M'arthur Democrat, 1855-03-16

chapter of accidents to turn up a chance for incidental employment, confident that he would do the rest for himself if he could only get a start. I was in this mood in my office, a young lawyer, with more books than briefs, when the tardy mail of that time, "one raw and gusty day" in February,1812, brought an act of Congress authorizing the rresiaent to accept organized bodies ol volunteers to the extent of fifty thou thousand - sand thousand to serve for one year and lo bo called into service when some emerg emergency - ency emergency should require it. Here was a chance. 1 knew that Jackson could raise a general'a command, and trusted to events for him to be called out, and leltthat one year was more than enough for him to prove hi.nself. I drew up a plai rode thirty miles to hiff'house that same raw day in February rain, hail, sleet, wind and such roads as we then had theie in winter deep in rich mud and mixed with ice. I ar arrived - rived arrived at the Hennitage a name then but little known at nightlall.and found him solitary, and almost alone, but not quite; for it was the evening mention ed in the Thirty Years' View,' when I found him with the lamb and the child between his knees. I laid the plan before him. He was struck with it--adopted it acted upon it. We began to raise volunteer companies. While this was going on another ar arrived - rived arrived from the War Department to the Governor ( Willie Blount) to detach fifteen hundred militia to the Lower Mississippi.the object to meet the Brit Brit-isli, - isli, Brit-isli, then expected to make an attack on New Orleans. The Governor was a friend to Jackson, and to his country. He agreed to accept his three thousand volunteers instead of the fifteen hund hundred - red hundred draughted militia. He issued an address to his division. I galloped to the muster-grounds and harangued the young men. The success was ample. Three regiments were completed Cof Coffee, - fee, Coffee, William Hall,Benton,the colonels; and in December, 1812, we descend ed the Cumberland and Mississippi in a fleet of fiat-bottomed boats,and land landed - ed landed at Natches. There we got the news that the British would not corne that winter a great disappointment, and a line chance lost. We remained in camp, six miles Irom JNatches, waiting ulterior orders In March they came not orders for lurther service, or even to return home. but to disband the volunteers liere they were. The command was posi positive, - tive, positive, in the name of the President, and by the then Secretary at W ar, General Armstrong. I well remember the day Sunday morning, the 25th day of March, 1813. The first 1 knew of it was a message from the General to come to him at his tent; for, though as col colonel - onel colonel ot a regiment I had ceased to be aid, yet my place had not been filled, and I was sent forasmuch as ever. He showed me the ordcr.and also his char character, - acter, character, in his instant detetmination not to obey it, but to lead his volunteers home. He had sketched a severe an answer - swer answer to the Secretary at War, and gave it to me to copy, and arrange the mat tor of it. It was very severe. I tried hard lo get some parts softened) but im impossible. - possible. impossible. I have never seen that let letter - ter letter since, but would know it if I should meet it in any form, anywhere, with without - out without names. I concurred with the Gen General - eral General in the determination to take home our young troops. He then called a "council'' of the field officers, as he called it, though there was but little ol the council in it the only object be being - ing being to hear his determination, and take measures lor executing it. The offic ers were unanimous in their determin determination - ation determination to support him; but it was one of those cases in w hich he would have acted, not only without, but against a l. V u t ... The officers were unanimous and ve hement in tlieir determination, as much as the General was himself; lor the volunteers were composed ot the best young men ol the country farmers' sons, themselves clever young men, since tilling high offices in the State and the federal government- intrusted to these c lhcers by their lathers, in full confidence that they would act a fath father's - er's father's part by them; and the recreant thought ot turning them loose, on (he Lower Mississippi, five hundred miles from home, without the means of get getting - ting getting home, and a wilderness and Indi Indian - an Indian ttibes to traverse, did not find a mo ment's thought in any one's bosom. To carry them back was the instant and indignant determination, but great dif hculties were in the way. Tue cost of getting back three thousand men, under such circumstances, must be great, and here Jackson's character showed Hselt again. We have all heard ot his res ponsibilities his readiness to assume political responsibility when the public service required it: he was now equal equally - ly equally ready to take responsibility of an other kind moneyed responsibility' and that beyond the whole extent o' his fortune! He had no military chest not a dollar of public money and three thousand men were not to be con ducted five hundred miles through a wilderness country and Indian tribes without a great outlay ot money. Wagons were wanted, and many ol them, for transport of provisions, bag baggage, - gage, baggage, and the sick, so numerous among new troops. He had no money to hwe teams; he impressed: and at tbe end of

