The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-08-13
POLITICAL.
From the Boston Courier.


Congress from Pennsylvania, has recently
addressed letter to the people Of that
State, on the subject of Gen. Jackson's con-
duct during the Seminole war, and his de-
pertinent at subsequent period, when his
proceedings were the subject of discussion
in Congress. We transcribe that part of
Gen. Lacock's letter, which states the fact,
$50 positively denied last winter by the
friends of Gen. Jackson,) that Gen. Jackson
on hearing that his proceedings were to be
made a subject of investigation, fastened
20 Washington, with his suit, to overawe or
intimidate the members of Congress, and
that he threatened to cut off the ears of a
Senator from Virginia. Gen. Lacock states,
that his only motive for writing at this time
is to defend himself and his family against
the virulent assaults of General Jackson's
friends, for no other offence, that he is con-
cious of having committed, than athe was
member of the United States Senate in
1918, and chairman of the Committee to
investigate and report upon the conduct of
Gen. Jackson. We confne our extracts to
what Gen. Lacock says of the single charge
against Gen. Jackson, of threatening to cut
off the Senator'S ears.
while the examination Of Gen Jacksons
conduct was in progress, he, with pretty nu-
merous suite, arrived in the city of Washington.
He soon manifested his displeasure at the free
dom with which some members of the Legisla-
ture had thought proper to animadvert upon
his conduct. He, however, staid some weeks
in the city, and during this time the members
of the staff were called before, and examined
by the Committee of the Senate. He then took
tour to the east, and received, every where,
the kind attentions and grateful thanks of his
countrymen. This should have humbled and
. e In and
man but it had different effect upon General
jackson. When at the convivial board, in Bal
timore, on his return, he first saw the report OF
the Committee of the Senate, pointing out and
mildly censuring his errors, his rage was I'M
governable, and the invectves and impreca-
tons on the Committee awfully fiery and pro-
fame.
He, however, lost no time until he arrived IN
the city of Washing on-where his threats and
mcnaces were repeated with increased vio-
lence-and General Jacksons threats Of ven
geance, and Of cutting off the ears of members
of Congress, became a topic of pretty general
conversation. / am very confident, that there
was not man belonging to the government,
holding any thing like a conspicuous station,
from the President down, and few members of
Congress but what heard and believed these
lhngs-nor did / ever hear of its being denied,
until the present canvass. With others, heard
Of, and believed such threats had been made
but did not believe he had any serious inten-.
ton of carrying his threats into execution, until
day or two after the adjournment of Congress,
when ! heard of Commodore Decatur having
prevented him from entering the Senate Cham
Der TO attack Mr.. Eppes Not having a per-
sonal knowledge of the transaction,.I cannot
speak of the fact, further, than that heard it
from several respectable persons in Washing
ton, at the time-and | know, with perfect GER
tainty, that the whole scene was thus related as
it should have happened: that Gen. jackson
went to the Capitol in a carriage-that he passed
from the carriage, and near the door of the Sen
ate he was met by Commodore Decatur, who
knowing of, or being then informed of General
Jackson's intention to fall upon Mr. Eppes, the
Commodore, by entreaties and expostulations,
induced the General to return to his carriage.
This was told publicly, as coming from the Com
Inodore personally, and from his authority it OBJ
tanned credence far as it was heard ] be-
leved it, and still believe it-nor will deny
that felt some apprehensIons for my own per-
sonal safety. | could see no good reason why
General Jackson should have selected Mr.
Eppes as his victim, who was at that time, sorely
afflicted with disease, rather than the chairman
of the Committee Impressed with this belief,
mentioned this circumstance TO Mr.. CrdIcfoTd
lthen Secretary of the Treasury, name | new
er mention but with feelings of the strongest
respect,) Mr.. Crawford told me that he had
uedFu, anu btHcNeQ III the LEuLn, OF OeneIdi
Jackson's contemplated attack upon Mr.. Eppes,
and advised me to be on my guard The
same advice received from several gentlemen
and took it, so far as to apply to Walter Jones
Esq, United States attorney for the District of
Columbia, who kindly furnished me with the
means of defence. And as this was the first time
in my life, when among civilized men, that had
to resort to such means for personal safety,
sincerely hope it may be the last, in which
afiva Of tho manila tho bopact FL
charge of his duty, viii be subjsct 10 like ne.
cessity.
am aware that General Jackson, in n letter
to Mr.. Grundy, has, by an equiUOque, disingenu-
Gus and uncandid, attempted denial Of the out
rage designed to have been committed upon
Mr.. Eppes. But the denial relates merely to
the precise spot, and the manner in which he
was interrupted and prevented by Commodore
Decatur His previous threats of cutting off the
ears, and mutilating the members of Congress,
he has never denied, although the charge was
made by me in the National Intelligencer, in
my own name, 1ohen ace lcere both in the citg of
Washington and when the facts were fresh in
the memory of all, and when many were on the
spot by whom these facts could; and if denied
would have been proved. Nor has Cen Jack
son ever denied, even in his letter to Mr. Grun-
dy, his going in his carriage with a settled de-
sign of putting his threats into execution, and
that between the carriage and the Senate Cham
Der he was turned from his purpose by the
strong and decisive expostulations of Commo-
dore Decatur.
That the account of transaction so extraor-
binary in its character, as this, should have been
related as coming from Commodore Decatur
and this, not only in his life time but immediate
ly after it should have taken place-and for this
story to have no foundation in fact and to remain
uncontradicted by that gentleman, cannot be
credited. Those members of Congress who re-
NAMED in the city few days after the adjourn
ment, carried the story home with them, and
told it as fact--and all agreed in every materi-