USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 5
USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 5
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As soon as the resolutions were read, every eye being fixe lapos him, that hill old in i, whose si stored locks were while ing glance in the direction of his assistent
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in a clear, shrill tone, tremulous with sap- pressed cmotion, said:
" In reply to this audacious, atrocious charge of high treason, I call for the read- ing of the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Read it! Readit! and see what that says of the rights of a people to reforin, to change, and to dissolve their Government.'
The attitude, the manner, the tone, the words; the venerable old man, with flash- ing eye and flushed check, and whose very form seemed to expand under the inspiration of the occasion-all presented a scene over- flowing in its sublimity. There was breath- less silence as that paragraph was read, in defense of whose principles our fathers had pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. It was a proud hour to Mr. Adams as they were all compelled to listen to the words:
" That, to secure these rights, govern- ments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; and that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of those ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundations on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."
That one sentence routed and baffled the
foe. The heroic old man looked around upon the audience, and thundered out, " Read that again !" It was again read. Then in a few fiery, logical words he stated his defense in terms which even prejudiced minds could not resist. ITis discomfited assailants made several attempts to rally. After a conflict of eleven days they gave up vanquished and their resolution was ig- nominiously laid upon the table.
In January, 1846, when seventy-eight years of age, he took part in the great de- bate on the Oregon question, displaying intellectual vigor, and an extent and accu- racy of acquaintance with the subject that excited great admiration.
On the 21st of February, 1848, he rose on the floor of Congress with a paper in his hand to address the Speaker. Suddenly he fell, stricken by paralysis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. For a time he was senseless and was conveyed to a sofa in the rotunda. With reviving consciousness he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and said, " This is the end of carth." Then after a moment's pause, he added, "I am content." These were his last words, and he soon breathed his last, in the apartment beneath the dome of the capitol --- the theater of his labors and his triumphs. In the language of hymnology, he " died at his post;" he " ceased at once to work and live."
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ANDREW JACKSON.
ANDRET
ACKSON
6.3
ANDREW JACKSON, the seventh President of the United States, 1829-'37, was born at the Waxhaw Settle. ment, Union Coun- ty, North Carolina, March 16, 1767. His parents were Scotch-Irish, natives of Carrickfergus, who came to America in 1765, and settled on Twelve-Mile Creek, a trib- utary of the Catawba. ITis father, who was a poor farm laborer, died shortly before An- drew's birth, when his mother removed to Waxhaw, where some relatives resided.
he revered; and it was not until after her death that his predominant vices gained full strength.
In 1780, at the age of thirteen, Andrew, or Andy, as he was called, with his brother Robert, volunteered to serve in the Revo- lutionary forces under General Sumter, and was a witness of the latter's defeat at Hang- ing Rock. In the following year the brothers were made prisoners, and confined in Camden, experiencing brutal treatmert from their captors, and being spectators of General Green's defeat at Hobkirk Hill. Through their mother's exertions the boys were exchanged while suffering from small- pox. Intwo days Robert was dead, and Andy apparently dying. The strength of his constitution triumphed, and he regained health and vigor.
Few particulars of the childhood of Jack- son have been preserved. His elucation was of the most limited kind, and he showed As he was getting better, his mother heard the cry of anguish from the prison- ers whom the British he'd in Charleston, anong whom were the sons of her sisters. She hastened to their relief, was attacked by fever, died and was buried where her grave could never be found. Thus Andrew Jackson, when fourten years of age, was left alone in the world, without fother, mother, sister or brother, and without one no fondness for books. Hegrew up to be a tall, lauk boy, with coarse hair and freck- led checks, with bare feet dangling from trousers too short for bim, very fond of ath- letic sports, running, boxing and wrestling. He was generous to the younger and weaker boys, but very irascible ant over- bearing with his equalyand superior. He was profane-a vice in which he surpassed all other men. The character of his mother , dollar which he could call his own. He
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soon entered of saddler's shop, and labored diligently for six months. But er dualis, as health returned, he became mye and more a wild, reckless, lawless boy. Hc gambled, drank and was regarded as about the worst character that could be found.