the service gave drafts upon the quars termaster general of the southern de department - partment department (General Wilkinson's) for the amount. The wagens wer ten dollars a day,coming and going. They were numerous. Jt was a acrvice of two months: the amount to be incurred wag great. He incurred itl and, as will be seen, at imminent risk of hjs owti ruin. This assumption on the General's part met the first great difficulty, but (here were lessei difficulties, still seri- ous, lo be surmounted. The troops had recei.ved no pay; clothes and shoes were worn out: men were in no condi tion for a march so long and so expos ed. The officers had received no pay aid not expect to need money had made no provision for the unexpected contingency of large demands. upon their own pockets to enable them to do their men justice. But there was pat patriotism - riotism patriotism outside of the camp as well as within. The merchants of Natchez put their stores at our disposition take what we needed pay when conveni ent at Nashville. I will name one among these patriotic merchants name him because he belongs to a class now struck at, and because I do not ignore a friend when he is struck. Washing ton Jackson was the one I mean Irish by birth, American by choice, by law, and feeling, and conduct. I took some hundred pairs shoes from him for my regiment, and other articles: and I pro claim it here, that patriotic men of loreign birth may see that there are a plenty of Americans to recognize their merit to name them with honor in high places and to give them the right hand of friendship when they are struck at. We all returned were discharged dispersed among our homes, and the fine chance on which we had so much counted was all gone. And now came a blow upon Jackson himself the fruit of the moneyed responsibility which he had assumed. His transportation I- . II . .1 urans were an protested returned up upon - on upon him for payment, which was impos impossibleand - sibleand impossibleand directions to bring suit. This was the month of May. I was coming on to Washington on my own account, and cordially took charge of Jackson's case. Suits were delayed until the result of his application for relief could be heard. I arrived at this city: Congress was in session the ex- session of the spring and summer of TS13. Tapplied to the members of Congress from Tennessee: they could do nothing. I applied to the Secretsry of War: he did nothing. Weeks had passed away, and the time for delay was expiring at Nashville. Ruin seem seemed - ed seemed to be hovering over the head of Jack Jackson - son Jackson and I felt the necessity of some decisive movement. I was young then, and had some material in me perhaps some boldness; and the occasion bro't it out. I resolved to take a step,char step,char-aclerized - aclerized step,char-aclerized in the letter which I wrote to the General as "an appeal from the justice to the cars of the administra tion." 1 remember the words.though 1 have never seen the letter since. I drew up a memoir addressed to the Sec Secretary - retary Secretary at War, representing to him that these volunteers were drawn from the bosoms of almost every substantial family in Tennessee that the whole Stale stood by Jackson in bringing them home and that the State would be lost to the administration if he was left lo suffer. It was upon this last argu argument - ment argument that I relied all those founded in justice having failedi It was of a Saturday morning, 12th of June, that I carried this memoir to the War Office, and delivered it Monday morning I came back eaily,to learn the result ol my argument. The Secretary was not yet in. I spoke to the chief clerk, (then afterwards Ad Adjutant - jutant Adjutant General Parker,) and inquired if the Secretary had left any answer for me before he lelt the office on Saturday. He said no; but that he had put the memoir in his side packet the breast pocket and carried it home with him, say ing he would take it for his Sun Sunday's - day's Sunday's consideration. That encouraged me gave a gleam of hope,and a feeling of satisfaction. I thought it a good tubject for his Sunday's meditation. Presently he arrived. I stepped in be before - fore before any body to his office. He told me quickly, and kindly, that there was much reason in what I had said, but that there was no way for him to Jo it; that Congress would have to give the relief. 