Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-21
FOR THE ENQUIRER,

FOh THE G.SQOiRiSR.
assertion exposed, or Patriot vindicated:
Teing an answer to the address ofthe Pro-.ad-
ctes, fnfi- Jackson, Convention, to the citizens
of Virginia in which the proprety of Gen.
Jackson's conduct in the Seminole War, the
Defence of New-Orlcans, and in the affair of
the 'ssix militia men, is sustained by docn-
ncntary proef.
No. III.
It audi Glterdm parton.
From the mighty claimor which has been raised
about the violation of personal liberty and civil
rights,-from the vengeance which has been CALI
ed down upon the head of Gen. j., stranger
would very naturally conclude that he had, at
least erecte some modern Bdstife, in which lie
had rmured the friends and relations OF those
who seen. to feel so senstivey, and 80 unspar-
ing in their accusations;-that he had borrowed
The guillotne from the lawful executors OF Ma
rat and Robespierre, and transported it from Pa
ris TO the Champs Or.drnes of New Orleans
where the soil oil his encampment bad been satu-
rated by the blood of innocent countrymen.
. But what is the real fact, which has been
tor,edinto many different shapes, in that poly
pus indictment of the Adams Convention and
which gave rise TO the collision between Gen. j.
ana Judge Hall? 1t is simply this. After the de-
feat of the 9Th January, the enemy had retired to
their shipping, and dropped short distance
down the river; but Gen. j. had every reason to
believe that they would return TO the attack SO
as they should be sufficiently reinforced aud
that belief was strengthened by his correspon
dence with Admiral Cochrane, from whom he re-
ceived letter on the 2lst January, in which the
Admiral states, that he had received unofficial
intelligence OF peace. Gen. j. Immediately adj
dressed TO him the. enquiry, iriether he consi-
dercd the intelligence as 0athoIising cessation
of hostiHties!" Which was answered in the ne
gatiUe Would il not have been criminal in Gen.
j TO have relaxed in the vigilance OF his defen-
, slve regulations? Whilst matters were thus stu
ated, ar European FTenchDadn named Loualer,
not at all remarkable for the evidences of his pa
rriotism, his subordnation of conduct, published
in the Journals of the day, violent philippe up
on the conduct OF Gen. j., containing most in
temperate and inhammatory inisrepre sentaton of
the state Of things, and appealing the citizens to
lay down their arms and return to their peaceful
enployments. Among other immediate conse-
quences Of this address, the desertion en- 1naSse
Of the>garrison which manned the only forts that
defended the marine approach to the city. Gen.
J. had this traitor, (for he could be deemed nothing
less) arrested and placed under guard But he was
neither shot, scourged, nor loaded with those
letters which his base and craven conduct so rich
ly merited To this conduct Judge Hall gave
countenance, and willing to afford his official
protection to the guilty culprit-and, had accord
ing to the evidence of the Clerk prepared his writ
OF habeas corpus even before Louallier was az
rested, and afterwards altered the date If Gen.
J. had Yielded to this demand, what would have
been the situation of New Orleans before the ris-
ing and setting of another sun? Can any one
doubt His guns would have been left 10 prime
and load themselves, his lines would have been de
serted, and the very breast-worl1 which had defied
the enemy and saved the city on tie Sth of Janu-
airy, would have been demolished by the individu-
al claimants of its materials Think you that uIl-
der such circumstances the enemy, who were not
more than half days march from the city, would
not have returned to seek their SPOIL and giut their
hitherto disappointed vanguard I? 1t would be
sheer folly TO doubt it. Gen. ]. the absolute
necessity of putting stop at once 10 such traitor
proceedings, and therefore kept the process
out Of his camp. Itwcs this, which gave rise TO
the subsequent collisions with Judge Hall. which
eventuated so little to the credit Of the latter.
whilst they shed upon the reputation of the for
Iner, additional lustre.
y rule was issued by Judge Hall against the he
70 who had 50 lately saved the City from ruin,
commanding him TO appear a day certain and
show cause if any he could, why he should not be
pronounced guilty of contempt s. fined accord
ingly. In obedience to this mandate he appeared
and tendered an argument to the Court TO purge
himself Of any disrespect for the judicial autbori-
ties of his country. But although he had been sum
uoned to ''she,c cause Ydny could, - he was de-
MED the privilege of defending himself against a
charge, for which he was fined (and immediately
paid the enormous sum of thousand dollars.
sWhen he attended at subsequent dav 10 receive
sentence and the Judge trembling at the murm,irs
of the indignant crowd, hesitated to pronounce it.
fear not, said the llustrious prisoner waving the
multitude TO silence with his hand'-''fear not,
YOUR honor, the same arm which repealed the in
fiOns Of the COurt''W Pause, fellow citizens and
ask yourselves if conquering hero, who with a
victorious army at his command, and surround
ed by grateful and enthusiastic multitude, could
practice, mot profess) such sublime humility as
this, ever be enemy 10 his country, or
Violaor OF her constitution and laws The time
will happily soon arrive, When you will have an
opportunity of giving your indignant negative TO
such an nputatiou.
have already been admonished, fellow citizens,
that was intrudng upon your patience by the
length of this address; find my apology in the
importance Of the subject. Upon it, perhaps, NAV
hang the very existence Of ali our free and hapny
institutions. Bear with me then, besoech YOU,
yet little longer.
Gen. Jackson is charged, by the assertion of the
Adams Convention, in tile most expli cit terms of
having 60 sacrificed the iiUes Of men," without the
sanction of law. You will, with difficulty repfess
your feelings Of indignation, when you see so foul
an accusation preferred against the benvfactor Of
his country, if in sport and without sha-
dow Of evidence being offered in its support A
crime like this, the most heinous OF which man
can be accused, or FOR which ne can suffer punish
ment, ought not to be made, ought not TO be insn-
uated,-no matter how high the character of the
accuser, how humble that of the accused
without proof,-ful, clear, conclusive proof The
charge is bottomed upon the trial and execution of
tho " six militia men," for mutiny and desertiou
"a subject which has filed so many columns Of
thc public prints, and afforded to the parasites OF
the reignng dynasty, such an anirnating theme for
COliec-house defamation. | cannot-T ought not
Il will not, 10 charity, believe that the Adams
Convention examined with care, if they examin-
ed at all, the matters Of fact connected ysithhis
subject. am compelled to believe that they took
1t upon report, and however great the impropriety
Of making such a charge upon slight ond trivial
grounds, II falls infinitely short Of that opprobriu
which must have rested upon the Convention II