The Judge Hall Fine
As illustrative of Jackson’s character or one phase of that remarkable character, brief mention is here given to the incident known as the Judge Hall fine. When General Jackson began organizing for the defense of New Orleans he put the city and environs under strict martial law. While this was irksome to the civil authorities it was acquiesced in because of the dire necessities of the situation. Rigid martial law was continued after the battle of January 8, and after the departure of the British from our shores. General Jackson took no chances of being caught unprepared in case of another attack. Some time in February a delegation was sent to the British fleet to arrange some exchanges. They reported upon return that a passing ship had brought the news of the agreement upon the peace treaty by the commissioners at Ghent. General Jackson refused to abrogate martial law, saying the news might be a British trick, or even if true the treaty must be ratified, and that in any event he would await official dispatches from the Government. A pamphlet appeared offensively criticizing the continuance of martial law. Authorship was traced to a member of the legislature. General Jackson had the offender arrested for spreading sedition in the camp. The prisoner applied to Federal Judge Hall for a writ of habeas corpus, which was granted. Thereupon General Jackson had Judge Hall also arrested and conveyed outside the martial law jurisdiction. When later (about March 13) official word came of the ratification of the treaty with proclamation of peace, martial law was lifted. Judge Hall returned and cited General Jackson to appear before him on the charge of contempt of court. General Jackson, in civilian dress, responded. He was followed to the court room by a large crowd of sympathizers. The judge showed uneasiness, fearing a mob. General Jackson, mounting a seat, said: “There is no danger here—there shall be none. The same hand that protected this city from outrage by the invaders of the country will shield and protect this court or perish in the effort.” Judge Hall imposed a fine of a thousand dollars which General Jackson promptly paid. When he left the courthouse a demonstrative populace took the horses from his carriage and conveyed him in triumphal way to his dwelling place. A public subscription was started to pay the amount of the fine, but General Jackson halted it. In 1843, six years after Jackson had retired from the Presidency, Congress refunded the fine plus six per cent interest. This incident is given as one distinct refutation of the charge so frequently made by Jackson’s enemies that he was lawless, that he knew no law but his own will. From this instance, occurring at a crucial time in his career, the conclusion, which may be generally interpretative, is manifest that Jackson, no matter how autocratic in authority, no matter how intolerant of cross current interference, when occasion for authority ceased, submitted to, with readiness if necessary to defend, the civil institutions of his country.