Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-10

,Hev were in offiuence. and dealt with him as
merchant. and seen him occupying the various
stations of Alderman and perhaps Mayor OF
Nashyille.-a magistrate of,he county oil DAVID
son-Attorney and Counsellor al law-Cierk 10
the General Assembly-and lastly, postmaster
at Nashville; and in none oil these respectable
and responsible situations have l ever Known
any thing derogatory 10 his character but /
determined TO act as his friend, with the iusl
,urDose and intention that no blood should De
spit on either side, If could prevent II on no.
norabIe Terms But with all the above Claims
which MIR Erwin had 10 the services oil q ltiehu
and the character of gentleman, II has since
become manifest, that General houston had
decrecd in the plenitude oil his power to lnhic'
the pains aud penalties Of mortal comoat or
what is worse disgrace, on any person looi'
Smith excepied) who should have the 'ndepeh-
dence and magnanimlty 10 appear IN he enafae
ter of Mr.. Erwin's friend. And such Is the
blind inf.iuauon Of party spirit, lhefe was nov
wanting host Of honorable men, TO approve
this decree!! But 10 resume ny narratlFe OF
facts: When next wen. 10 Nashville Colonel
Smith had arri,cd-a Gen'l man oil consain.
mate skill! in the use Ct FIRE arms, and oi well
trie6 hrmness IN the hour oil peril 10 nm
Mr. Erwin had made application and was sac.
ccssIu. was released from what conceived
before to be duty whch some OF Mr.. Twins
friends owed him and was rrjoiccd at il, but
still felt anxious 10 avail myself OF any oppor-
unity 70 effect an honorable pacifcation be.
tween the parties. just IS was about 10 leave
Nashville for my residence in the country,
met Col Smith, and after the usual sa!utatioDs,
well, said |, Colonel, how goes on the wa'!--
nc, doubling bu, tina, Gen ii had accepted the
challenge. The Colonel replied, know You
are Mr. ErwiU's friend, aud Shall withhold no.
thing from you. He then stated that Genera!
II ouston had made novel aud strange obJcc-
ton 10 him as Mr.. Erwin's friend. He says,
continued Col. Smith, that the controversy be-
tween Mr.. Erwin and myself iny OF i local
and political character, he cannot consent 10
any agency OF . nonresident IN tic matter, and
now ] am glad | have met you to know your
| opinion on the subject. / sad to tn Colonel
that the objection appeared -aitoscther futile
and absurd, as Mr. Edwin was demanding sa-
tisfacGon for an injury dane TO his reputation,
which | should cali personal and not a pohtlcGt
matter. But said ] turtHr:, il you handed the
General Mr. Erwins note. that is sufficient, you
may safely leave the public 10 judg7 and decide
upon his objection. The Colonel then inform-
ed me that the note had been returned 10 him
with ine objections abUvr stated 10 its recep
ton. ! then remarked 10 he Colonel, think
| if you were TO present i, again in The presence
Of witness, il might prevent some cayiIIing
on the subject, and the Colonel Immediately So
licited me Ia accompany him Tor the purpose,
WITH n did not decline, is nad suggested that
course myself. But | cared not a rush al the
same time whether Tie General would accept
or refuse The challenge. General Houston was
Immediately sought for III bis private room,
but being out, was frs, seen before the door Of
the Nashville Iun. and Col S. did not present
him with the note until after he had asked &C.
Inerai Houston aside, ssd tLey had walked sevc
raj steps from lbs company present in direc'
sion towards { back apartment Of the house,
hdi no sooner was the Hytc handed TO General
Houston than he hal!ed, and began TO make au-
dible objections 10 its reception. Apprehend.
ing some disastrous Consequence il the parties
got into a quarrel, and without the least inten-
ZION Of offending General Houston, said 10
Col Smith, as well as remember, "let Us walk,
reckon General houSloH will no, deny the de-
livery Of the noit" But here ! must inser,
General Hous;on's own Gccount Of the altcrca-
ton which ensued, as have no cerii fcuie men,
TO report even 10 the shake Of my finger, what
was said and done on that OCCASION.
Nashville, September l2, 1926.
Sir: Agreeably 10 your request, in mole Of
this date, offer this statement in relation to
the transaction 10 which YOU allude, as subslan-
tally correct.
| was Standing near the door of the Nashville
Inn, in company with several others, when you
stepped towards US al SLOW pace. You saluted
u.s. and then turned to walk in the door. In
the act to do which, you met a gentleman, with
whom you were standing in conversation, when
Col. John Smith L. walked up, and touched
you. You walked with himlo the distance Of
fifteen or twenty PAGES, when you halted, and
appeared to converse. At the same time Col
Smith handed you paper folded in the shape
Of letter, and directed TO you, as afterwards
discovered. Soon after, General White came
up, you took The note in.your hands, and pro-
ceeded with Col. Smith towards the door of
the Nashville Inn, where was standing with
several Others. When you came near to US,
Gen. White said, "Colonel, l reckon he will not
deny having received it, You then stopped,
aud facing Gen. White, replied, eyes, sir, do
deny having received it.' Gen. White said,
"It is in your hands and in. gentlemen can see
it," You rejoincd, 81 have not received il; l