The Kalida Venture, 1845-07-15

letter from a Committee of the citizens of Mobile, inviting him with many expressions j . T - !. oi regard, to visit their ciiy. ve copy u from the Register of May 27. Fort Hill, May 15, 1815. Gentlemen From some delay in the mail, I did not recoive, until a few days since, your letter of the 21st April, informing me, that at a Democratic mooting held in the city of Mobile on the 14th of the sime month, you were appointed a Committee to express the cordial approbation of the mooting of my public conduct; their gratitude for my servi services, - ces, services, and to offer on the purl of the meeting, such other manifestations of tlmir respect and esteem ns you might think proper. I will not Attempt to express the djep gra gratitude - titude gratitude I feel for the warm approbation of my public conduct and services expressed by the meeting in their resolutions, und the very acceptable manner in which you have performed the duty entrusted to you. In performing it, you have alluded with particular approbition to my conduct and services in reference to Slate R'ghts, and during iho period I filled, for a short time, the State Department under the late admi administration: - nistration: administration: - To no part of my public life do I look back with greater pleasure, than that devoted lo expounding and maintaining the relations between the Federal and State Governments, on which the doctrine of State Rights depend and it is a great consolation for me to think it has not been in vain. The Federal Government regarded in its federative character, in which Slates and not individuals, are iis constituents, is iho most remarkable ever foimad; nnd promises, if carried out honestly nnd f.iiily as such, a higher degree of prosperity nnd happiness, titan has ever fallen to the lot of any people. On the other hand, regarded as n national Government, in which individuals and not States are the constituents, it has nothing novel or remarkable about it. Instead of n great Federal Republic, as it is, it would be in that character a huge, unwioldly demo democracy, - cracy, democracy, destined to bo torn into fragmenis by hostile and counseling interoste,and to ter terminate - minate terminate in convulsion. Such being my, tjfcn tjfcn-Viction, - Viction, tjfcn-Viction, 1 felt it 4o boutnyufy to inuintain the Federal character oT the Government Against the national or consolid itive, at any sacrifice and hazard, and shall continue to do so as long as it shall please the Author of my being to spare my life. The services I lendercd during the period I filled the State Department, were perform performed - ed performed under great difficulties and embarrass embarrassments. - ments. embarrassments. Nothing, indeed, but the magnitude of the questions involved in the negotiations in reference to Texas and Oregon, with the difficulties and embarrassments encircling them, and the unanimous call ofthu country to take charge of the negotiations, could li.ra tnrliiinrl mn li lo.iim mu raltrpmAllt :in:l JH..V ..J - return to public life. Besides those that were intrinsic, there were maiiy that were of an extraneous character. Among others, the administration was li literally - terally literally without a parly in Congress, and very feebly supported by the people; and the Pre Presidential - sidential Presidential question .was ponding, Which ex experience - perience experience h id taught me overruled in a great measure all others. . ' The negotiations in reference to Texas first chimed my attention, because it was the most pressing and could not be delayed without hazard. In order to avoid the diffi difficulties - culties difficulties nnd embarrassments which I appre apprehended - hended apprehended from the presidential election, I re resolved - solved resolved to keep entirely nloof from the party politics of the day, and especially from ques questions - tions questions relating to the clcc'ioti and lo use my efforts to induce the candidates not to commit (tinmaplvr.n n nil i list nnnnxatioll. I ll id little apprehension 'that Mr. Van Bnrcn would, as a great majority ot Ins menus, witu uen Jackson nt their head, dad declared for it The position of Mr. Clay was d'ffercnt Thp mncsPB of iiis friends in the north onnn ,! if. tvliii-h f fenied would swav him. In order to prevent it if possible, I siw some of Ilia most prominent menus, wun wiiom wop n frinnrllv terms, and used everv argil hient I could with them, to exert their influ influence - ence influence to prevent him from coming out agains' it T maa nil in vain. His letter in opposition I. . soon after appeared, and Mr. Van Birans followed shortly alter, most unexpecieoiy 10 Mna . Their effect was great. Mr. Clay1 friends Wpm rallied aminst it to a man. although the great body of them in the West anl South, were strongly disposed to support ii, ann no a few of the prominent, openly committed IB lis iiivor. .: . Tt A'tOTrnnt lull!, Mr. Villi Huron's Tho nrnnl hnilv nf hin miniinrtcrs rem lined - j n g firm trt its support; but an active, influential and not an incons derible number adhered to his course. 