The Monroe journal., 1922-12-26
JACKSONIAN GAVEL
GIVEN PHILA. MAN
MIR. ]. W. Mccain Of Waxhaw Made
Gavel From Wood Near Jackson's
Birthplace-McCain's Speech

that Andrew Jackson was born in
Union county, and if they want to
they can step into the luxurious Of
fees of Andrew Jackson Maloney,
vice president of the Philadelphia
Life Insurance company, and see a
gavel made of wood taken from near
the birthplace of the famous presi-
dent. The gavel is the gift of j. W.
Mccain Of Waxhaw. agent for the
Gordon Insurance & Investment COM
pany, state agents for the Philadel-
phia concern.
The United States Review, week
" insurance publication, thought
enough of Mr.. MeOain's presenta-
tion speech to print it in full, with
the picture of the gavel as a leader.
Ind frankly, the Waxhaw man show
ed a fluent command of English in
his speech.
Here is the story as told by the
national insurance publication:
Andrew Jackson Maloney, vice
president of the Philadelphia Life In
surance Company, was recently pre-
sented with gavel made of wood
from trees that grew at the birth
place of the great man in whose
memory and honor he was named,
Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory" the
"Hero of New Orleans" whose fame
as President of the United States is
immortal. Mr.. Maloney was greatly
pleased with the gift, as he has been
a deep student of the life of Presi-
dent Jackson and has shown great in
terest in anything pertaining to the
defender of the Constitution" This
interest is, perhaps, partly inherited,
as his father, who founded the Phil
adelphia Life, was also named Andrew
jackson, and he was a typical Jack
sonian. The gavel was made by j. w.
Mccain of Waxhaw, N. c., who orig
inally presented it to Halsey B. Leav-
tit, president of the North Carolina
Plico Club, who in turn passed it
over to Vice President Maloney. In
presenting the gavel Mr.. Leavitt
read the speech that was made by
Mr.. Mccain when the latter gave
him the gavel. This speech is ex-
ceptionally well worded, abounding
in historical references and rhetor-
ical illusions, as follows
MIR. McCainS Speecn
"Near Waxhaw, my home town,
on the National Highway just over
in North Carolina stands monu-
ment erected by the Daughters Of
the American Revolution. In hon
or Of the birthplace of Andrew
Jackson seventh President Of the
United States, and this gavel which
..1.., ho,,o kha bnnar apd nlaa ct1ra
of presenting to you is supremely
entitled to be called Jacksonian'
gavel. First, because the wood from
which the gavel was made grew near
the spot where Andrew Jackson was
born. Second, because persimmon,
hickory and cedar form its constitu-
ent parts, and these trees are typical
of President Jackson's career.
"The persimmoa tree which forms
the head of this little instrument of
authority reminds us, that a persim-
mon in its green stage is sure to rem
der uncomfortable any one who tri-
fes with it, so Andrew Jackson in the
green stage of his life always brought
discomfort to any one who dared to
trifle with him, and like the persim-
mon in its ripe stage. Andrew jack
son in the ripeness of his latter years
ACQUIRED a pleasantness and suavity
very delightful to those who had So
cial relations with him. Then, too,
the persimmon is the most democratic
of all the trees that wave in the for
est, offering its fruits freely to the
rich and the poor, high and low alike,
and herein we have another most
striking likeness to the most demo-
cratic of all the Presidents.
ut is hardly necessary for me to
call the attention Of this intelligent
audience to the similarity which ex-
lists between the qualities OF the
hickory, the handle of this gavel, and
the character of Andrew jackson, for
history has forever put her seal on
that, and until time shall be no more,
old Hickory emblem of strength,
courage and frmness will ever be a
household word throughout this fair
Southland Of ours and will echo and
re-echo aloud down through the cor
ridor of time in answer to every ut
terance of the name Of Andrew jack
son.
Cedar Like Jackson's Character
"The third and last wood mentioned
in the formation Of this gavel is ce-
dar. Cedar has been celebrated from
the most ancient times for its beau
ty, magnifcence and longevity, as
well as for the excellence and dura-
bility of its timber. 1t is often men
toned in the Scriptures. 1t supplied
the woodwork of Solomon's Temple
and in the poetry of the Old Testa-
ment, it is a frequent emblem Of pros
perity, strength and stability. and as
this cedar penetrates the handle Of
this gavel, so did the love Of country,
for liberty and freedom penetrate the
great heart Of old Hickory, which
caused him to stand as immovable as
the rocks of Gibraltar on the princi-
pies that he conceived to be right.
But aside from the woods which
so appropriately compose this gavel,
the very instrument itself, in its re-
semblance to the maliet or hammer.
should Immediately call to your mind
the hammering that Jackson admin
istered to the British at New Orleans,
or the smashing Of the United States
bank which he believed to be dan
eerous institution to a republic such
as ours. His hammering down of the
Modification Doctrine Of our South
Carolina neighbors of 1882 is anoth-
a.. nasa In mint hut is likely to be