He now turned schoolmaster. He could teach the alphabet, perhaps the multiplica tion table; and as he was a very bold boy, it is possible he might have ventured to teach a little writing. But he soon began to think of a profession and decided to study law. With a very slender purse, and on the back of a very fine horse. he set out for Salisbury, North Carolina, where he entered the law office of Mr. McCav. . Here he remained two years, professedly studying law. He is still remembered in traditions of Salisbury, which say:
" Andrew Jackson was the most roaring, rollicking, horse-racing, card-playing, mis- chicvous fellow that ever lived in Salisbury. He did not trouble the law-books much."
Andrew was now, at the age of twenty, a tall young man, being over six feet in height. He was slender, remarkably grace- ful and dignified in his manners, an exquis. ite horseman, and developed, amidst his loathesome profanity and multiforth vices, a vein of rare magnanimity. His temper was fiery in the extreme; but it was said of him that no man knew better than Andrew Jackson when to get angry and when not.
In 1786 he was a limited to the bar, and two years later removed to Na hvilke, in what was then the western district of North Carolina, with the app intent of so- licitor, or public prosecutor. It was al of fice of little honor, small capkament anl great peril. Fow men could be found to, accept it.
And now Andrew Jackson comstone ! vigorous, to practice law. It was att im- portent part of his business to call of debt Itrequire lderv .. Darigg fl . first Seven years of ki residence in the e walds h
traversed the alinest pathless forest between Nashville and Jonesborough, a distance of 200 miles, twenty-two times. Hostile In- dians were constantly on the watch, and a man was liable at any moment to be shot down in his own field. Andrew Jackson was just the man for this service-a wild, daring, rough backwoodsman. Daily he made hair-breadth escapes. He seemed to bear a charmed life. Boldly, alone or with few companions, he traversed the forests, encountering all perils and triumphing over all.
In 1790 Tennessee became a Territory, and Jackson was appointed, by President Washington, United States Attorney for the new district. In 1791 he married Mrs. Rachel Robards (daughter of Colonel John Donelson), whom he supposed to have bien divorced in that year by an act of the Leg- islature of Virginia. Two years after this Mr. and Mrs Jackson learned, to their great surprise, that Mr. Robards had just obtained a divorce in one of the court- of Kentucky, and that the act of the Virginia Legislature was not final, but conditic: . !. To remedy the irregularity as much as ; s. sible, a new license was obtained and the marriage ceremony was again perforine !.
It proved to be a marriage of rare foto- ity. Probably there never was a more affectionate union. However rough Mr. Jackson might have been abroad, he was always gentle and tender at home. a: 1 through all tia vicissitudes . . their lives, in treatel Mirs. Jackson with the most chieti. ric attention ..
Under the circumstances it was not an- natural that the guts in the case of the marriage were so misrepresented by out nents in the Promised campodas a cons: or a century Later as to be the the of serious charges against Jackson's it willshowwar. have lansat det attesa Ils meden ov dage.
Jackson was working in His dati.
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United States Attorney, which demanded di l not enjoy his seat upon the bench, and frequent journeys through the wilderness "renounced the dignity in ISo4. About and exposed him to Indian hostilities. Ile . this time he was chosen Major-General of acquired considerable property in land, and militia, and lost the title of judge in that of General. obtained such influence as to be chosen ' a member of the convention which framed the Constitution for the new State of Ten- nessee, in 1796, and in that year was elected its first Representative in Congress. . Albert Gallatin thus describes the first appearance of the Hon. Andrew Jackson in the House: " A tall, lank, uncouth-looking personage, with locks of hair hanging over his face and a cue down his back, tied with an eel skin; his dress singular, his manners and deport- ment those of a rough backwoodsman."
Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Democratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. Jackson took his seat, General Washington, whose second term of office was just expiring, delivered his last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson did not approve the ad- dress and was one of twelve who voted against it.
Tennessee had fitted out an expedition against the Indians, contrary to the policy of the Government. A resolution was intro- duced that the National Government
: should pay the expenses. Jackson advo- cated it and it was carried. This rendered him very popular in Tennessee. A va- cancy chanced soon after to occur in the Senate, and Andrew Jackson was chosen .