1 Indeed, the stand taken by the selected candid itos of.the two great par parties, - ties, parties, with the influenco of the presMeutial question and the feebleness of the adm;n;s adm;n;s-tration - tration adm;n;s-tration in Congress and the country, seemed for a time, to render the prospect of success, almost hopeless. - r rl ;t T - To these causes of opposition thore m'ist bo taken into consideration another, toreajiz the difficult and embarrassments that stood in the way of the success of.the measure. I allude to abolition, f It may, indeed, be truly regarded as the main spring which put the others in motion. ! . .v ., The abolition party in the North and West had taken an early and decided stand against

alfeclionilo sorrow; for never, in tha lido of lime, diJ a statesman ex'st more heartily le le-solved - solved le-solved to protect them iu thoir rights, and to advance their happiness. For their benefit, ho opposed partial legislation; for their bene benefit, - fit, benefit, bo resisted all artificial hte'lhnds of con controlling - trolling controlling labor, .and subjecting it to capital. It was for their benefit ihat he loved freedom in all its forms freedom of the individual in personal independence, freedom of the Sum Sum-is - is Sum-is separate sovereignties. IIo never would listen to counsels which tended to the cen centralization - tralization centralization of power. The true American system presupposes llio diffusion of freedom organized life in all the parts of the Anie Anie-ricui - ricui Anie-ricui body politic, as there is organized life iu every put of the human system. Jackson was deaf o every counsel which Sought to subject general labor to a central will. His vindication of the just principles of the con constitution - stitution constitution derived its sublimity from bis dee p conviction that this strict construction is te te-qnircd - qnircd te-qnircd by the lasting welfire of the great laboring classess of iho United States. HE BECAME TUE TRIBUNE OF ME PEOrLE. To this end, Jackso revived the tribunitial power of the veto, and excrmd it against the decisive action of both branches of Congress, against the votes, the vv'slii'S,tho entreaties ol personal and political liietids. "Showinc," was his reply lo them, " show me nn express clause in the constitution authorizing Con Congress - gress Congress to tako Ihe business of State I -gisla-turcs out of their hands." "Yon will ruin us all," cried a firm partisan friend, " yon i will ruin your party 1111. 1 your own prospects" 1 ' Providence," answered Jackson, " will take care of muj" and he persevered. HE WAS FAVORABLE TO FREEDOM OF TRADE. Iu proceeding lo discharge the debt of the Uiiiled States I moasuie thoroughly Ame American - rican American Jackson followed the example of his predecessors; but ho followed it with Ihe full consciousness that he was rescuing the couniry from the artificial syslem ol finance wh eh bad prevailed throughout the world; and with him it forrnoJ a pirt of a system by which American legislation was to separate itself more nnd more effectually from European precedents, and develop itself more and more, according to the vital principles of our political existenco. The discharge of thd debt brought with it, of necessity, a great reduction of the public burdens, and brought, of necessity, into view, ihe question, how far America should follow, of choice, the old restrictive system of high duties, under Which Europe had 'oppressed America; or how far alio should rely on her own freedom and enterprise and power, de de-lying - lying de-lying the competition, and seeking the mark ets, and receiving tho products ot ine wonu. The mind of Jackson on this subject rea soned clearly, nnd without passion. In the ibuses of the system ol revenue by excess excessive - ive excessive iiniioslSi lie saw evils which the public mind would remedy; and, inclining with the whole might of his energetic nature to the side of revenue duties, ho mide bis earnest but tranquil appeal to the judgment of the people. CONSTITUTIONAL RESTRAINT. The portions of country that suffered most severely from a sysiem of legislation, which, in its extreme character as it then existed, is now universally acknowledged to have been uneiin d and unjust, were lests trari iuil; and rallying on the doctrines of freedom, wh.ch mide our government a limited one, they saw in Ihe oppressive acts an assump tion of power which was nugitory, oecaus -it was exercised, as thejf held, without au authority - thority authority from the people. THE PRINCIPLE OF TROSRESS. . The people can discern rigln,aiid will make their way to a knowledge of right; tint the whole hum in mind, and therefore wilh it tin .nifid of tho nation, has a continuous, ever improving existnice; that the appeal from the uniust legislation of to-day must be made nuielly, oarnes lv. perseveringly, to 'he more euliglitened coll-ctivo reason ot to-morrow; that submission is due to the popular will, iu tho confidence