The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-14

western North Carolina in 1855. Four
years later we see him United States
attorney for that district. He was a
member of the convention that franz
ed the state constitution of Tennes-
see. In 1897 he was honored by cleo
ton to the United States senate, but
he resigned this position to accept a
judgeship in the Tennessee supreme
court the following year. During these
years he was major general of the
Tennessee militia and conducted the
principal campaign against the Creek
Indians, which resulted in complete
subjugation of that nation in the
spring of 1872 That same summer he
was appointed major general in the
regular army and given command of
the department of the south. His VIC
tory at New Orleans the following jan
uary gave him great renown.
Jackson, like a true soldier, did not
relax his vigilance after the victory
that saved Louisiana from British
conquest. He maintained martial law
in New Orleans vigorously. When an
official announcement of peace was re-
ceived from Washington he was in
volved in a contention with the civil
authorities who had opposed martial
law as unnecessary. In the legislature
of Louisiana was a powerful faction
opposed to him personally, and when
the officers and troops were thanked
by that body the name of jackson was
omitted.
Fined for Contempt.
A seditious proclamation soon ap-
peared which Increased the indigna-
ton of the people and as this was a
public matter, calculated to produce
dissatisfaction in the army, Jackson
caused the arrest of the author and
his trial by martial law. Hall, Of the
supreme court of the United States,
issued a writ Of habeas corpus in ia
vor of the offender. Jackson consid-
cred this a violation of martial law
and ordered the arrest of the judge
the city. The judge in turn, when the
martial law was revoked in conse-
Quence of the proclamation Of peace,
required Jackson to appear before
him and show cause why he should
not be punished for contempt of
court. He cheerfully obeyed the sum-
mons and entered the crowded court
room in citizens dress. There was
an immense crowd of agitated citizens
and when recognized he was greeted
by a thousand voices. The judge hes
itated. Jackson stepped upon the
turning to the trembling judge said:
There is no danger here; there shall
be none. The same hand that pro-
tected this city against the invaders
of the country will shield and protect
this court or perish in the effort. Pro-
pronounced him guilty of contempt of
court and fined him $1,000. This he
Immediately paid The people were
so anxious to show their appreciation
of him and their disfavor with the
court that they carried him out Of the
court house on their shoulders and
raised the $1,000 for the fine by con-
tribution, but this he refused to &C
cept Later congress refunded the
sum with interest
This incident shows perhaps more
clearly than any other in his life his
law-abiding desires and his deternnin-
alton to maintain the dignity and Or
der of the courts. President Jackson
possessed great firmness and decision
of character; not always correct In
Judgment; often rash in expression
and action; misled sometimes by his
hot anger into acts injurious to his
reputation; of unflinching personal
courage and patriot of purest
stamp. He retired from public life
in the spring of 1887. His administra-
ton of eight years was marked by
great energy and never were the at
fairs of the republic in its domestic
and foreign relations more prosperous
than at the close of his term of Of
flee. He died in 1.-The Hermitage"
pear Nashville Tenn June g. 1S45