1 United States Senator by the State of Ter godly wrong. If heentrequently felt any nesse. John Adams was the President and Thomas Jefferson. Vice-President.
In 1,08 Jun. Jackson returned to Joine- see, and resignel his seat in The Seuetc. Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Su- freme Court of that State, witha salary of 850. This dice le Full six years. said that his lechbar, though . i .. ungrammatical. were gone;
When he retired from the Senate Cham- ber, he decided to try his fortune through trade. Ile purchased a stock of goods in Philadelphia and sent them to Nashville, where he opened a store. He lived about thirteen miles from Nashville, on a tract of land of several thousand acres, mostly un- cultivated. Ile used a small block-house for a store, from a narrow window of which he sold goods to the Indians. As he had an assistant his office as judge did not materially interfere with his business.
As to slavery, born in the midst of it, the idea never seemed to enter his mind that it could be wrong. He eventually became an extensive slave owner, but he was one of the most humane and gentle of masters.
In 1804 Mr. Jackson withdrew from pol- itics and settled on a plantation which he called the Hermitage, near Nashville. He set up a cotton-gin. formed a partnership and traded in New Orleans, making the voyage on flatboats. Through his het tem- per he became involved in several quarrels and " affairs of honor," during this period, in one of which he was severely wounded. bat had the misfortune to kill his opponent, Charles Dickinson. For a time this affair greatly injured General Jackson's popular- ity. The verdict then was, and contimes to be, that Gudbral Jackson was cudia-
remorse be al vey revealed it to anyone.
In 1865 Aaron Bury had visited Nach- ville and ben og rest of Jackson, with when he care forced on the subject of a war with Stalo which Wasanticipatoland dan lly deal, as well as by the people of the Sound . Sonen !!.
Burg rystet he weit in Sein der.
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combinations which led to his trial for trea- son. He was warmly received by jackson, at whose instance a public ball was given in his honor at Nashville, and contracted with the latter for boats and provisions. Early in 1807, when Burr had been pro- claimed a traitor by President Jefferson, volunteer forces for the Federal service were organized at Nashville under Jack- son's command; but his energy and activ- ity did not shield him from suspicions of connivance in the supposed treason. Ile was summoned to Richmond as a witness in Burr's trial, but was not called to the stand, probably because he was out-spoken in his partisanship.
On the outbreak of the war with Great Britain in IS12, Jackson tendered his sery- ices, and in January, 1813, embarked for New Orleans at the head of the Tennessee contingent. In March he received an or- der to disband his forces; but in Septem- ber he again took the field, in the Creek war, and in conjunction with his former partner, Colonel Coffee, inflicted upon the Indians the memorable defeat at Talladega, Emuckfaw and Tallapoosa.
In May, 1814. Jackson, who had now ac- quired a national reputation, wasappointed a Major-General of the United States army, and commenced a campaign against the British in Florida. He conducted the de- fense at Mobile, September 15, seized upon Pensacola, November 6, and immediately transported the bulk of his troops to Nes Orleans then threatened by a powerful naval force. Martial law was declared in Louisi on, the State militia was called to arms, eve agements with the British were fought December 23 and 28, and after re-en- forcements had been received on both sides the famous victory of January 8, 18:5, crowned Jackson's fame as a soldier, and made him the typical American ler (! the first half of the mindernth century.
In 1817 '18 Jackson conducted the war
against the Seminoles of Florida, during which he seized upon Pensacola and exe- cuted by com (martial two British subjects, Arbuthnot and Ambrister ---- acts which might easily have involved the United States in war both with Spain and Great Britain. Fortunately the peril was averted by the cession of Florida to the United States; and Jackson, who had escaped a trial for the irregularity of his conduct only through a division of opinion in Mon- roe's cabinet, was appointed in 1821 Gov- ernor of the new Territory. Soon after he declined the appointment of minister to Mexico.
In 1823 Jackson was elected to the United States Senate, and nominated by the Ten- nessee Legislature for the Presidency. This candidacy, though a matter of surprise, and cven merryment, speedily became popular, and in 1824, when the stormy electoral can- vas resulted in the choice of John Quincy Adams by the House of Representatives, General Jackson received the largest popu- lar vote among the four candidates.
