Columbus Democrat

COLUMBUS, MISS.
VISIT TO HERMITAGE.

[The following letter was written to T. A. S.
Duvall, Esq., of Natchez, by one of the editors
of the Columbus Democrat, and published in a
recent number of the Tri-Weekly Free Trader.]

NASHVILLE, TENN., Sept. 29, 1837.

Dear D.—I arrived in this town a few days
since. It is situated on the Cumberland river, which
is navigable half the year for the largest class of
steamboats. The city is about the size of Natchez;
perhaps it contains a larger number of inhabitants,
at least, more pretty ladies. Judge Vaunerson, for
a time the leading whig candidate for Governor of
Mississippi, and other distinguished gentlemen, have
been passing the warm season in this place. This
Judge was intended to decline a poll in consequence
of the illness of his lady, who is now on the gain.
The pleasures of health and all the comforts of life
(and its luxuries too), can be obtained for about one
half what they cost in Mississippi. Middle Tennessee
is the garden of the southwestern country.

In company with J. O. Bannister, Esq., the talented
and accomplished editor of the Nashville
Union, I visited the Hermitage, which you know
is the residence of the most distinguished American
of the age. He lives about ten miles from the town
entirely free from the noise and bustle incident to a
city life. The house is perhaps half a mile from the
main road—a gate opens to a private avenue which
leads to the dwelling of the retired soldier and
statesman, who, Cincinnatus like, has gladly embraced
the quiet of a rural life, after having long and
successfully served his country. The house has
nothing remarkable about it—there are several in
your town more gaudy in their exterior and interior.
A portico or gallery extends the length of the house,
both front and rear, each supported by six stately
pillars. A beautiful yard, gently elevated, extends
for some distance in front. The grounds are taste-
fully ornamented with shrubbery.

General Jackson was in the main hall when we
rode up—he met us at the door; after cordially saluting
my estimable friend B. I was introduced. General
Jackson's manner is so easy and familiar, that
every body is perfectly at home in his company.
We found him in fine spirits—his mind appears to
have lost none of its youthful vigor, although time
is gently making inroads upon his noble and commanding
person—a very good idea of the general
contour of his face and head is conveyed in the various
likenesses with which we frequently meet. He
is inclined to stoop a little, when walking, yet steps
with all the firmness and activity of a man at the
age of thirty. His memory appears to be remarkably
retentive: he recited incidents of the revolutionary
struggle, of the late war, and of the Creek and
Seminole campaigns which were listened to with
great curiosity and interest. Do you know the origin
of his cognomen of "Old Hickory?" After the
battle of New Orleans, when he was returning with
the Kentucky and Tennessee volunteers, he loaned
his horse to a sick soldier in the neighborhood of
Natchez; the General fell in the rear of the army,
and pursued his way on foot. After he had marched
some twenty or thirty miles, one of the soldiers
observed to his comrade that "the General would
break down." "No," observed his companion, "he
is tough as hickory." Ever since the occurrence of
the anecdote in 1815, he has borne the title. He recollects
men and incidents with great accuracy: he
is a living history of the age.

The politics of the day formed a prominent topic
of the conversation. Those who have called him
an "ignorant" man, and stigmatized him with other
epithets which I will not repeat, must have had a
"beam in their own eye." He has the history of
banking at his tongue's end; he shed a mass of light
upon that subject, as well as upon all others of
which he spoke, that could not fail to instruct and
improve. He deprecates the circulation of change
bills. Shortly after he was first elected President
of the United States, some of the poor market women
came to him with a complaint that they were
seriously imposed upon by being compelled to receive
the depreciated paper which was then issued
by the corporations of Washington, Georgetown
and Alexandria, in payment of their produce. They
lost twenty-five cents on the dollar in getting them
changed into specie. General Jackson told his humble
petitioners that he "had no power over the matter,
but they had: to-morrow morning just form a
resolution among yourselves not to take a cent of it
from one end of the market house to the other."
They did so, and in three days the corporations called
in their unlawful issues, and specie circulated in
abundance.

The General has a very fine garden; I culled
some choice seeds, which I will divide with you the
first opportunity. The garden is tastefully laid off
in plats, ornamented with various kinds of flowers
and shrubbery. The tomb of his lamented lady is
in one corner of the garden, but a short distance
from his dwelling. It is surrounded by rose bushes.
and the weeping willow, and covered by a plain summer
house. The inscription upon the tomb was
written by Major Lee. She died in 1828, aged 61.
After speaking of her unbounded benevolence and
fervent piety, it concludes thus: "A being so gentle
yet so virtuous, slander might wound, but could not
dishonor. Even death, when he tore her from the
arms of her husband, could but transport her to the
bosom of her God." You recollect the foul slanders
which were heaped upon General Jackson, and
his lady too, during the first canvass. Shame!
shame upon their heartless authors! Although female
delicacy sunk under them, the brave and the
good old man yet survives to receive the blessings of
grateful millions. Long may it be before he shall
occupy the little tenement prepared by the side of
his deceased wife!

The carriage made of the live oak of the frigate
Constitution is looked upon with peculiar interest by
all his visitors; it is indeed a beautiful specimen of
American mechanism: The associations connected
with it are peculiarly interesting.

The hall of the General's dwelling is quite elevated.
A beautiful painting decorates one of the walls,
representing the attack made upon the Americans
and others in Mexico, by the degraded and illiterate
population of that ancient and beautiful city. Mr.
Poinsett the American Minister, walks out upon the
balcony of his residence, accompanied by a high
spirited Virginiaan, by the name of Mason and unfurled
the flag of his country. The stars and
stripes of our loved land had a magical effect in
allaying the feelings of the excited populace. A
handful of well aimed muskets were diverted from the
mark: and that furious people retired before that
irresistible appeal. That was an instance of the
power of the American flag. A bust of Mr. Livingston
and Mr. Woolfolly are kept in the main hall.
In the parlor is a very good likeness of Mrs. Jackson
and Mr. Van Buren.

The dinner was a plain and substantial repast:
Previous to retiring, the General proposed a toast.
"Our absent friends" which was drunk by all. Andrew
Jackson, jr., and his intelligent and beautiful
lady, and Col. Earl, one of the most accomplished
gentlemen in America, are of the General's household.

No one can visit the Hermitage without being
pleased. Every thing is calculated to make the stay
of those who call, agreeable and pleasant. There
is no display, no ostentation; you are at home and
welcome. The Hermitage is almost constantly
thronged with company, and will be, so long as its
distinguished owner sojourns among the living,
And when he has been gathered to his fathers, thousands
will make a pilgrimage to his tomb, and bear
away some relic in memory of one of the purest patriots
that ever lived.