Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-03-26

tFrom me National InfeiIisencer.l

VI tHS war, ICTIndI HnttCS was given
IN your paper, that structures (a.nplc aud free
IN their character would be made or that report
nose structures have appeared and by an
eaitoriai paragraph subloined, il would seem
mat HE editors OF the lntelligencer had view.
ed the conduct of the committee and Of the
Senate, on that occasion, as of such IA nature as
TO justify in them a departure from the rules
that have heretofore been observed i'm conduct.
ing their press. 1t il believed thar this il the
first instance, in which, through the medium
OF that paper,t Congress of the United States
nave been arfaicDed for their conduct; or that
committee of either branch have been cl,arg-
ed, by an otlicer oi the army, with deliberate
taisehood AND malice for discharge Of their
duty. Ofihis. however, no complaint is made,
as II respects the Editors.
But, as the structures have been made TO as
sumo, by those artificial means, an Importance
they would not have merited whe trinsically
considered. II is therefore hoped that the Edi-
tors viii feei no hesitation in publishing The
following observations. Yours sc.
A LACOCK.
TO THE PUBLIC.
Having recently seen, i'm The National
inteIliSencer, STRUCTURES OF an erroneous
character, upon report made by select
committee OF The Senate, on The subject
OF the Seminole war, and being the only
member OF that committee now al The
seat of government, il seems to be duty
! owe To the Senate of The United States,
10 the committee Of which was mem
lrr, and To my own character, to offer
81 me ren aIks on those structures. In the
hrl place, II Is necessary to observe,
that, on applying TO the editors of The
National lnielligcncer, was informed by
them, III writing, that they were autho-
rlzed to give up, as the authors of the
structures, the names of two Off. ers ofthe
army OF the United States. Could have
brought myself TO believe that sthose
young men were the real, as they were
aI.ar rfaF, cII. l. -. al
they would have been treated with silent
pity and commisseration, and their pro-
ducilon would have remained forever un-
noticed b! me. But charity for those
men, and the peculiar circumstances of
he case, forbid this conclusion. We
must look 10 d higher source for their
aulbor. Those young men were aids 10
General Jackson, or belonged 10 his mi
Iitary family. Some of tie documents
anne Aed 10 The structures, were, il seems,
furnished from his own private bureau,
| for they could not be obtained i'm The
! War Office. TIE personal invectives in
| duiged IN the structures, correspond en-
| tIre!y with his previous observations in
| the pubic tavernS and ball rooms of
! Washing ion-for ii is a fact notorious,
and cannot be denied, tba, on those oc-
casiuns he vas vociterous in his impre-
cations, and violent in his threats, Of
personal vengeance, even TO cutting off
the ears OF some of the members of the
| select committee, and this while the SUBJ
| Ject was before the Senate and some
members of the House of Representatives
who dared 10 animadvert upon his con-
duet, or even 10 doubt his iniallbiIity,
were menaced IN nearly a similar manner.
| Under these circumstances, there seems
to be no unfalrness in considering tlat
| Gen. Jackson is the real author of those
structures, or at least that he approved
OF, and assented TO the publication # and
that those gentlemen with more ealiantry
than prudence were induced 10 step
forward and take upon themselves re-
| sponsblhiy that the General himself fell
unwilling tn encounter. And il is for him
TO decide how far il was Jus, and proper
Tor age and experience 10 take advantage
OF the eXuberant ardOur of youthful feel
Ings and attachments, and by this means
induce the officers in question TO hazard
their reputation and future prospects in
the army, by acts of inconsiderate RASH
. ness. AS citizens of TIE United States,
they were entitledto equal privileges with
all others. AS military officers, they
were held strictly subordinate to the cj-
wi power. An act of Congress declares,
that every officer shall be cashiered, or
otherwise punished by Court Martial,
Who shall even speak contemptuous or
disrespecilul words of the Congress Of
the United States or of the Legislatures
or Governors OF any of the states in the
Union. And, by rules and regulations
established IN The army of the United
States, the officers are forbidden. under
like penalties, from publishing in news
papers, or otherwise, observations dis
respectful Of each other.
And II Is believed that this is the first
instance IN which military officer,
whose conduct was the subject of lnves-
legation before the Congress OF the United
o;aies, has ventured to charge that body
with violation of the constitution, and
with exercising inqnistorial power.t.
Or that committee of either branch Of
tie National Legislature has been cIlarg-
ed with the most wanton and studied
disregard TO truth" and the most Z" foul"
aud =" dishonest motives" But how far
II is either for the honor or interest of lie
nation thus 10 submit 10 military tlra-
gooning and newspaper clIaslisemeni. by
military officers, who, il is believed. Vi
s!ted The seat Of government for that pnr-
pose; and how far committee of the
Senate Of the United States should be
subject 10 this kind of discipline, for five
CONSCIENTIOUS discharge of official duties
imposed by the unanimous voice OF n,at
body, IS for the proper authorities to de-
termiue.
shall now state faithfully the proceed
Ings had IN the Senate and before the
'Those officers were examined by The com.
mittee they discovered (bnt more cspecisiI,
oHe OF them talents. and much energy OF cha.