In 1828 Jackson was triumphantly elected President over Adams after a campaign of unparalleled bitterness. He was inaugu- rated March 4, 1829, and at once removed from office all the incumbents belonging to the opposite party-a procedure new to American politics, but which naturally be- came a precedent.
His first term was characterized by quar- rels between the Vice-President, Calhoun, and the Secretary of State, Van Bureni, at- tended by a calinet crisis origination" in sandals con etel with the name of Mrs. General Eatoy. wife of the Secretary of War: by the beginning of his war upon the United States Back, and by his vigorny: action against the partisans of Calhoun, who, in South Carolina, threatened to nullify the pets of Congress, fishing protective tarit.
In the Pre : sind campaign of 1: 34
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V.S.
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ANDREW
Jackson received 219 out of 288 clectora! votes, his competitor being Mi. Clay, while Mr. Wirt, on an Anti-Masonic platform. received the vote of Vermont alone. In 1833 President Jackson removed the Gov- ernment deposits from the United States bank, thereby incurring a vote of censure from the Senate, which was, however, cx- punged four years later. During this second term of office the Cherokees, Choctaws and Creeks were removed, not without diffi- culty, from Georgia, Alabama and Missis- sippi, to the Indian Territory; the National debt was extinguished; Arkansas and Michigan were admitted as States to the Union; the Seminole war was renewed; the anti-slavery agitation first acquired impor- tance; the Mormon delusion, which had organized in 1829. attained considerable proportions in Ohio and Missouri, and the country experienced its greatest pecuniary panic.
Railroads with locomotive propulsion were introduced into America during Jack- son's first term, and had become an impor- tant clement of national life before the close of his second term. For many rea- sons, therefore, the administration of Presi- dent Jackson formed an era in American history, political, social and industrial. He succeeded in effecting the election of
GICKSON.
his friend Van Buren as his successor, re- tired from the Presidency March 4, 1837, and led a tranquil life at the Hermitage until his death, which occurred June 8, 18.45.
During his closing years he was a pro- fessed Christian and a member of the Pres- byterian church. No American of this century has been the subject of such oppo- site judgments. He was loved and hated with equal vehemence during his life, but at the present distance of time from his career, while opinions still vary as to the merits of his public acts, few of his country- men will question that he was a warm- hearted, brave, patriotic, honest and sincere man. If his distinguishing qualities were not such as constitute statesmanship, in the highest sense, he at least never pretended to other merits than such as were written to his credit on the page of American his- tory-not attempting to disguise the de- merits which were equally legible. The majority of his countrymen accepted and honored him, in spite of all that calumny as well as truth could allege against him. His faults may therefore be truly said to have been those of his time; his magnifi- cent virtues may also, with the same jus- tice, be considered as typical of a state of society which has nearly passed away.
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PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
OARAIN
BUREN.
ARTIN VAN BU- ' herence, was not devoid of inconveniences. REN, the eighth When, subsequently, he attained power which placed vast patronage in his hands, he was heard to say : "I prefer an office that has no patronage. When I give a man an office I offend his disappointed competi- tors and their friends. Nor am I certain of gaining a friend in the man I appoint, for. in all probability, he expected something better." President of the United States, 1837- '41, was born at Kin- derhook, New York, December 5, 1792. His ancestors were of Dutch origin, and were among thie earliest emigrants from Hol- land to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a tavern-keeper, as well as a farmer, and a very decided Democrat.
Martin commenced the study of law at the age of fourteen, and tool an active part in politics before he bad reached the age of twenty. In 1803 he commence 1 the practice of law in his native village. In ISog he removed to Hudson, the shir . ; town of his county, where he spent seven veirs, gaining strength by contending in the courts with some of the ablest mel The Heroic ex unple of John Onliney Al ..... m . tining in office every maithtel men, without regard to his politi Inteligentes. Lol be a thoroughly regulated by G. end Jailson. The unto treat you.
victor belopy the c.p.a . v. Lich Mr. Von Bora
In IS12 Mr. Van Buren was elected to the State Senate. In 1815 he was appointed Attorney-General, and in 1: 16 to the Senate a second time. In ISIS there was a great split in the Democratic party in New York, and Mr. Van Buren took the lead in or- ganizing that portion of the party called the Albany Regency, which is said to have swayed the destinies of the State for a quarter of a century.
