Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-30

l;tv to be disturbed. Nay, conscious OF moi ma
wing deserved censure at your hanos, s"u Pc
AIDED that no other man than yourseH' nav
YER imputed, or would be disposed 10 imPSe
me inaction, lukewsrmness, or muc"'
,nrons designs" in time of public danger, !
would continue to maintain nv silence, naa not
vour Iater awrit,en demonstrations" reached me,
associatine: in my alleged straitorous attempts
to narslize your defence Of the City," MAORI
tv or the Senate over which had,the honor 10
nreside. il NOT considerable and most patriot
ic norton of the citizens Of New Orleans, win
whom had the honor TO serve in the common
defence ofthe country.
can no longer hesitate, therefore, SIR, alter
first exposing faithful copy Of your written
denunciations," Ito undertake avipdlcation o! my
conduct and character, with the hope OF SATISFY
ing every just and discerning man, that yeur
triumphant sword acquired Two edges at the oa,'
tie of the 9Th Of January, the one SO fortunately
employed against the invading Foe, and the
other. so disgracefully, since, in continuing SO
unrelentnely To. aim your stabs at my reputa-
ton, and the regulations OF majority oil the
Legislature, who, in our efforts 10 sustain the
rights and dignity Of the State, did all IN our
power to aid you in defending it,
General Jaekson's Letter 10 the Post Master Ge-
nsrat
WAsHIyGroN, March 22d, 1924.
SIN: yfriend Col; Croghan has made known
to me his desire Of obtaining the office OF Post
Master at New Orleans, which he is advised VIII
become shortly vacant, by the resignation q the
presrn, incumbent.
AS am confident he is well qualified, and
has high claims upon his country, and naving
the highest opinion of his character, il gives
me pleasure 10 express my wishes thar he may
succeed in his application.
Should the Colonel not succeed, which should
sincerely greet, l am requested by several gen
tlemen from New Orleans, TO name to you
Captain Robson, Capt. Saul, and Capt. Rich.
ardson, all oi whom are well recommended as
to good character and fitness for that office
II has been stated to me that Mr.. Tulwar
Skipwith is an applicant for tnat office. 1t SO,
feel il duty to make known his conduct dur
ing the ASSAULT on New Orleans by the British
army in the late war.
MIR. Skipwith was Speaker ofthe Senate, had
been in the confidence of Government, and, in
consequence thereof, received mine From his
stu alton I expected much aid from him; you
may imagine my surprise when tell vow, that
instead Of being with those who were in defence
of the country, in the then trying crisis, he was
ing NV defence. He would neither prorogue
the Assembly. nor ad journ i, 10 Baton Rouge,
and when the Minority abandoned the Assem-
bly, and rendered their services as volunteersat
my line Of defence, Mr. Skipwith remained with
those who were charged with design 10 deliv-
er the City to, and make terms with, the enemy.
hone part of his conduct il is unnecessary to de-
tail. When left the City and marched against
the enemy on the night Of the 23d Of Deem
Der, 1914, was obliged TO leave one OF my
Aids in command, having no other confidential
officer that could be spared from command
A few days after Mr. Skipwith in person, APP
piled TO my Aid TO be informed wha: would be
INV conduct ifdriven from my lines Of defence,
and compelled TO retreat through New Orleans
whether | would leave the supplies for the
enemy or destroy them? As reported by my
Aid 10 me, he wanted this information for he
Assembly, that in case my intention was 10 de-
stroy them, they nigh. make terms with the
enemy. Obtaining no satisfaction from my
Aid, Committee of three waited on me for sa-
"if thought the Hair Of my Head knew my
thoughts. wouId,cut it off or burn Ito re-
turn to their Honorable Body and say TO them
from me, that if was TO be so unfortunate as
to be driven from the lines then occupied and
compelled 10 retreat through New Orleans,
they would have warm Session OF it, This
ended my interference with the Assembly until
the evening Of the 9th Of January, when MIR.
Skipw,h rode down to congratulate me on the
event From the foregoing you can Judge how
much he merits the bounty Of his Government,
to the exclusion OF those who have real claims
for important services rendered.
| lSigned
ANDREW JACKSON
John MLean, Esq.
| Posi- Master General
In animadveiiing on the charges against me
in the foregoing letter, should be somewhat
consoled, sir, if you would do me the justice to
believe, that shall not knowingly, misrepre.
sent, or augh, state in malice-for if l did, with
strong sense Of my own imperfections, and
with most earnest desire to improve my few
days in cultivating good feelings towards all
mankind; my Hairs, indeed, might be disposed
to rise on my head, yet, they should not be dis.
graced by my own hands sin cutting or burning
them" for they continue TO be respected by "my
most inward thoughts" which, unlike yours,
never did conceive, or commit, wilful injustice
| IN fhe character of anu n, an Nor couId con-