1 answered him that 1 thought there was a way lor him to do it: it was to give an order to General W ilkinsou s quartermastei general in the Southern department to pay for so much trans transportation - portation transportation as Gen. Jackson's command would have been entitled to it it had leturned under regular orders. Upon die instant he took ud a nen. wrote down the tery words Had spoken, di rected a clerk to put them into lorm; and the work was done. The order went off immediately, and Jackson was relieved from imminent impending ru ruin, - in, ruin, and Tennessee remained firm to the administration. Thus this case of responsibility was over, but the original cause of our con concern - cern concern was still in full force. Jackson was again on his farm,unemployed,and the fine chance goi,e which had flatter flattered - ed flattered us so much. But the chapter of ac accidents - cidents accidents soon presented another not so brilliant as New Orleans trad promised,

The following speech was delivered in the House of Representatives on Wednesday last, by Hon. Thomas H. Benton : Mr. Benton paid: Mr. Chairman, the manner in which this sword has been used for (lie honor and benefit ot the country is known to the world; the manner in which the privilege was ob obtained - tained obtained of so using it is but little known, even to the living age, and must be lost to posterity unless preserved by con contemporaneous - temporaneous contemporaneous history. At the same time it is well worth knowing, in or order - der order to show what difficulties talent may nave to contend with, what mistakes governments may commit, and upon wuai cnances anu accidents u may tie pend that the greatest talent," and the purest patriotism, may be able to get into the service ol its country. There is a moral in such history which it may be instructive to governments and peo pie to learn. Wnen a warrior, or a statesman, is seen in the midst of his career, and in the fullness of his glory, showing himself to be in his natural place, people overlook his previous steps, and suppose he hid been called by a general voice by wise councils to the fulfilment of a natural destiny. In a few instances it is so; in the great greater - er greater part not. In the greater part there is a toilsome, uncertain, discouraging, and mortifying progress to begone thro' before the future resplendent man is able to get on the theatre which is to give him the use of his talent. So it was with Jackson. He had his dilfi. culties to surmount, and surmounted them. He conquered savage tribes and the conquerors of the conquerors ol Europe; but he had to conquer his own government first and did it and that was, lor him, the most difficult tl the two; for, while his military victories were the regular result ol a genius for war and brave troops to execute his plans enabling him to command sue cess his civil victory over his own government was the result ol chances and accidents, and the contrivances ol others, in which he could have but lit tle hand, and no control. I proceed to give some view ot tins ins- e and preliminary history, and have some qualification for the lask, having la la-ken - ken la-ken some part, though not great, in all that 1 relate. Retired from the United States Sen ate, of which he had been a member, and Irom the supremejudicial bench ol his State.on which he had sat as Ji:d''e. this future warrior and President and alike illustrous in both characters- was living on his farm on the banks of the Cumberland, when the war of 1812 broke out. He was a Major General in the Tennessee militia the only place he would continue to hold ap.il to which he had been elected by the contingency of one vote so close was the chance for a miss in this fiit step. ri is menus ueiievett mat he Had milita military - ry military genius, and proposed him for the Brigadier's appointment which was al allotted - lotted allotted to the West. That appointment was given to another, and Jackson re remained - mained remained unnoticed on his farm. Soon alter, another appointment ol General was allotted to the West. Jackson was proposed again, and again was left to attend to his farm. Then- a batc h ol Generals, as they were called, was au thorized by law six at a time and Irom all parts of the Union; and then his friends believed that surely his time had come. Not so the fact. The six appointment? went elsewhere, and the hero patriot, who was born to lead ar armies - mies armies to victory, was still lelttothe care of Ins fields, while incompetent men were leading our troops to defeat, lo captivity, to slaughter; for that is the way the war opened. The door to military service seemed lo be closed ant barred againn him; and was so, so far as the uovernment was concerned. It may.be wondered why this repug repugnance - nance repugnance to the appointment cf Jackson, who, though not yet greatly disting- uisnea, was sun a man ol mark had been a Senator, and a Supreme Judge, and was still a Mi jor General, and a man ol tried and heroic rourace. can tell the reason. He had a great many home enemies, for he was a man of decided temper, had a great many contests, no compromises, always went for a clean victory, or a clean defeat; though placable alter the contest was over. 1 hat was one reason, though not the main one. The Administra Administration - tion Administration had a prejudice against him on ac account - count account of Colonel Burr, with whom he had been associated in the American Senate, and to whom he gave hospita ble reception in his house at the time of his western expedition, relying upon his assurance that his designs were against the Spanish dominion in Mex Mexico, - ico, Mexico, and not against the integrity of this Union. 