The Coolidge examiner., 1935-01-11

~ armies % two nations who we're
W technically at peace. because the
treaty ending the war between them had been
signed two weeks previously. 50 Il would seem
that the II Americans and the 81 British who
were killed fas well as those of the 81 American
and the i.2G2 British wounded who died laterl
pershed Ia vain. and that this might properly
Dc called ~ihe most useless battle In history"
Yet Il was not Even though II n brilliant
victory. from the strictly military point of view
* had no value. insofar II had no influence
on the peace treaty ending the war. But from
the diplomatic angle u was tremendously impor-
tant
During the time the American and British
peace commissioners az Client were wranging
over the terms OF that treaty, the representa-
tiyes of England were holding an ace Up their
sleeves. They knew that General Pakenham with
his 10000 veterans was on his way TO capture
New Orleans and they were confident that be
would do H. They were thinking of this and Of
Louisiana Territory which jefferson had pur.
chased from Napoleon Il years earlier when they
emphatically declared TO the American commits
sioners I'VE DO not admit Bonapartes construc-
ton % the laws OF the nations We cannot &C.
ecpt Il In relation to any matter before us
So n Pakenham had been successful: II he
bad defeated ~old Hickory" Jackson. who was
defending New Orleans and captured that city.
iaraiion OF her commissioners that Napoleon had
no right 20 sell Louisiana TO the United States
would have declared that the Treaty Of Cheni
did not apply % Louisiana and. with Pakenham
In control of New Orleans, would probably have
made her claim good. So perhaps those frontiers
men who lost their lives at Chalmeite did not
die In vain.
Besides being celebrated In Louisiana as New
Orleans day. January Is also observed In other
parts OF the country rs Jackson day. a rallying
tine for members OF the political party pledged
10 the principles OF "Jacksonian Democracy" II
would seem more appropriate II the Democrats
had made March IS their heros birthday. Jack.
son day. or they might have selected November
3 iS11. date TO commemorate. for II was
on that day that the principles OF "Jaeksonian
Democracy" first trIumphed and sent -old Hick-
ory~ 20 the White House. So the observance OF
the date OF a military victory for a political
purpose Is something Of a paradox and there
are those who would declare that the departure
OF sthe Democratic party Of today from those
historic principles makes Il all the more para
doxlcall
Another paradox connected with this historic
event which occurred Just 40 years ago. has to
do with It's immediate results AS might have
been expected, Jacksons victory made him the
hero OF the hour In New Orleans. or the recep-
tion which awaited him when he returned there
from the battlefield OF Chalmette. Marquis James
In his Andrew Jackson-The Border Captain
published last year by the Bobbs-Merrill com
pany. says:
IS. The city gave him Latin welcome
Pierre Favrot. seated by window overlooking
the Place d'Armes. undertook 10 describe IL 10
his wife. AT this moment there are more than
$500 people in the Place awaiting the arrival
Of the General . at least 600 women. ladies &
young girls New Orleans gave itself over to
feting the heroes and Monsieur Favrot wrote no
more that day. The rigors Of the siege were for.
gotten jackson suspended the nine O'Clock cur.
few and the gaieiy lasted into the night. In the
morning Favrot finished his letters A. NJ.
Never my dear have I seen such a crowd
All the troops arriving 20 the strains OF military
music & Of the cannons more than 12Ucc
people OF whom 5000 were armed :. E. Tomorrow
they . viii crown the General: twelve young
girls Will strew his path with flowers -"
This they did on the morrow and much more
AT the door OF the church he was received by
the Able DuBourg in his robes OF Office and
attended by a college OF priests =. The choir
began To chant the majestic lines OF the TIE
Deum- The people In tile church took up the
hymn. II spread to the lips Of the throng tha,
dled the square all New Orleans poured forth
its gratitude for delverance.-
But that gratitude WAS short-lived. and the
hero OF yesterday was, in their minds, tyrani
the next day. when "New Orleans awakened
somewhat amazed TO find itself. TO all intents
-nce more In a state of siege. The tight restric-
tons Of martial law were reimposed- Militia
companies which had looked forward TO prompt
dIsbandment were marched into camps and set
10 drilling Reserve companies not under arms
before because there were no arms to give them
were called out the dilatory cargo OF War de
partment rifles having arrived. Andrew Jackson