Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-26
THE NASHVILLE LETTER.

THE NASHVILLE LETTER.
The following Communication puts
to rest, in our humble opinion, the
Nashville forgery. We are not at Ii
berry to disclose the name Of the wri-
ter, but we will undertake to assert,
that there is no man in the world better
acquainted with General Jackson, than
its author Richmond Enquirer.
Communicated for the Enquirer.
In the Enquirer Of the 18th is con
tanned a letter detailing a private con-
versation between general Jackson and
a MIR. H. of the Southern army. In
your editorial remark, you have done
him no more than justice in expressing
your belief "that no such converse
ton could have taken place" Itcould
not take place, and did not, for the rea-
son that, his best friends, those most
intimate with him, never heard from
his lips any thing resembling it: his re-
marks TO them, have ever been direct
ly the reverse of those imputed in his
rude conversation with Mr.. III.
How very improbable, how marvel
ously strange, that t S conversation
should have passed, when none others
were present? Gen. Jackson was then
travelling in company with general
Call, the delegate from Florida, and his
nephew Mr.. Donnelson, and their ia
miles, and yet it seems Mr.. H. was
quite alone with him; and beside, it is
well known fact, that in all those towns
on the Cumberland Turnpike where
the general stopped, the people press
ed in crowds to see him and to shake
hands with him; and yet no body was
present but those two, conversing free
ly on subject, about which Jackson
ever, even with his known friends, was
cautious Of speaking, and evidently
reluctant to converse. A scrupulous
delicacy on this subject was by him al
ways evinced.
Again, he states to this officer his
great surprise at being brought forward
for the Office" declares, that he wrote
letters of severe reproofcto several Of
his intelligent friends who had been in
strumental in sounding his name in the
public ear--thought the unanimous
voice of the nation would be heard in
ridicule of his pretensions-anticipat-
ed the clamor that would be raised a
gainst him on accoun. of his military
services, and Of his utter want Of expe-
rience in the cabinet of civilians. Ev-
cry argument was conclusive against
him" Now, Notwithstanding all this,
his writing severe letters of reproof,
and his full conviction that the unani-
nous voice Of the nation would be OPP
posed to him, in the very next breath
this Mr.. H. tells US, that he, Jackson,
resolved to strive for the office, and di-
rected his adherents in the Tennessee
Legislature to pass the resolution they
did on that subject; and for all this
strange alteration Of opinion, the only
reason given was, that he had received
letter from personal friend Of his,
great leading character in New-York.
What personal friend was this? De
Witt Clinton is the man, no doubt, al
luded to. Now, it is not true: for last
winter, at Washington, when story
was propagated that he was in habits
of constant correspondence with Mr..
Clinton, he answered in the presence
Of several gentlemen, that he had never
seen Mr.. c. in his life, nor read letter
from him, except Introductory ones,
and a short note accompanying an adj
dress delivered by him to literary So
ciety; but more marvellous still is the
idea, that after forbidding in severe re-
proof his friends the use of his name;
after he had found every argument con-
elusive against him, and felt fully salts
fed that the unanimous voice Of the
nation would be against him; that a
man of Jackson's known strength and
decision of character, should, upon the
suggestion of single friend in New
York, suddenly change, and give up all
his previous opinions-marvellous in
deed /! -
The poetic quotation which is as
cribed to him, is more farcical still. 1t
is not Jackson; it is altogether unlike
him. He is plain open straight for
ward man in his manner of expression,
as his writings will evince; never in
conversation quoting even prose, still
less poetry, but trusting wholly to his
own originality Of thought. verify
believe, and speak from acquaintance
with him, that no man ever heard him,
either in debate or conversation, quote
line of poetry.
If Jackson, as Mr.. H. alledges, told
him that he once marched hostile ar
my into Georgia in consequence OF the
insolence of governor Rabun, the gene
raj stated what was not true. He new
er did,. The correspondence published
to the world, shews that he had pro-