Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-10

Z Il D.
in language decopo,ls and uneZceptionable,
an answer should be given, couehed IN
pompous insolence and bullying express
sion? HAD hoped that what was charged
upon you by my anonymous correspondent,
was unfounded; had hoped SO. from be-
lief that General Scott was a soldier and
gentleman; but when ! see those state
ments doubly confirmed by his own words,
it becomes matter Of enquiry, how tar
man of honorable feelings can reconcile
them TO himself, or longer set up clam to
that character. Are you ignorant, sir, that
had my order, at which your refined judy
ment is so extremely touched, been made
the subject of enquiry, you might, from
your standing, not your character. have
been constituted one OF yjudges? How
very proper. then, was it, thus situated, and
without knowledge OF any OF the attend
ant circumstances, for you TO have preJuds-
ed the whole matter. This at different
times, and in the'circ!e Of your friends,y you
could do, and yet had l. been arraigned, and
you detailed as one of my Judges, with the
designs of an assassin, lurking under fair
exterior, you would have approached the
holy sanctuary of justice. Is conduct like
this congenial with that high sense of dig
nifty, which should be seated in soldiers
bosom? Is it due from brother officer to
assail in The dark, the reputation ofanother,
and stab him at moment when ne cannot
expect it? | might insult an honorable
man by questions such as these, but shall
not expect thai they will harrow up one,
who must be dead to all those feelings,
which are the true characteristic Of gen.
tleman.
In terms, polite as was capable of no.
ting, asked you if my informant had sta
ted truly-if you were The author OF the
publication ana remarks charged against
you, and to what extent reference to your
letter, without any comment OF mine, viii
inform, how taryou have pursued similar
urse;-how little of tie gentleman, and
how much o:the heotoring bully you have
manifested. If nothing else would, the
epaulets which grace your shoulders, should
have dictated 20 you different course, and
have admonished you, that however sma.i
may have been your aspect for another
respect for yourself should have taught you
the necessity Of replying, at least mildly,
10 the enquiries suggested; and more es
pecialy should you have done this, when
your own convictions, must have fixed } ou
as guilty OF lhe aboIninable crime of detrac-
tion,-of slaniering. and behind his back,
brother officer. But not coDten, with an
swering to what was proposed, your over
weening vanity has led you to make an Oh
iering OF your advice.* Believe me, sir, it
IS notiG my power to renderyou my thanks:
| think loo highly ofmysclf 10 suppose, Sat
stand at all in need OF your admonltions;
and too lightly of you, 10 appreciate them
as useful; for good advice, ] am always
thankful; but never fail TO spurn it, when |
know ii to flow from an incompetent or cor
rupt source; the breast where base and gull
t. passions dwell, is not the place to look
for virtue, or any thing that leads to virtue.
lily notions, sir, arc not those now taught
in modern schools, and in fashionable high
life; they were imbibcd in ancient days,
and hitherto have, and yet bear me 10 he
conclusion, that he who can wantonly OUT
rage the feelings Of another,-aho, with
out cause, can extend injury where none is
done, is capable Of any crime, however de-
testable in lis nature, and viii not fail TO
commit i. whenever ii may be imposed by
necessity.
| shall not stoop sir, TO justification of
my order before you, or TO notice the weak
ness and absurdities Of your tinsel rheto
rio: it may be quite conclusive with your
self, and | have no disposition to attempt
convincing you, that your ingenuity is not
as profound, as you have imagined it. To
my government, whenever il may please,
hold myself liable to answer, and to pro-
duce The reasons which prompted ne TO the
course | took; and to the tntermeddiing
pimps and spies Of he war department,who |
are in the garb of gentlemen, ! hold N.Y.
self responsible for any grievance they may
labor under on my account; with which you
have my permission TO number yourself
For what have said, offer no apology;
you have deserved it all, and more were it |