Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-17
From the National journal.

time ago triumphanty circulated by the comoi-
nation presses between Mr.. Grundy and Gen.
Jackson, in relation 10 Decatur's interference
with the latter TO prevent his executing ms
Threatened purpose of entering the SENATE
Chamber OF the United States and ontraging
some Of its members; and calling upon US 10
state what we know or believe as to the facts OF
the case that we can no longer hesitate 10 reply
10 their inquiries. We have been at much
paias 10 collect these facts from the most au>
then,ic sources; and our correspondents may
be assured, that what we now give to the pubs
lie is substantially, the history of the transac-
ton and the circumstances which led 10 II.
Unjust be s,in flesh in tie recollection Of
the country, that during the session Of Congress
which commenced in December, 1918, the con-
duct of Gen. Jackson Ysa military officer, in
his famous Seminole c. m2aign, was subject
Of Investigation in both Houses. Many Of the
members expressed, in strong and indignant
terms, their disapproba,ion Of his conduct be-
leviug that the constitution of the country,
which i, was their high and indispensable duty
TO yindicate, had been violated; aud that il was
necessary. by solemn legislative act, 10 assert
the supremacy Of the civil over he military au.
,hori,y Upon being Informed that this invss-
,iea,ion was on foo, in Congress, and that his
conduct had been freely censured, he hastily Lett
Sy his military family and one or ,wo devoted
personal FIRE nd, came to Washington. On his
approach TO the city, his impeiuosity OF temper
which could no longer be r. strained broke forth
in blasphemous imprvsations and threats oil
vengean,e e, by viii, h the Purpose OF his VISIT in
the pth OF winter, was rrteahd. These 'io-
lent outbreakings we're renewed, after his arri~
val at W ashrngton, in laverns and other public
places; and when admonished Of the in, iniabil-
i,y Of character attached 10 those against whom
his menaces were icveiied, he impi1us'y swore
that the altar itself shoult no, pro,ec, Them.
President Monroe, upon hearing OF his arri>
val and the threats, was SO aPprrhensive, from
his knowledge Of the uncomfortable passions vi
the General, that he would al least attempt
some outrage, that he deputed his brother, since
deceased, to call upon him and conjure him TO
respect himself and the constituted authorities
of his country, by abstaining from all violence
This. for time, had its fftcy and the General
ler, Washington on The l2,n February. 1919, on
visi, to New York. On the 24lh OF the same
month, Mr. Laycock made his report 10 the
Senate on The Seminole campaign. On the I'd
Of March Gen. Jackson was honored with a
public dinner in Baltimore. Many of the gen.
tlemen who were at that dinner will recollect
how abruptly he left the table, assigning as
reason that he wished to BE in Washington De
fore tie Senate adj urncd where 1t was his puF
nose 10 chas,ise the mhers who had dared to
Call hrs conduct in question, particularly The
Chairman Of the COMMITTEE, and Mr. Epnes.
BY whose casting vote he understood the Cha.
ac,er OF the report had been decided A fe"
minutes after leaving The company; he was o.
the road 10 Washington, where he arrived a,
day light on the Sd March, the las; day Of III,
session During he evening OF tina, dav he was
seen a, he Yrick Capitol, as IL was call'd.
where Congress- then held its sessions, accom-
panied by his friends Dr. Bronaugh and Coi.
Kemper. Commodore Decatur visited the Ca
pi,ol on the same evening, accompanied by his
lady. After escorIing the latter 10 the lobby -
the Senate, he returned TO the outer passag",
where, seeing Gen. Jackson greatly agi'a,rd. &
having heard OF his threat 10 enter the , ma
Chamber ana there offer violence 10 som, offs
members, he accos'ed Col Kemper, and en-
treated him 10 dissuaie the General from MS
purpose This gentleman, however, ins cad nj
complying with Decatur's wishes, expressed
his own concurrence in the design, and his hope
that Jsrksoh would carry it INFO effect. Meet
ing with this rebuff from Kemper, Commodore
Decatur mex, addressed himself directly to The
General, AID asked If the ,h,ea which he had
heard ascribed to him had been really uttered
Gen. Jackson answered afirmatisey, and added
with an oath that he was de; ermined 10 punish
the id rascas in their very places IN the SEN
a,e. Decatur earnestly conjured him 10 reflect
":hat i, was a step which could not fail to ruin
him in the estimation Of every god ,nizen-
that il wss probable he vas mol without enc
mics in the Sena,e-aad that nothing could be
more gratifying To them than any attempt to
execute his threat THE mild and friendly man.
ne of Decatur. remonstrance at length had lie
effect; and General Jackson was :hus saved
from the commission of crime, which would
have blasted all his laurels in the bud.
These are the facts Of the case. They form
ed the current topic OF conversation here at the
time Of their occurrence, and were rrierred 10
BY Mr.. Laycoek in his Reply 10 certain sour
rilous structures on his Report, written BY one
of the Generals family, and, Of course, as Lay :
cock supposed with me kno"ieass go spp p,;T