, December 5. 1882. He took
the night boat to AcQuIa Creek. and went
from there by stage to Fredericksburg. u
distance Of thirteen miles. Next morn
ing "wednesday. the eth he took the
stage from Orange Court House over the
old turnpike road. reaching the latter
place at nightfaI after a wearisome
journey Of forty miles. Mr. Joseph Hiden.
father Of the Rev. J. c. Hlden, now living.
at that time kept the hotel at Orange
Court House, and he furnished Maj. Lewis
carriage TO take him straightway &c
Montpelier, four miles distant
Revised by Sage of Montpelier.
Maj. Hidden procured a carriage. as
1 have said, for Mai. Lewis. and sent
him out to Montpelier. He arrived at
Montpelier at o'clock at night. He
was met at the door by Mrs. Madison.
who informed him that Mr.. Madison
was in bed He told her that he was
the bearer Of very important and
urgent communication from the Presi- |
dent, She invited him into the parior
and then apprised Mr.. Madison Of the
presence Of the Presidents messenger. !
IN short time Maj. Lewis was ushered |
into Mr.. Madisons chamber, where that |
aged patriot was prOpped up in bed. with
nightcap on, and with a tallow candle |
on a table. Maj. Lewis informed Mr.. |
Madison Of the object of his visit. |
whereupon the latter requested him 10 |
read the document 10 him. This he did |
end then Mr.. Madison ordered two /
more candles to De brought. and taking 1
the paper in his own hands, slowly and /
carefully perused it, making occasional |
marginal notes.
When this was completed Mai Lewis /
insisted on returning at once to Orange /
Court House, but Mrs. Madison Informed /
him that she had sent the carriage back /
to the Court House. and would send him /
next morning to the Court House in her
own carriage in time TO take the stage
for Fredericksburg. He had no alter
native but TO yield and spend the night 1
at Montpelier This he did upon the /
insistence that he should be called |
early. and that no preparation should |
lie made to give him a breakfast Mrs
Madison gave him a qualified statement