that the people, when in er error, - ror, error, will amend their doings; that in a popu lar government injustice is neither lo be es tabllshcd by force, nor lobe resisted by force; iu a woidj that the Union, whicti was consti constituted - tuted constituted by conscutj must be preserved by love ltIS FAITH IN TRUTH, FREEDOM, RELIOION. Aoe hiid whitened his locks, nnd dimmed his eve, and spread around him ihe iiihruv ties and venerable emblems of many years of toilsome service, but bis heart beat as warmlv as in his youth, and Ilia courage was as firm as it had ever bcett ill the day of bai bailie." - lie." bailie." But whilo his affections were still fur his friends and his country, his thoughts were already in a belter World. That exalted mind, which in r.ctive life had always had unity of perception and will, which in aciion had never fullered from doubt, and wh'ch in council had always reverted lo first princi principles - ples principles nnd general laws, now gave itself up to communing with the Infjuile. He was a be believer! - liever! believer! from feeling, from experience from conviction. Not a shadow of scepticism ever dimmed the lustre of his mind. Proud philosopher! will you smile lo know that Andrew Jackson peruBed ' reverently his Psalter and Prayer-book and Bible? ! Know 'I'Wi'-tt-.-f- ; f ! i,i.-j i.,f -l-v

spoken of imtnortallity in perfect conscious ness of Ins own iippionchiug end, he Undo them all farewell. "Denr children," such were his final words, " dear children, serv ants, and friends, I trust to meet you all in heaven, both white and Muck all, botn while and black." And having bom li s tes testimony - timony testimony to immortality, he bowed his nr'ghty' head, and, without a groan, the spirit of tho greatest man of his ago escaped lo the bo som of his God. -.(... IIIS LOFTY COUB.AGE. Up to tho last, he dared d anything that it was right to do. Ho united peisonul courage-and moral courage beyond any. man ot whom history keeps the record. Before the nation, before Ihe world, before coming ages, he stands forth the representative, for his generation, of tho American mind. And the secret of his greatness is this: ' By in intuitive - tuitive intuitive conception, be shared und possessed all the creative ideas of his cnuiitiy and bis time. He expressed them with dauntless intrepidity; he enforced them with an im immovable - movable immovable will; he executed ihem with an electric power that attracted and swayed the. American people. : Tho uatioti, in his time, had not one great thought, of which he was not the boldest and clearest expositor. HIS UNCONQUERABLE FIRMNESS. History does not describe the man that equalled him in firmness of iierve. Not danger, not nn army in oatue army, not wound, not wide-spread clamor, not age, not the anguish of disease, could impair iu the least degree tlie vigor of his steadfast mind. The heroes of nutiquiiy would have con contemplated - templated contemplated wiih awe the unmatched hardi hardihood - hood hardihood tf his character j nnd Napoleon, had he possessed his disinterested will, could never have been vanquished. Jackson nev never - er never was vanquished. He was always fortun fortunate. - ate. fortunate. , He conquered the wilderness; he con conquered - quered conquered the savage; he conquered the bravest veterans trained iu the battle-fields of Eu Europe; - rope; Europe; ho con quered everywhere in states statesmanship; - manship; statesmanship; and, when death came lo get ihe inasteiy over liiiiij he turned that last enemy aside as tranquility ns he had done tto feeblest of his adversiries, and escaped from earth in iho triumphant consciousness ofim- -' mortality, ' HIS RESTING PLACE. ... . His body has iis fit resting-place' in the great central valley of Ihe Miss'ssippi; his spirit rests upon our whole tenitory; it ho- ' vets over the vales of Oregon, and guards, in advance, the frontier of the Del Norte. The fires of parly spirit are quenched at his grave. ' His fiults and frailties have perished-. Whatever of good ho has dono, lives, and will live fo.ever. 1 . ; HisTonrcAt. Francis first, King of France, and Henry eighth, King of England, being at issue, the latter resolved to send Francis an ambassador .lo say fiery and threatening words. He made the appointment of B sh sh-op - op sh-op Bonnor, in whom he had great confidence. This Bishop said it would be placing his life in too great danger, U- beard a Kingso haughty s Frauds first, "Do uot feur'said ihe King. "If llio King of France should do such a thing, I would cut off the heads of many Frenchmen, here iu my Kingdom." I be believe - lieve believe yon my Lord ; but which of those heads would fit so well upon these shoulders as this?" touching his own head as he spoke. Contrast. A late writer says, "A Greek would have formed a god to be placed Under the arch of Niagara Falls; an. American ' ii satisfied with erecting a paper'mill above it.'V . . " - " 4 "i . Knowledge. Knowledge in the under understanding - standing understanding js truth; in practice it is goodnet.