In isci he was cho-on a member of the convention & p revising the State Contitu- tion, in which he advocated an extension of the franchise, bel opps el universal at- who have adorned the bar of his State, frage and chelavorel tu prop. : B.
have funld propias to the atreany of
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MARTIN VAN BUREN.
State by President Jackson, but resigned in April, 1831, and during the recess of Congress was appointed minister to Eng- land, whither he proceeded in September, but the Senate, when convened in Decem- ber, refused to ratify the appointment.
In May, 1832, Mr. Van Buren was nomi- nated as the Democratic candidate for Vice- President, and clected in the following November. May 26, 1856, he received the nomination to succeed General Jackson as President, and received 170 electoral votes, out of 283.
Scarcely had he taken his seat in the Presidential chair when a financial panic swept over the land. Many attributed this to the war which General Jackson had waged on the banks, and to his endeavor to secure an almost exclusive specie currency. Nearly every bank in the country was com- pelled to suspend specie payment, and ruin pervaded all our great cities. Not less than 254 houses failed in New York in one week. All public works were brought to a stand, and there was a general state of dismay. President Van Buren urged the adoption of the independent treasury system, which was twice passed in the Senate and defeated in the House, but finally became a law near the close of his administration.
Another important measure was the pass- age of a pre-emption law, giving actual set- tlers the preference in the purchase of public lands. The question of slavery, also, now began to assume great prominence in national politics, and after an elaborate anti-slavery speech by Mr. Slade, of Ver- mont, in the House of Representatives, the Southern members withdrew for a separate consultation, at which Mr. Rhett, of South Carolina, proposed to declue it expedient that the Union should be dissolved ; but the inatter was tided over by the passage of a resolution that no petitions or papers relating to slavery should be in any way considered or acted upon.
In the Presidential election of 1840 Mr. Van Buren was nominated, without opposi- tion, as the Democratic candidate, William H. Harrison being the candidate of the Whig party. The Democrats carried only seven States, and out of 294 electoral votes only sixty were for Mr. Van Buren, the re- maining 234 being for his opponent. The Whig popular majority, however, was not large, the elections in many of the States being very close.
March 4, 1841, Mr. Van Buren retired from the Presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics of the country. In 18.14 he was again proposed as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency, and a majority of the delegates of the nominating convention were in his favor ; but, owing to his opposition to the pro- posed annexation of Texas, he could not secure the requisite two-thirds vote. His name was at length withdrawn by his friends, and Mr. Polk received the nomina- tion, and was elected.
In 1848 Mr. Cass was the regular Demo- cratic candidate. A schism, however, sprang up in the party, upon the question of the permission of slavery in the newly- acquired territory, and a portion of the party, taking the name of "Frec-Soilers," nominated Mr. Van Buren. They drew away sufficient votes to secure the election of General Taylor, the Whig candidate. After this Mr. Van Buren retired to his es- tate at Kinderhook, where the remainder of his life was passed, with the exception of a European tour in 1853. He died at Kinderhook, July 24, 1852, at the age of eighty years.
Martin Van Buren was a great and good man, and no one will question his right to a high position among those who have been the successors of Washington in the faithful occupancy of the Presidential chair.
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PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON *
'ILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, the ninth President of the United States, 1841, was born February 9, 1773, in Charles County, Virginia, at Berkeley, the resi- dence of his father, Governor Benjamin Harrison. He studied at Hampden, Sidney College, with a view of entering the med- ical profession. After graduation he went to Philadelphia to study medicine under the instruction of Dr. Rush.
George Washington was then President of the United States. The Indians were committing fearful ravages on our North- western frontier. Young Harrison, either lared by the love of adventure, or moved by the sufferings of families exposed to the most horrible outrages, abandon Thismed ical studies and entered the army, having obtained a commission of ensign from Pres- ident Wa hington. The Great duty a igaed him was to take a train of quel harses bound to Fort Hamilton, ou the Moni River, about forty mistemy Hand Wash ington. He was soon prompted to the
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