Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-27
From, IL. Banimore Pairiet.

From, tie Baltimore Patriot.
THE CASE OF THE UNFORTUNATE HARRIS.
If ever there WAS man who had reason TO
excam, I" save me from my friends" General
Jackson is that man And what is still more
singular, If ever there was set OF friends that
had reason 10 exc laim, "save US from the de-
fence Of TIE man who is indefensible," they are
General Jeckson's friends! These remarks APP
ply with full force TO the reports of the Nash
vile Jackson White-washing Committee, and
the letter of another lend of General Jackson's,
which we shall have occasion to notice present.
w. In respect 10 their report Of the shooting
Of the six militia men, facts, that 60 10 make
the case still more outrageous, and which were
never before publicly known, are brought TO
to light. But we have another friendly essay TO
defend General Jackson, in letter from J. G..
Isaacks, esq. member Of Congress from Ten
nessee, to which we alluded above. Its pro-
fessed object is to prove the letter Of Harris,
one Of the six militia men, who were shot at
Mobile after peace was made, for quitting the
service after The expiration OF the time which
| the law compelled them to serve, begging his
life ofGeneral Jackson, who was FULLY author
ised to extend pardon 10 him, which was pub
lished in the Democratic Press, forgery; and
its true object is 10 defend General Jackson
from the odium Of putting that man 10 death.
Now ii is perfectly immaierial whether the let
ter be forgery or genuine production: whe-
Their it was written by Harris before his death,
or by some friend afterwards, it matters not
The character of the transaction, as given in
the letter, in all the simple coluriEg Of truth,
the facts of which are matters Of record III the
archives Of the war Office and Of history, cannot
be affected by the discovery tina, the letter was
written by some other person than the one by
whom it 2urpor,s TO have beer written 1.-THE
melancholy petition Of Harris to General Jack
son for mercy never reached him, the voice OF
| his blood cries from the ground TO the people
Of the United States, and will be heard. What
though this letter was never written by Harris
or, if written by him, never reached Jackson
would il have had the effect on the heart sense
Of Justice Of the hero Of the Horse SHOE, 10 in
duoe him 10 extend mercy 10 Harris, had IL
been written and duly received: No! The
whole history Of General Jackson's life answers
No! Therefore the professed object of the let
| ter Of Mr.. Isacks is not attained. But the true
object of the letter, the defence of General Jack
son from the odium OF putting Harris and his
Ave companions to death, is still less attained
Indeed, he letter makes the matte, worse in
every point of view. 1t publishes facts never
before publicly known, which make the sacri-
nee of Harris life thousand fold more odious
10 Inc teeilnSS oil humanity, lnaD even tht ieitcI
of Harris publ ,hed in :he Press makes IL Mr..
Isaacks sa, 5 tina, Harris had held The respectable
and responsible office Of CORONER, and though
he represents him "a" ga noisy, seit-willed, bust
ling, bigoted man, not Of dishonest character,
but of irregular conduct and rough mind and
manners" he says ne was a PREACHER, or
that sat times he attempted to preach" Is it
probable tina, man Of the character described
by Isaacks would "attempt to preach or that
he would find any one to hear him? Is il pro-
bable tina. such man would be appointed CO.
roner? But this is not all Instead Of one, as
represented in Harris letter, Mr.. Isaacks says
Harris had NINE CHILDREN, and that one t0as
,cih k,m in the army, and compelled 10 ,Diincss his
fathers erecuiionu Do not these facts aggravate
the horrors Of the affair? Instead Of wife and
one child being left, by the cruel mandate OF
General Jackson, a helpless widow and ia
theress child, WIFE and NINE chill
DREN are left without protector and father
less! Thus every report Of the withdrawing
Committee" and every attempt TO defend Ge
neral Jackson by his friends, make the matter
worse-every Development Of Jackson's cha
racter, shows his entire want OF those qualities
which the people of the United States look for
in the man who they willing to place at
the head of the government. The friends OF
General Jackson are really to be pitied. They |
have engaged to defend him, but they are obi
ged, from their knowledge that the Argus eyes
Of the people are upon them, also TO observe
truth IN th";r statements; hence the fact, that