1 hese were some ot thecau ses, not all, of Jackson's rejection from federal military employment. I was then young and one of his aids, and believed in his military talent and pairiousm.greauy attached to turn, and was grieved and vexed to see him passed by when so much incompetence was preferred. Besides, I was to go tvitn mm, ana his appointment would be partly my own. 1 was vexed, as were ill his friends, but I did not des despair - pair despair as most of them did. I turned from the government to ourselves to our own resources and looked to the

"Pop-corn! pop-corn! Will you bare some pop corn, midamT Will you buy some pop-corn, sir!" aol a little fellow all "tattered md torn," jnade bis way through the crowd at an Kai'.crn depot. "How do you sell pop corn, my little friend?" Interrogated Mr, Bricy, "Three cents a pint, sir," " Wbose child are you?" "Nobody's child, ir. Will you hate ( pint of coral" "Hare you no parents or relatires to care for youl You seem ladly la need of a friendV '-I've relatives rich as the Rothcbildi, but I'm so rough and ragged, they don't want me with their children. Will you have another pint rf corn, sir?" Here's your change, Mister." "No luattri for tbe change." "1 only want the pay for the coro," and throwing down the change, Frank Gleasou vas away in search of another customer. "That boy will make ins wty through the world," said Mr Bracy; addressing himseli to a Mr. Ridded, a moustached creature at his side. "He is neither fool nor a knave; and 1 mistake, if some day his Rothcbild relations are not claiming the relationship." It may be," replied the dandified Es Esquire - quire Esquire Nightoti, "but, as the boy says, be is now too tough and ragged to associ ate with genteel people's children; and then one s own relatives, too, they can not be turned off like stranger's chil dren." "Why should he be turned offl Let them b.ush him up, suiooth the angular tk'1' aiidj?dur:te him; and then their children will be benefitted rather than conteminated by the poor relation." 'Your reasoning, sir, is very well; but I have seldom seen a boy like that ben efitled by genteel society. They do not appreciated favor, and soon give assur ance that " I tell you, Bir. that boy will go up like a sky-rocket, while the children that you call geniell people, will look up lohim with astonishment; but they can never race like bun gilded chains are weighty. The wbistle from the engine, inu the rattle of wheels, sem the two gentlemen to their seats, and our hero to his base ment in the suburbs of tbe city to re plenish his stock for tire -arrival of the next train of cars. Frank GUason was not homeless, nor friendless, nor pennyless. Wi;h his bag of pennies he lelt that Caesar might well envy his store of wealth. Tbe six families, that occupied each a rootf in the building with him, were his warm frient's; and many a favor did he receive from a large-hearted daughter of Erin, who occupied ti e next cellar; and then -.lie miser, who owned the little nook Frank occupied, was his friend so Frank thought; for he seldom exacted advance rent money, and never charged interest ti me Dill ran a month. Frank's ten by twelve room was not furnished in the moil approved style, but his table, with three legs, his dil apidated chair, and bed stead, made of a dry goods box, were enough for him. Wbat more could he reasonably askT -His wardrobe had seen better times, but then it was evident it had a variety of owners in its palmy davs. His ankles and pants wwre stranger.; bis vest might have belonged to his father, and his coat to Joseph, judging by its colors.- But what cared be as long as bt was their present lawful proprietor, with he prospect of giving tbem their time before Christinas? His slock in trade consisted of only barrel of pop corn, yet Solomon in all his glory was less coulent. Frank's was a glorious inheritance, an inheritance market-changes and batik lailures did uot reach. His fortune was invested in a fine mental and physical organization. Years went by, and Frank was tbe prince of popcorn peddler. From bis establishment a bevy of forlorn-looking boys went foith to try their forluues as peddlers. With the advice and exam example - ple example of their predecessor not a few be became - came became useful to themselves eurt to their poverty stricken mothers. Frank's leisure hours were given tor few second-hand books and a delapidatod slate. With these, and a few month's instruction from Mr. Fruse, he became a proficient in the English branches. Time, that wouder worker, has left his foot prints all- over the world since we first beard the cry "pop com!" from Furak Gleason. Mi. Bracy, the friend to tbe unfortun unfortunate - ate unfortunate bag been "gathered to his fathers;" but his kind deeds and gentle words bate fallen poa humanity like dew upon tbe Withered plant. John Neigh Neigh-ton - ton Neigh-ton is bankrupt; his sons proftigate; bis daughters fashionable and foolfsh; looking pd with envy and down with

