Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-10
From, The NaslpiHe Banner and JYhig.
TO THE PUBLIC.

As General Houston has recently seized the
opportunity = public oi"n~r, aed :" q t''Li''
speech which has since found its way INTO The
newspa pers, TO make disingenuous and rather
exulling reference 10 wha, he styles the "mor.
tai combat" which sometime since occurred
belwixt him and myself, and as he can no lon
ger resor, to his hacknied cant Of persecution,
Of combinations and confedeia cies TO defeat his
election; and more especially as consider i, a
duty which owe TO myself, family and friends,
to yindicale my conduct from the charges or
suspicion Of an orcrbearing temper or sangui-
nary disposition, / now beg leave to lay before
the public The facts which produced the coatro.
versy anG mortal combat Of which the General
spoke.
1t is known that John P. Erwin, esq. was APP
pointed Postmaster a, Nash, lille, after the re-
signa,ion of Mr.. Currcy, and it has been ale
ged as fact, and has never been denied by Ge-
neral Houston, tina, besides making all the resis-
lance he could, on the grounds Of supcrio: qua
LITIGATION, and other high claims on the part of
the opposing applicant, he went SO far as TO
impeac The integrity and assail the private
character Of Mr.. Erwin. Soon after this Mr.,
Erwin made public expose OF the circumstan-
ces attending his failure as merchant, pointed
out the manner in which his family had subse-
quen,ly acquired the property they pos
sess, challenging investigation into his conduct,
and finally minated, that he would call Gen.
Houston 10 account for the liberty he had taken.
Now be il kfopn, | had not recommended
Mr. Erwin FOR the appointment Of postmaster,
yet did then, and do still think, that General
Houston transcribed his duty as Representa-
tive Of the. people, in assailing the private cha
racter Of MIR. Erwin, in order 10 prevent his APP
pointment, however obnoxious his political OPT
Mons and predictions might be, unless the
accusations could be sustained And / then
entertained no doubt but that Gen. Houston
would either establish his charges, retract them,
or make honorable satisfaction 10 Mr.. Erwin
After the lapse Of some time, General Hous.
ton returned from the Eastern States, and, be-
ing in Nashville myself soon after he arrived
heard i. stated that Mr.. Erwin had addressed
note TO The General on the subject Just alluded
TO; and some days thereafter was applied TO
by Mr.. Erwin 10 become the bearer Of note,
demanding satisfaction Of the General, he hay-
ing admitted in a previous correspondence The
fact, that he had assaulted the private character
Of Mr.. Erwin, but offered no evidence in sup
port Of his accusations, nor did he degn to re-
tract them. In reply to Mr. Erwin's applica-
iion, stated that bad been always on terms
Of friendship with General Houston myself,
and felt the greatest repugnance a, the idea of
being concerned in such mat,crs-thatI should
greatly prefer he would procure the services Of
some other person, and whilst he was endeavor-
ing 10 do so, would consult some Of my
friends, and reflect upon the subject more, and
when should meet with him again, ifhe could
procure no other suitable friend, would ACT
for him myself. And these considerations inilu-
enced my determination. had known Mr..
Erwin well Tor the last twelve or fifteen years,
bad enjoyed the hospitality and polite treat