Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-01-03
ON the Richmond Enquirer, Of Oct. i9, 49,
GENERAL JACKSON.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.

# SIRs.-The violence that has marked the
character and conduct OF General Jackson
"A throughout the whole course oil his servcs, the
aequiescence of the Executive in all, and its
positive appreciation of some, of the very worst
u Of his measures; and, more than all, the unac
counsable apathy OF the public at large in regard
TO the whole subject, have flied my mind with
amazement, indignation and alarm
Example and precedent are of mighty and
wonderful influence ~ The affairs OF men. II is
true in the practice of all governments, though
il may be false in the theory of ours, that
whatever has been once done and allowed,
may be lawfully repeated. No services, there
fore, however msritorious, nor station however
exalted, Should exempt from l-Inishment, much
more from inquiry, those Who perpetrate or
those who permit an open violation of the con
stitution. An impartial review of the history
of Gen Jacksons official life, will exhibi, q
succession OF offences against all the rules OF
military discipline, against the constitutions Of,
the United States, and of such of the states as
have been the scene OF his operations, and
gainst the laws of nature and nations. On b..
part, sirs, we shall find no justification. no a
pologN, no conrition; aud, on the par, OF the
federal Executive, no &C nor effort 70 MAINTAIN
ats own dignity, to enforce its just authority
or to indicate the violated majesty of the laws.
In The very first service 10 which We saw
This officer employed during the late war, he
set at nought the authority Of the war depart
ment and the rules and articles of war. Havins
early rendered his services to government, with
25OU Tennessee volunteers, he was ordered 10
conduct them to the lower MISSISSIPPI, TO as
slst the regular force there, in repelliag des
cent ofthe enemy upon Loulsians, then TIVE
never knew why, seriously apprebended. He
marched with his usual promptitude and cele
Fifty, and early in Jan 1875 encampted a, his
Il H.
Here, shortly after yards, as the historian OF
his life informs us, 'the clouds of war having
blown over in that quarter, be received an
order from the secretary of war, directing him,
on the receipt thereof, 10 dismiss those unde
his command from service, and 10 take mes
sures OF delivering over every article of publ
properly in his possession TO Gen. wilkinson ~
Without the least hesitation he t!isobet ed these
orders; seized upon the PUBIC ssores, and eli
The transportation on which hs could lay his
hands, in spite ofthe quarter master, AID of &c
neral Wilkinson; and reconduc,cd his army
B an sbody TO Tennessee. Instead of making .
" modes representation o. his motives 70 the war
Il department, and throwing hm4elf on the in
duigence of government for pardon; he an
nounced the dete rminstion he had taken 10 dis.
regard ITS orders in the hautIes, terms; and az
Gravabng the act of disobedience with The
grossest insult 20 the secretary General Arm
strong, and in effect TO he whole government
SHE expressed the astonishment he felt, tha
such orders should have orig ed with the ia
NOUS author Of the NerUburg Letters. the then
Tedoubted advocate for soldiers rgh,s:"s
mem not TO exageyaie his fault. confess, ths,
an my own opinion he was actuated by the ye.
Derous motives of affection for his volunteers
And as 10 General Armstrong. il may have
been proyIdentisi dispensstion of iustIce tina,
he should be reprosched 10 his old age with tn.
unasoned crime of bis youth, and made to feel
an his own person the evil of arms unrestralned
by suhordinatinn. But deliberate disobedience
OF orders, wful disrespect towards superiors
and especially towards government, are all
& crimes in military officer OF the first magni
tude Gen Jackson was guilty of them ali.
appeal TO military men, whether the IMMUNITY
n ct such offences be not the destruction of DIS
clp'inef Whether it was ever known before,
n that such an offender escaped without punish
ment OF eny kind, without trial, without inqui-
ny at least' The humiliation of the government
III and General Jacksons victory we're complete.
M ihencetorth, new relation was established
4 between them; of which, as, we shall see in
"a The sequel, both parties were sensible, and
have borne themselves accordingly.
ia ! do not intend to follow him rough the war
81 he conducted against the Greeks in 1915 IA.
N mention the bloody massacre of 1slapoose, on
ri > S~~PiNSo NY SttNiiO o'io'hN ~hi aph"I
renee. In vain mas bus too partial biographer
pleaded tue Law OF retaliation in his defence; in
vain a'ledged, that the indians. obstinatey per
sisted IN hopeless resistance; and would oeIther
ASK nor accept qusrier; IN vain protested that
his general sent to invite Them to surrender and
spare the eflusion of1helr own blood, and tha'
Il they fred upon his flaP; the historian admits.
that the general well knew they had ample rea
son tor their desperation and the general nin.
self tells the world, IL bis official despatch, that,
alter the pursuit; rather the hunt liitetaily
with fire and sword,) and the carnage, had con
tlnued ill darkness covered and concealed his
miserable victims; after he was apprised, that,
OF their THOUSAND warriors NOT half an hundred
\ remained; after whole night 10 cool and re
fleet, on Ihe neri morning, the bunt and the
Slaughter '1eere resumed, and sirieeu" GALL tia,
could be found, ''9f he enemy slam, 1phO had
concealed themse!res under the banks. / Yet
will moi urge that as peculiar reproach against
General Jackson, whl1hI rather regard as 9
stain upon my country. History wia record
tina, his bloody deeds were received by has
countrymen with general applause, while the
clemency fool. Pearson was regarded with
contempt and resentment. Truly, srs. Anne
ricsn ayarice ofIndIan lands 10 equal to spanish
avsrice of Indian gold.
See Reid's Life of Gen. jackson, p. 10. 20
fiiie of Jackson, P. 150,l5o, Niles re-