Delaware journal., 1828-10-06


Dr. Gideon Humphrey,
Sr--As members of a committee ofthe friends
of the administration in this city, we take the liber-
ty to address to you, very respectfully, the follow
ing inquiry.
We have been told by gentleman of respecta-
blty, who is one of your personal friends that you
have, or lately had in your possession, an original
letter from Gen. Andrew Jackson, which furnishes
additional evidence of his real disposition and char
acter.
AS we are informed. the letter is one of several
that were written by General Andrew Jackson to
your late brother, Major Humphrey, of the Artllle-
ry, and contains the following passage respecting
the reduction Of the army by congress, viz:'' the
Government ought to be damned-instead of redu-
cling the army they ought to have increased 1t ten
fold.'
The letter as quoted to US contains other phrases,
of similar tenor, but not particularly recollected
The people Of the United States are deeply inter-
ested to know if such are the actual sentiments Off
candidate for he chief magisracy.
We trust therefore that you will appreciate our
motive in asking that you will communicate the pre-
else language of the letter referred to land we ven
ure to add the request. that if the letter is still in
your possession, you will allow US to obtain an au-
thentic and certified copy Of it.
I An answer at your earliest leisure will much OBJ
lige US. We are, &C.
Signed
Samuel Wetherill, Richard Peters, d. w. Coke,
John Jennings, Jacob May land, Edward lngersoll,
Clement c. Biddle Samuel Alifflin.
Sept. %, 1898.
Il Gentlemen-Your favour of the Esd inst was
duly received, and although cannot but regret that
the private correspondence Of my deceased brother
should ever have been made matter of public dis
cussioD, still, conceive it my duty. under all the
circumstances of the case, and notwithstanding the
sacrifice of private feeling, to give you all the ,nior'
nation on the subject, Of which l am possessed
Some time since, in the course of private conver-
saton, at my own house, stated that had letter
, in my possession written by General Andrew Jack
son to the late Major Enoch Humphrey of the Uni
f ted States Artillery, containing sentiments highly
dsrespectfu in their character towards the Gener.
al Government of the United States, this was done
inadvertently. and without the most remote expec-
tation that the information would ever be used fol
n poltcal purposes however, since such is the case
h it becomes my duty to substantiae the assertion.
# The letter alluded to was written about the tint
A when the last reduction of the army took place /; i
i, is at my conmand and although do not feel JUST
e lied in placing it before the public will mention
), some OF the most trkng features which it presents
a Among other expressions he says, in express term
q =" the government ought TO be dananed-insteado o
). reducing the army in republic like this, it should
= increased tenfoM ;-he ridicues the idea ofdepend
:. ing upon oar militia, speaks Of reducing them 10
,s proper state Decentralization, as an impossibhy
and their utter iae0fcicncy in cases Of enc rgency
:, He dllates the extent of our frontier, and tn
= = extreme improprety of leaving remote post
= with the inadequate garrisons to which they are ne
: cessary reduced in consequence of the diminutio
of the army lin fact. the general tenor of the let
+ ter is that of decided and bitter anmadversions up
: on the measures pursued by the general government
u. ~ | remain gentlemen,
VI Your obt humble servant,
Us g. HUMPHREY.
= To Messrs. Saml. Wetherill, Richd. Peters, I
N Coke, John Jennings, Jacob Maryland, Edw. II
us gersol Clement G. Bidde and Samuel Mifflir
att 49,, ,DCcpprJC>I nEcpnrISMi -
lyl 81 NI''' p" $500 D'~"A " -'"-- NIA-~