An American ohvstclan. attached to tbe Russian army, has written a letter to the Providence Journal, dated Sebas Sebas-topol, - topol, Sebas-topol, December 26th. After describing the situation of the town, and the beau beautiful - tiful beautiful views from the walls, he 'contin ues! "Three dais aso I crossed the bav for the fltst time, ceased several hours in the city, and had the honor of dining wita ueneral Ustensicken.who has late lately - ly lately taken the defence of the city, and was most cormaiiy received. . Aid-decamp Kuminl conducted me to the cup- se a ois oi a nouse used as a pi?ce of obser vation, on ins inside of the city near- it the trench works, which commands perfect view of the entire Enclish and French batteries, and of their encamp- meut. The tteucties of the French are little within 500 feet of the n liter lines of the Russian batteries, but I be believe - lieve believe thev have approached no nearer than they were two weeks ego. '' "The city luring been besieged twd months snl a hall has not, as you may imagine, an entirely deserted appear ance, stores are opeu, women and chil children - dren children are seen here and there In ih streets, and every pleasaut afternoon tnere is music in the lioulevird. On my wsy to the ferrv. after lea t inn thu general's to re tar a to our hospital, my progress was suddenly arrested by some plaintive itrsins wafied down from the heights of the Boulevards? and as I list listened - ened listened the music was rendered mare plain- UTr, una bttu mar. toiirriingl nhHm. bv tbe olt-reoeated nealsof the caimm,. ever and anon Intermingling tlieir deeo and terrific bass. "The miliiarv operations, es conduct- ed at present, cousisis only of more or less nnog from tbe different bastions during tbe day, and occasionally, at night some prettv hot cannonading To witness at dight at these times, the ,.nNl. - . J ,., . r -.J piuij auttcruuig uasnrs oi tne guns, the bombs, line balls of fire, performing their beautiful curves through th air. and to hear the terrible whizzing of the o.iis, is peculiarly ami fearfully inter interesting. - esting. interesting. Christmas has passed here wi:h wi:h-out - out wi:h-out anything whatever to remind me of delightful aud merry Christinas holidays of home. The Russian Christmas comes twelve days later, as their dates ate so much behind ours. The climate here is not severs, with very little snow dur dur-the - the dur-the winter. Last nieht was sufficient. ly cold to freeze up the mud, of which, in rainy weather, the depth is actually frightful, and for the weather to-day, nothing could be finer, clear bright and mild, and it isouly at long Intervals that we bear the report of camion.''

contempt upon the rich and the roor. Ffank is S tall, handsome banker in one of oar western cities. When he flfftfyrat . up bis sign and displayed- h'rs gold in tht s?io Windows, tbe gentlemed lip lipped - ped lipped tbrlr hats as they mtl ,th young banker; inarriagable daughters and their managing mothers wondered if Esquire Gleasor, was engaged, and the gentle hint wis often giveu by those quite Interested thai a hotel wis no home st all there was nothing like being lord ol one's own premises. His relations, rich and poor, came forward, down to the fourteenth cousin, and remembered they always felt for him tbe greatest solicitude. Not few claimed the hon honor - or honor and magnanimity of helping him to his present position, and still were ready to counsel and befriend him. He headed the advice ol the old ladies snd took to himself a wife, bur lo their surprise end mortification 'a beautiful native child, who knew and loved the pop-coro peddler, is the fortuntte mis mistress - tress mistress of one of the most'spleudi'J man- sons in the city of '. Tbe poor the outcast and suffering find in that mansion a home and. friend.

No suWriber worth retaining, will object to tne pay-in-advance system. Those who went to hear Jenny Lind sing, bad to pay in advance, and what were her diriuest strains compared with those which flow from editorial pens? You can't take your seat in, a rickety mail-coach, or fly.from-the-tra"fck railroad-car, without paying-in advance for the risk of being killed. If you would bear a cofneert, or litera. ry lecture; or see Torn Thumb, or the Siamese twins, yon must plank down vour twentv-five.- or fiftv. or oiib hund red cents.before you can pass the thresh- L.ll r- ?r ..... iroiu. Mjt u any one lias so utile re regard - gard regard for his own character, as to want to read Baraum'a autobiography he must first pay for it. And yet meq hes hesitate - itate hesitate and cavil about paying in advance foe a paper furnished at a price on the very brink and utmost verge" ot prime