that Andrew Jackson bad faith in the eferni- . ty of truth, in the imptt'sbal.lo power f, popular fcedom, in the destitute of human human-iiy, - iiy, human-iiy, in the virtues and cnpacity-of the people, r. in his counlryV institutions, in the being and , overruling providence of a merciful and ever ever-living - living ever-living God. . , HIS LAST MCMENTf. . "".. Tho last moment of his 1'fe on enrlh isT at hand. It is the Subhnth of the Lord: fii8 ' biightness nnd beauty of summer clothe thd fields mound him: nature, is in her gloryi " but ihe suLlinieft spectacle on that day, on'1 enrh, jvns llio victory o? his unblcncliiug ' yp'ril over tlealh itsollV ' '"'""' When he fiist felt the hand of death upon ' h'm, "May my rnrm'es," ho cried, "find peace; tuny tlie libeitics of my country en' ' dure forever." .... When his exhausted system, tinder the ex-' cess of pain, sunk, for a moment,' fiom de- bility, " Do not weep," said he to his adopt- : ed daughter; w my sufferings are loss than ; ihoss of Christ upon the cross;'' for lie, Uv as a dlsciplo of tho ctoss, could have devot devoted - ed devoted himself, in sorrow, for mankind. Feel Feeling - ing Feeling his end near, he would see all his family once nibicjatid hesfoko to tlictn,ineby one, in words of tenderness and ullectioiii His two little giiiiifJchildirn vcre iibsc-nt nt Sunday-school. He ripked for them; and as they, ciunr, he prayed for them, and kissed ihcin, and blesstd iliem. Hisservan's were theu admitted: they gathered, some in his loom, uik! some outside of tho douse, cling clinging - ing clinging to the windows, that lin y might gnzo and hear. And lhat dying ni:m, thus sur surrounded, - rounded, surrounded, in a push of feivid iloqucnce, spoke wiih inspiiatiou of God, of the Re Redeemer, - deemer, Redeemer, of salvation through (lie atonement, of iiiitnorlalily, of heaven. For he ever thought ih.'.t pure and iindi filed itl gidii was the foundation of private lu ppiiicss, and the bulwuik of iitmblicnn institutions.. Having

it, and had gone so fir as to adopt measures to influence the party in Great Britain, and through them the British Government to oppose it, as the most eff'cMnl means of abolishing slavery in the United Stales nnd throughout the continent. Tin scheme w is to abol'sh slavery in Texas ns the most cer certain - tain certain moans of doing so in the United States, and tllat of doing it throughout the conti continent. - nent. continent. To consummate this grand and W ill I lid scheme, it w is indispensable thil Ti.xrs should be prevented from being annexed lo otirUuiou; while the only possible way to defeat; it and prevent the rrt'ghty conse consequences - quences consequences which would flow from it, was the annexation of Texas.' The course of the British Government at an early stage of the negotiation, made it manifest tli.it it had wiruily and fully em embraced - braced embraced the scheme. The' declaration made by its minister at Washington to our Govern Government - ment Government before it h id fiirly commenced (i copy i.f which w is Lift at the Depiriment of State after I entered on its duties,) left not a doubt on that point. It indeed, ns well as avowed it, by declaring that Great Britain desired N see slavery abolished in Texas and through out the world, and that she w is using con constant - stant constant efforts to effect it, by inference, that she was using her influence anil diplomiry with Mexico to agree to recognize the inJe inJe-penduuee - penduuee inJe-penduuee of Texas, on condition that they should abolish slavery. I saw in this declaration, thus formally made to our government, a confirm uioti of what I believed to be her seliomo of policy in connection with Texas, from other bui

the rights of labor, It was for the welfare of the 1. bering classes that he defied all I lie storms of political hostility. He longed lo s cure to labor tho fruits of its own indiis ry; and he unceasingly opposed every system which tended to lessen their reward) or which exposed thorn to be defrauded of their dues. The 1 i bore is may bend over his grave with